Chicago's Best School ZIP Codes, Ranked by NCES Data (2026)
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · August 16, 2026
Chicago ZIP codes ranked by NeighborScore’s school pillar using NCES and EdFacts inputs. Compare school, safety, and overall scores, then verify enrollment details before deciding where to live. See the ZIP-level data before deciding.
In NeighborScore’s current Chicago ZIP comparison, the leading covered ZIP has the highest school score at 80/100. The school pillar uses public NCES school data and EdFacts assessment data; it is a ZIP-level comparison, not a claim about a specific school or attendance boundary.
- The leading selected Chicago ZIP has a school score of 80/100.
- A school score and an overall score answer different questions because the composite also includes safety/crime.
- Confirm current enrollment rules directly with the responsible school system before moving.
Which Chicago ZIP codes have the strongest school scores?
This list puts the school pillar first and the companion safety/crime and composite scores second. It avoids treating a general ZIP result as if it were a school-assignment decision.
- 1. ZIP 60614 — school score 80; safety/crime 45; overall 61.
- 2. ZIP 60607 — school score 75; safety/crime 25; overall 49.
- 3. ZIP 60655 — school score 70; safety/crime 95; overall 83.
- 4. ZIP 60605 — school score 69; safety/crime 25; overall 46.
The leading ZIP has school 80, safety/crime 45, and overall 61. Higher school inputs can be important to a household without deciding every other part of a ZIP-level comparison.
How the Chicago school-score methodology works
NeighborScore is a relative comparison, not a forecast. Its composite weights the safety/crime pillar at 53% and the school pillar at 47%; affordability is displayed separately and does not affect the composite. Read the full data sources and scoring methodology before treating a ZIP result as one input in a real-world decision.
The school score uses NCES and EdFacts math and reading proficiency inputs with grade-band coverage. The published methodology identifies the assessment source as school-year 2020–21 data, so the score is a standardized comparative signal rather than a current report card.
The tiered model prefers in-ZIP proficiency, then nearby-school, county, and coverage fallbacks when more local data are unavailable. This avoids inventing precision from weak data. The complete scoring choices and source links are available in the data-sources methodology.
A ZIP-level school score is a geographic summary, not a label for every student or school within the ZIP. Review the source tier and data note on the individual profile before comparing a score with a school-system result from a different year or geography.
For this reason, the score is stronger as a transparent comparison than as a prediction.
What families should verify beyond a Chicago school score
A ZIP code does not guarantee enrollment at a particular campus. Confirm current attendance zones, magnet or choice-program requirements, grade availability, transportation, and the school system’s newest performance information before using these results in a move.
Read the school score beside the safety/crime score rather than assuming that a high school result settles the location decision. NeighborScore’s composite weights safety/crime 53% and schools 47%; affordability remains separate context and cannot inflate or reduce the composite.
For more starting points, browse the NeighborScore guides index and return to the ZIP profile links above for the specific component scores and source notes.
Bottom line: compare Chicago school data, then confirm locally
The top school-score ZIP in this selected Chicago set is a useful research priority, not an enrollment outcome. The next step is checking the profile’s data notes and official local guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What does the school score measure in Chicago?
The school score is a relative ZIP-level comparison from NeighborScore’s documented public-source model. It is not a prediction, a school assignment, an appraisal, or a personal safety recommendation; it is a transparent starting point for comparing covered ZIPs.
Why should Chicago ZIP data be checked with primary sources?
The model combines datasets with different update schedules and geographic resolution. Check each profile’s data-vintage note and the linked primary sources before making a relocation, housing, or enrollment decision.
Does a higher school score make one Chicago ZIP right for everyone?
No. A higher score or home-value figure describes the stated metric only. Commute, housing condition, school enrollment rules, accessibility, cost, and individual priorities require additional current local research.
How can I compare another Chicago ZIP?
Open the relevant NeighborScore ZIP profile to see its component data and methodology notes. Compare like-for-like ZIPs, then verify any current local condition through the official source responsible for that information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the school score measure in Chicago?
The school score is a relative ZIP-level comparison from NeighborScore’s documented public-source model. It is not a prediction, a school assignment, an appraisal, or a personal safety recommendation; it is a transparent starting point for comparing covered ZIPs.
Why should Chicago ZIP data be checked with primary sources?
The model combines datasets with different update schedules and geographic resolution. Check each profile’s data-vintage note and the linked primary sources before making a relocation, housing, or enrollment decision.
Does a higher school score make one Chicago ZIP right for everyone?
No. A higher score or home-value figure describes the stated metric only. Commute, housing condition, school enrollment rules, accessibility, cost, and individual priorities require additional current local research.
How can I compare another Chicago ZIP?
Open the relevant NeighborScore ZIP profile to see its component data and methodology notes. Compare like-for-like ZIPs, then verify any current local condition through the official source responsible for that information.