Romona Elementary School in Wilmette landed among the 25 best public elementary schools in Illinois, according to new rankings U.S. News & World Report released Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The school placed No. 23 on the statewide list, which Patch first reported drew from about 46,000 public elementary schools ranked at the state and district levels. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center in Chicago topped the Illinois list.
The recognition caps a strong week for Wilmette Public Schools District 39. The same day, McKenzie Elementary earned a 2026 Governor's Blue Ribbon School designation from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), one of only 24 schools statewide to receive that honor.
Romona, which serves about 450 students in grades K through 4, is no stranger to recognition. The school earned National Blue Ribbon honors three times, in 2006, 2017 and 2023. In September 2023, when Romona received its most recent Blue Ribbon, Principal Cindy Anderson called it "Romona's third time earning this award" and credited "the continued hard work and dedication from our students, staff, and families."
The 2027 U.S. News rankings use a new methodology, according to a U.S. News press release. For the first time, researchers incorporated data collected directly from state education agencies by RTI International alongside U.S. Department of Education data. Eric Brooks, U.S. News director of education data analysis, said the updated approach "gives families, educators and community leaders an even clearer view of academic achievement."
The methodology evaluates student performance in reading and math across all proficiency levels while accounting for student background. Student-teacher ratios break ties. Charter schools are ranked separately.
Three Northbrook elementary schools also made the Illinois top 25: Westmoor Elementary at No. 11, Wescott Elementary at No. 12 and Meadowbrook Elementary at No. 19. Seven Chicago Public Schools appeared on the list.
