![overhead photo of LFA's campus with Niche ranking badge]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1727728217/lakeforest/n5q0inyv9v0mxrufxhol/2025Nicherankings_web.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1727728217/lakeforest/n5q0inyv9v0mxrufxhol/2025Nicherankings_web.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1727728217/lakeforest/n5q0inyv9v0mxrufxhol/2025Nicherankings_web.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1727728217/lakeforest/n5q0inyv9v0mxrufxhol/2025Nicherankings_web.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1727728217/lakeforest/n5q0inyv9v0mxrufxhol/2025Nicherankings_web.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1727728217/lakeforest/n5q0inyv9v0mxrufxhol/2025Nicherankings_web.jpg","width":1800}])
The 2025 edition of Niche’s Best Schools rankings were published on September 30 with Lake Forest Academy maintaining its No. 13 national ranking among boarding schools and the No. 1-ranked private school in Illinois.
LFA is No. 13 on the nation’s boarding school list for the second straight year after being ranked No. 18 in the 2023 Best Schools rankings.
Niche’s rankings combine user input – ratings from current students, alumni and parents – with quantitative data from sources like the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate teachers, resources, facilities, extracurricular activities and more. This comprehensive approach assesses a wide array of factors, providing a well-rounded perspective on educational institutions across the country.
Among private schools, the Academy moved up two spots from the 2024 rankings to No. 34 nationally (out of 5,057 schools) and is the top-ranked private school in Illinois (out of 159) for the second consecutive year.
LFA remained at No. 13 in the nation among the Best Boarding High Schools in America and also held the top-ranked spot in the state of Illinois. The rankings were out of 438 boarding schools nationally and nine in the state.
Other national rankings for LFA include No. 45 (out of 5,220) in Most Diverse Private High Schools, No. 56 (out of 4,953) for Best College Prep Private High Schools, and No. 121 (out of 9,912) for Best High Schools for STEM.
In the state of Illinois, Lake Forest Academy is also No. 1 for Most Diverse Private High Schools (out of 158) and in Best College Prep Private High Schools (out of 157). Other state rankings include No. 4 (out of 315) for Best High Schools for STEM and No. 125 (out of 796) in Best High Schools for Athletes in Illinois.