highland park: any diversity? (Highwood: renting, condo, houses)

[cricket00]

having visited highland park several times, i am well aware that it is predominantly white. but does it offer any diversity to speak of? i know that neighboring highwood has a hispanic population.....does it spill over into HP at all?

any feedback would be appreciated. thanks!

[nanannie]

I can tell you about all the "diverse" people I know in HP. Weallthy Jewsih, wealthy prots, and a few wealthy catholics. Thats about it from me.

[LIS123]

I've heard that some of the Highwood hispanic population does spill over into HP in the sense that the at least some of the children in Highwood are allowed to attend HPHS. I also heard that HP residents did not take kindly to this, as they felt some of those students were not at the level of most HPHS student (living in HP proper) and that had a negative effect on the school.
HP is not considered to particularly diverse community, though I'm not overly familiar with it.

[Paige65]

Originally Posted by LIS123

I've heard that some of the Highwood hispanic population does spill over into HP in the sense that the at least some of the children in Highwood are allowed to attend HPHS. I also heard that HP residents did not take kindly to this, as they felt some of those students were not at the level of most HPHS student (living in HP proper) and that had a negative effect on the school.
HP is not considered to particularly diverse community, though I'm not overly familiar with it.

All of Highwood's school age population are part of the Highland Park public school system. It has been this way for a long time. Highwood does not have a public school system. There is one Catholic school, but most of Highwood's hispanic kids do not attend that school, but instead attend Oak Terrace Elementary in Highland Park (64% hispanic, 31% white), Northwood Junior High (62% white, 29% hispanic), and Highland Park High School (80% white, 14.5% hispanic, 2.5% asian, 2.3% black). There are two other Highland Park elementary schools that have a minority hispanic population, those two schools are Sherwood (about 15% hispanic) and Red Oak (about 31% hispanic). Many of the hsipanic children are in the dual language program offered by the District.

To answer the original question, no, there is not much diversity other than the minority hispanic population. My kid's school has a few black children, and a handful of asian and hispanic, but the majority are caucasian. There is diversity in terms of religion, with about half christian and half jewish. In some schools there may be a majority jewish and in others a majority christian.

[JanuaryGirl]

I am not from Highland Park, but I worked there for several years. The lack of diversity is shocking. The Latinos from Highwood are really only spotted in Highland Park when they are working in some sort of service capacity (janitor, bus boy). I can count with my ten fingers the number of African Americans I saw in that town over the course of three years-- and at least half of those were ex-pro-basketball players; other than them and their families you just don't see many minorities there. Don't get me wrong, it has a great town area, great schools, etc, but diversity is completely lacking.

[diane3]

I do no that Highland Park High School is having a lot of problems because the parents are upset that people from Highwood are buying/renting cheap condo's or houses and going to Highland Park High School. This probably isn't the place for you if you want diversity instead your children would feel out of place going to schools in this area.

[Justabystander]

Originally Posted by cricket00

having visited highland park several times, i am well aware that it is predominantly white. but does it offer any diversity to speak of? i know that neighboring highwood has a hispanic population.....does it spill over into HP at all?

any feedback would be appreciated. thanks!

Sure its diverse, there are Hasidic, Orthodox, and liberal members of the Jewish faith, and Juanita Jordan. Any other questions ?

[soulsista]

Highland Park is as homogeneous as it gets. I don't think you would be happy there if diversity is important to you.

[NUman]

In my opinion Highland Park has plenty of diversity, given how far it is from the city and how expensive it is. It has more african-american residents than most North Suburban communities. It also has a fairly large hispanic population in itself and its neighbor. Highland Park is a wonderful town and you can find different people there.

[vester72]

Originally Posted by NUman

In my opinion Highland Park has plenty of diversity, given how far it is from the city and how expensive it is. It has more african-american residents than most North Suburban communities. It also has a fairly large hispanic population in itself and its neighbor. Highland Park is a wonderful town and you can find different people there.

I don't think anyone said Highland Park isn't a great town - I have friends there and they love it. But, as far as diversity, there is none. That is not meant as a negative statement. Actually, the lack of diversity is probably appealing to most people that live there - not everyone likes diversity. And by more black residents you mean 2% rather than 1% of the population, you are correct