South suburbs with top-rated schools (Chicago, Wheaton: house, neighborhoods, school district)

[gasgangrene]

I am considering a job offer in Oak Lawn (Advocate Christ Medical Center) and would need to live within a 20-30 minute drive of the hospital. I went to school in Wheaton, but have very limited knowledge of the south suburbs. Really the only consideration as far as housing is the school district for our kids. We are very interested in a top-notch school on the level of New Trier. Is there a similar district on the south side? Cost of housing is largely irrelevant, and we couldn't care less about how big or fancy our house is, but we could spend up to $800K if pressed. Availability of schools with high SAT scores, excellent college placements, and an intense academic focus is perhaps the major factor in our decision to move. What would some of you southside real-estate gurus advise?

[JacksonPanther]

I await what other will say, but my impression is that there is no other school like New Trier anywhere in Chicagoland.

As for good schools in the south suburbs, Homewood-Flossmoor, the Lincoln-Way schools, maybe some others. But they're not like New Trier...

[ImaloneJill]

I would check out Willow Springs. The part that has the Lyons Township HS district. It is supposed to be a very good school.

[linicx]

I think it was the 10/11 school year that H-F made the local newspaper for a some really good APY results. I think one of their shining stars passed the physics APY, but I could be wrong on the subject. I do not know what it is doing today; I don't live there. .

[Northwest Indiana]

If you are looking in the South Suburbs, the Homewood/Flossmoor area would really be the only choice in terms of good public schools. The high school is well regarded throughout the south suburbs. In between I-57 and the Indiana state line, this would be your only bet. It would probably be about a 30 min drive into work.

In all honesty, your best bet to get a "New Trier" quality school would be to live in Hinsdale. It is about the same distance as Flossmoor is to Advocate and the schools in Hinsdale are on the same tier as NT.

Another option may be Burr Rigde. It is zoned to Hinsdale South which is a very good high school as well. It is also the closest to Advocate being about a 20 minute ride.

Hope you find what you are looking for!

[chet everett]

The travel time from many WESTERN suburbs to Advocate Christ Medical Center is as tolerable as from southern suburbs.

294 E Ogden Ave, Hinsdale, IL to Homewood, IL - Google Maps

It is arguably FASTER to get to Christ Med Center from Western Springs or Hinsdale than from Burr Ridge or Willow Springs IF the starting point is closer to the tollway...

[tjake]

If you are just talking about public high schools. Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort and Homewood-Flossmoor are both excellent high schools. I think your child could get a New Trier quality educational experience at either of these schools. That is if they are academically inclined to do so and have supportive parents. If your child does not put in the effort and you don't provide the encouragement to do so. It's not really going to matter much what high school they attend. Even in the case of new trier the bottom quartile of the graduating class doesn't benefit very much from having gone to such a highly regarded public high school. In terms of test scores, college admissions, and overall academic preparedness.

As a parent and area realtor I find that excellent public grade schools and middle schools are more of a draw to the suburbs. After all those are the formative years and last from ages 5-13. High school is only from ages 14-17. From an expense standpoint many young parents can't afford private grade schools and middle schools. But by the time there kids are in high school are more likely to be able to afford a private high school. Private schools are gaining in popularity in both chicago and the suburbs. How many parents do you see pushing around strollers in urban neighborhoods like wicker park or greektown these days? A whole lot more than 5-10 years ago. It seems like living in Chicago is becoming more popular with young professional parents. And it seems there is a generation of young professionals who are now becoming parents. And are choosing to completely forgo living in the suburbs altogether.

[3Series]

Last Saturday, I went to the Home Depot in Chicago Ridge and passed through Oak Lawn. It took me about 20min with no traffic from Ogden/294 in Hindsale. Hinsdale schools are considered good.

[chet everett]

While Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor are far from the worst schools one could choose the performance numbers are in a different class than New Trier.

In the most recent tests 90% of NT's students met or exceeded state standards. The percentage at Lincoln-Way East was 77%, H-F was 55%.

Originally Posted by tjake

If you are just talking about public high schools. Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort and Homewood-Flossmoor are both excellent high schools. I think your child could receive a New Trier quality at either school.

[tjake]

Originally Posted by chet everett

While Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor are far from the worst schools one could choose the performance numbers are in a different class than New Trier.

In the most recent tests 90% of NT's students met or exceeded state standards. The percentage at Lincoln-Way East was 77%, H-F was 55%.

Those two schools are comparable based on "individual" educational opportunities available at Lincoln-Way east and Homewood-Flossmoor. As most objective rankings such as US News also consider these two schools to have excellent academic programs. As well as the college board that administers AP testing recognize both schools for having excellent AP programs. I would say the difference in test pass rates when comparing to new trier can solely be attributed to new trier having exclusively wealthy district boundaries with almost no lower income students. If you subtract the lower income students test scores from Homewood-Flossmoor or Lincoln-way East. I am sure you would see very comparable pass rates with new trier.