Elmhurst families heading into the new school year got a data-backed reason to feel good about their high school: York Community High School landed the No. 3 spot among DuPage County high schools in Chicago Magazine's 2026 Best Suburban Public High Schools list, published Monday, Aug. 24, in the Chicago Tribune.

The ranking, calculated by the research nonprofit RTI International using Illinois State Board of Education data from the 2024–25 school year, weighted six measures: ACT ELA proficiency, ACT ELA growth, ACT math proficiency, ACT math growth, consistent attendance and graduation rate. Growth metrics carried the highest combined weight at 35%, rewarding schools where students improve year over year rather than simply enrolling high-performing students.

York posted strong numbers.

Eighty percent of students met ACT English Language Arts proficiency benchmarks, and 68% met math proficiency, according to a district summary of the results. Students posted academic growth in the 64th percentile in ELA and the 59th percentile in math, meaning York students outpaced comparable Illinois peers in year-over-year ACT improvement.

Beyond test scores, 82% of York's roughly 2,500 students maintained consistent attendance, defined as being present for at least 90% of school days. The school's four-year graduation rate stands at 95%.

Only Westmont High School (No. 1) and Hinsdale Central High School (No. 2) finished ahead of York in DuPage County. Naperville North and Naperville Central rounded out the top five.

Dr. Keisha Campbell, the district's superintendent, acknowledged the ranking on X on Aug. 24, writing that she was proud to see York recognized. The district's official account highlighted York's strong academic performance, student growth, consistent attendance and graduation outcomes.

York opens the 2026–27 school year under co-interim principals Dr. Linda Yonke and Stephan Bild, who took over Aug. 12.