Safety of Country Lakes subcomplex in Naperville? (Chicago, Virginia: jobs, townhouse)

[Crimmy]

Hi everyone!

I saw a very nice Townhouse in the Country Lakes complex in north Naperville. It is in the location I want, has the size I want and I think I am considering making an offer. I live in Chicago at the moment so I've only been out near 59 and W Diehl only a handful of times. I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the safety of the area, (in terms of gang activity, assaults, or drugs), and about the schools in District 204.

I've been looking at the high schools of Districts 200, 203, and 204. Most of the K-8 schools look good to great but there is a real jump once the high school test scores come into play. How bad are the high schools of district 204? It seems like WAUBONSIE VALLEY high is the worst of the high schools around 200, 203 and 204. Is it really that bad? And why?

I keep on top of my kids academic progress and I know it becomes harder as they enter the teen years, but if the kids in a school are slackers, it makes it all the harder to keep your kids motivated. Is there a problem with the high schools in 204? Students? Teachers? Administration? Parents?

Thank you for any information!!

[jdiddy]

If your kid can't get a good education at Waubonsie, it won't be the school's fault.

[ManheimMadman]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

If your kid can't get a good education at Waubonsie, it won't be the school's fault.

I second that. I happen to be a Neuqua graduate, but guess what? 50% of my teachers came from Waubonsie. Wau Wau gets a bad rep because it's diverse. Holy smokes Virginia, black people go to school there, and hispanics too!

Being our sister school, I had many good friends there who went on to great colleges, landing better jobs than I will.

So yeah, if you don't like minorities or living outside the white-bread life, you may not like Waubonsie.

[Crimmy]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

If your kid can't get a good education at Waubonsie, it won't be the school's fault.

Thanks, jdiddy

(I was hoping for a more thorough response or information, but I understand what you mean.)

[Crimmy]

Originally Posted by ManheimMadman

..if you don't like minorities or living outside the white-bread life, you may not like Waubonsie.

Thanks for the info, MM. Too bad Waubonsie gets such a bad reputation simply because they have more minority students. I've been living outside the white-bread life, my entire life, so I guess I'm safe in that regard.
Thanks again!

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Crimmy

Thanks for the info, MM. Too bad Waubonsie gets such a bad reputation simply because they have more minority students. I've been living outside the white-bread life, my entire life, so I guess I'm safe in that regard.
Thanks again!

I graduated from Waubonsie almost 10 years ago, the last class before they split Waubonsie and Nequa. So perhaps enough has changed since then that my experiences are no longer valid. However, my youngest brother graduated from there 4 years ago. He's about to graduate *** laude from Mizzou's journalism school. All of his friends, quite a few, went on to a variety of state and private colleges.

The reality is Waubonsie still has great teachers, with great resources, and great funding. It still draws from a number of stable middle to upper middle class neighborhoods. But its true that it contains a higher number of minorities today than it had a few years prior. And the unfortunate reality of today is that minority students perform at a lower level than whites.

Compared to the other Naperville schools, it probably looks quite a bit worse (I don't know, I haven't looked at the performance data). However, like I said, unless things have drastically changed in the past 4 years, the education Waubonsie provides will more than prepare them for a successful collegiate career. If that doesn't happen, to be perfectly blunt, its because the parenting isn't there or your child is a moron.

[ManheimMadman]

Hmm, I graduated about 7 years ago. My brother graduated Neuqua about 4 years ago too.

Anyways, I looked at the state report card, and found that Waubonsie isn't even as diverse as I thought it was, 62.6/14.4/9.4 White, Black Hispanic.

Their ACT composite score is 22.6, while the supposedly 'world class' Neuqua Valley is 24.2. Both are above the state average of 20.3.

Compared to Naperville Central (203) which has a composite ACT score of 25.

I wouldn't hesitate for a second to send my kid to Waubonsie.

[aragx6]

Anyone else think it's funny that a certain c word is blocked out even when it's Magna *** Laude

[ManheimMadman]

We're trying to get as close to an Orwellian society as possible.

[Crimmy]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

..the unfortunate reality of today is that minority students perform at a lower level than whites. .....the education Waubonsie provides will more than prepare them for a successful collegiate career. If that doesn't happen, to be perfectly blunt, its because the parenting isn't there or your child is a moron.

Your bluntness is exactly what I wanted to hear, jdiddy, thanks!

Minority kids DO perform at a lower level, I know this sad fact because my kids go to a school in Chicago that is 85 percent Hispanic, and those kids in my kid's classroom are more interested in the latest songs on B-96, latest dance move, latest ghetto-jacket, etc than actually learning anything. My daughter is actually made fun of because she gets good grades! She is sort of a outcast in some regards because she's Hispanic, gets good grades, doesn't get into trouble and likes to read and play sports. By moving into better quality schools with less minorities than Chicago schools, I might finally be able to see her happy in school.

I wanted to get some insight from people like you who could shed some light on the shady reputation that Waubonsie gets. Sounds like the white high upper-class have a problem with brown-skinned high middle class moving in?