Illinois Begins New School Year with High Marks in National Education Rankings

August 18, 2026 - 01:04

As classrooms across Illinois welcome students for the new academic year, the state is carrying forward a streak of improved national standing in education. Governor J.B. Pritzker highlighted the latest rankings on Monday, pointing to steady gains in funding, graduation rates, and early childhood access as proof that years of targeted investment are paying off.

The state now sits in the top tier of a widely watched national education index, a jump from its position just five years ago. Officials credit the shift to a revised school funding formula that directs more money to districts with the highest needs, along with expanded preschool programs and teacher recruitment efforts. Pritzker noted that Illinois has increased K-12 spending by billions since 2019, with the largest boosts going to schools that were once severely underfunded.

Beyond the rankings, the governor used the start of the school year to announce a fresh round of savings for families. New this fall, the state is covering all fees for Advanced Placement exams and dual-credit courses for public high school students. That move is expected to save households hundreds of dollars per student. In addition, a new textbook rental assistance program will cap out-of-pocket costs for low-income families at zero, with the state picking up the tab.

Pritzker framed these changes as part of a broader push to remove financial barriers that often stand between students and opportunity. He also pointed to a recent expansion of free breakfast and lunch programs in more than 400 districts, which now operate under a universal meal model. School leaders say the extra support is already showing up in better attendance and calmer morning routines.

The new measures come as districts across the state report higher enrollment in career and technical education tracks, with many high schools adding apprenticeships in healthcare, manufacturing, and IT. State education officials say they will release a full breakdown of the new rankings and spending data later this month, along with a county-by-county look at where the biggest gains were made. For now, the governor's office is framing the start of the year not just as a return to routine, but as a milestone in a longer turnaround story.