Eisenhower high school in Blue Island (Chicago, Alsip: condos, homes, neighborhood)

[alsipian]

Does anyone have any info on Eisenhower high school in Blue Island, Illinois? I recently moved to Alsip from Chicago Ridge, Illinois and my child attends Hamlin Upper Grade Center. She is very happy in Alsip and doesn't want to move again. She would have to attend Eisenhower for high school but the test scores are awful. I am not so concerned about that because she will test into the honors program and hopefully the classes will be challenging, but I am wondering if there is a problem with gangs or violence at the school and in the surrounding neighborhood (Blue Island). With the economy the way it is I don't want to take a chance on enrolling her in Queen of Peace and then having to take her out if we can't afford it and South Side Baptist seems to be too small. Marist is out of the question because I don't want her in the city for anything and there is no diversity there. If anyone knows anything about safety and honor's classes at Eisenhower, please let me know because I need to start making some decisions.

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by alsipian

Does anyone have any info on Eisenhower high school in Blue Island, Illinois? I recently moved to Alsip from Chicago Ridge, Illinois and my child attends Hamlin Upper Grade Center. She is very happy in Alsip and doesn't want to move again. She would have to attend Eisenhower for high school but the test scores are awful. I am not so concerned about that because she will test into the honors program and hopefully the classes will be challenging, but I am wondering if there is a problem with gangs or violence at the school and in the surrounding neighborhood (Blue Island). With the economy the way it is I don't want to take a chance on enrolling her in Queen of Peace and then having to take her out if we can't afford it and South Side Baptist seems to be too small. Marist is out of the question because I don't want her in the city for anything and there is no diversity there. If anyone knows anything about safety and honor's classes at Eisenhower, please let me know because I need to start making some decisions.

Not that it matters because Marist probably is somewhat similar in cost to Queen of Peace, but I don't really understand the concern with Marist being in the city. It's pretty much the most southwestern point possible right across the street from Alsip and surrounded by a big field. My aunt used to work at Peace and currently works at Eisenhower. I don't know specifics regarding gang situations there but Peace is obviously a bit different.

[alsipian]

I just don't want anything to do with the City of Chicago and do not want my children attending school there.

[NYrules]

You don't want anything to do with the city of Chicago? Yes, Mt. Greenwood is downright terrifying! LOL! And you're not questioning quality or safety of life in Blue Island, but you are for Mt. Greenwood saying you don't want anything to do with it? LMFAO! Talk about needing to get your priorities straight. Theres a reason for those low test scores at Eisenhower. Ever see who the primary group of people is that is moving into that town and sending their kids to that school? Its LOADED with Latinos which many of them speak little English, so how can they be expected to test well on acheviement tests when so many of them can barely speak English and are just out of Mexico? http://www.city-data.com/school/dd-e...school-il.html And, yes there are a lot of kids from the inner city that were forced out to BI thanks to Daley knocking their homes down to build million dollar condos, so guess what else has followed the kids out of the city... Take a guess... They are bringing all the problems from the big bad city of Chicago right with them.

Seriously Marist is an excellent school and is pretty much right across 115th Street from Merrionette Park.

[cdc3217]

FWIW, I'm over at Eisenhower several times a week (afterschool time) and so I see the kids firsthand. There are many good kids with good parents from humble to middle class backgrounds who are getting a decent education there. However there are many more kids from single parent homes, low-income homes, etc. and educational attainment is not always the primary concern. From what I've seen, cream rises to the top at Eisenhower, so a successful student will have opprtunities to participate in special programs that they might get squeezed out of at another more competitive school. I do not work with the faculty, so I really couldn't give you an estimation of their abilities.

I think the surrouning neighborhood isn't really an issue other than the high school population. I would recommend visiting the school and see how it looks in the hallways, the rules they impose, how lunchroom looks, etc.

[fusillirob1983]

To the OP, are you originally not from the Chicago area or the south side? I am just curious because I would think for the most part you'd be somewhat familiar with some of the area schools, even if from Chicago Ridge. If you are not from the area, then it's understandable you are associating Marist with the city of Chicago because it's in Chicago. I still am not seeing the connection despite being "within" the city limits, even though it's probably more isolated from being in the city than 95%-100% of the city.

[alsipian]

Originally Posted by cdc3217

FWIW, I'm over at Eisenhower several times a week (afterschool time) and so I see the kids firsthand. There are many good kids with good parents from humble to middle class backgrounds who are getting a decent education there. However there are many more kids from single parent homes, low-income homes, etc. and educational attainment is not always the primary concern. From what I've seen, cream rises to the top at Eisenhower, so a successful student will have opprtunities to participate in special programs that they might get squeezed out of at another more competitive school. I do not work with the faculty, so I really couldn't give you an estimation of their abilities.

I think the surrouning neighborhood isn't really an issue other than the high school population. I would recommend visiting the school and see how it looks in the hallways, the rules they impose, how lunchroom looks, etc.

Thankyou. I appreciate this info.

[alsipian]

[quote=NYrules;7131513]You don't want anything to do with the city of Chicago? Yes, Mt. Greenwood is downright terrifying! LOL!

Chicago's Mt. Greenwood neighborhood is very terrifying for my interracial family.
Concerned parent speaks out | Mount Greenwood's Southwest Observer: News for Mount Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park

First black students to attend Chicago's Mount Greenwood Elementary School return to find the racism of the community is still alive - Substance News

Column: Cold blast from the past - Mary Mitchell

[probemedic]

Wow im definitely insulted... As both a resident of the city and a graduate of Marist...Yes Marist is in the city of Chicago but it's a privately owned and operated school by the Marist Brothers. It's a Catholic school, the tuition you pay is going to the brotherhood. Secondly Alsip is not a shining jewel when it comes to villages. Nice yes but not without its problems. Eisenhower does have a very bad reputation in the area and as a local suburban firefighter i have seen some of it's problems first hand but it is not by any means a bad school. The best way would be to visit the school and meet the faculty. Dont rule out Marist or McAuley or Queen of Peace though all are very good schools and in my opinion and experience offer a completely diffrent experience then you could ever find in any public school.

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by probemedic

Wow im definitely insulted... As both a resident of the city and a graduate of Marist...Yes Marist is in the city of Chicago but it's a privately owned and operated school by the Marist Brothers. It's a Catholic school, the tuition you pay is going to the brotherhood. Secondly Alsip is not a shining jewel when it comes to villages. Nice yes but not without its problems. Eisenhower does have a very bad reputation in the area and as a local suburban firefighter i have seen some of it's problems first hand but it is not by any means a bad school. The best way would be to visit the school and meet the faculty. Dont rule out Marist or McAuley or Queen of Peace though all are very good schools and in my opinion and experience offer a completely diffrent experience then you could ever find in any public school.

Agreed with all this. One could argue that Mt. Greenwood is a better neighborhood than Alsip.

Also, Marist is about as isolated from anything dangerous as possible while still being in the city limits.