Getting better lobbies / Improving

Hello, I have recently started playing the game again, last time i played was the first couple months it was released. I play with my friends often and they have been playing for a while and they are good. But i find when i play with them due to there higher skill level the lobbies get harder, then when i go back to playing alone, Im playing all these really skilled players and can barley have fun playing.

I am considering getting placed in ranked for the first time, Yes i have heard solo queuing in hard but i’m thinking that being placed in a rank with players with equal skill would be beneficial and i would begin to enjoy and get better at the game in the lower ranks?

Is this how the matchmaking works, will i be with players more my skill in ranked or will i still be getting put in lobbies with higher skill level players?