Evanston,River Forest,Oak Park or Wilmette (Chicago, Palatine: low income, school districts)

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

Thanks for the link. This is a stupid idea. One gets in the honors class by doing superior work in the non-honors equivalent and being promoted by instructor consent. There should be no other way. These other well-meaning schemes just spread the mediocrity.

I support additional assistance for poorer performers (to some degree) but this isn't they way.

I doubt it does anything to help the pooper performers. I think it just bring down the high performers.

[cubssoxfan]

The wonderful, debatable and somewhat subjective topic of school quality.
Just wondering, why would someone send their child to private school if the local schools are good? I understand the religion aspect. Not picking a fight here, just looking for some opinions.

[kindrakindra]

Chet - Why are you down on OP schools? The US News list is based on nonsense. OPRF doesn't teach to the tests. Ask any excellent high school teacher who is not an OPRF teacher what they think of OPRF; they will be the first to tell you that the teachers, most of whom have masters at the very least, have wonderful latitude to teach. As you are surely aware, this was one of the first years that everyone had to take the ACT; this brought OPRF's scores down compared to previous years. Further, they have incredible diversity that brings down the test scores. This is also the first year "where they didn't even rate a bronze."

Even the Oak Park elementary schools have similar issues. Take a look at Whittier School, for example. 97 percent of the white students meet or exceed while only 30 percent of the black students do. You can compare that 97% to only the best white suburban elementary schools in all of Chicagoland, such as Sears School in Kenilworth. Therefore, the average test score is artificially low.

To the OP - if you are looking for uber-educated population with a liberal bent and more urban feel, move to Oak Park. You will be able to walk many places as well.

[cubssoxfan]

To the OP - if you are looking for uber-educated population with a liberal bent and more urban feel, move to Oak Park. You will be able to walk many places as well.

Couldn't the same be said of Evanston?

[kindrakindra]

Yes. Oh, I think some people want private school for a smaller feel school. Where I come from, excellent public schools are really small. Here it seems that Chicagoland schools are huge. So some people choose private so that they have a better chance to make the sports teams or have a greater sense of community environment in a small school.

[chet everett]

I am not down on OPRF, I believe the data from US News is NOT based on a single factor, and is one of the only sources that I have any respect for.

There is so such similar source for elementary school, and the data from the Illinois tests is very disappointing.

I have personal experience with the staff at many high schools in Chicago and the suburbs (I taught for several years), and many teachers have excellent credentials. Unfortunately those credentials do not translate into performance of the students.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

The wonderful, debatable and somewhat subjective topic of school quality.
Just wondering, why would someone send their child to private school if the local schools are good? I understand the religion aspect. Not picking a fight here, just looking for some opinions.

Private schools may offer different styles of learning which would be better for your child. There may be opportunities at the smaller private school which wouldn't be there at a larger school. If you really care about sports, your child might stand out as a QB at a smaller school, than 4th string at NT or ETHS. A shy child might blossom at a small more inclusive school. Working parents might appreciate LFA & WA ability to board students when the parets have to go out of town.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Anthera

Private schools may offer different styles of learning which would be better for your child. There may be opportunities at the smaller private school which wouldn't be there at a larger school. If you really care about sports, your child might stand out as a QB at a smaller school, than 4th string at NT or ETHS. A shy child might blossom at a small more inclusive school. Working parents might appreciate LFA & WA ability to board students when the parets have to go out of town.

Good points. It would not have occurred to me that the need for boarding would be a reason. Seems like many who do private school on the North SHore are in a higher earnings category than I am-along with the extra hours and travel this sometimes requires.

[canthisbemyusername]

We are not Catholic, we are not religious. I would not be opposed to a Catholic school for my oldest daughter if it were a school that was focused on community service and helping people. My daughter is agnostic, so they probably would not accept her. Because of NCLF the schools seem to give kids that don't try at all more opportunity than good kids who make B's and come to school everyday. I am only commenting on our experience. I have thought about Waldorf schools as i think they teach children in a more natural way, however this won't work for my high schooler as she has spent 11 years in regular schools. My 12 year old plays guitar and likes to write songs so she would like a school with a good arts program.

[canthisbemyusername]

Also, my oldest daughter has played lacrosse(her current school doesn't have a team),she currently runs cross country and track.