Can we afford to live in the city and raise a family? (Chicago: houses, buyers)

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by chet everett

The voice-to-text feature of my portable device for some reason substituted magnate for magnet.

I have inserted the corrected version below.




As a former CPS teacher that has experience in a well regarded magnet school I would vehemently disagree that the level of instruction at most such CPS facilities, evrn those that acheive high test scores, is ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM superior to the better suburban schools. The undisputable FACTS show that CPS has fewer hours of instruction, larger class sizes, less well prepared teachers and students and a dearth of the things like athletics, art and music that many suburban parents find not to be "optional" but an integral part of their child's education.

To be sure the high levels of performance that some CPS magnet schools achieve on required state tests is one measure of their the ability to get a very narrowly group of students to meet the mark but too often that shows merely the low bar set by these tests and the FACT that the results can be had with outmoded / non-Pprogrssive "drill & kill" teaching methods that do little to raise the overall appreciation of schooling...

There are many well rated CPS magnet schools that I would strongly discourage any thoughtful parent from considering if they have any viable alternative.

Of course you would, you have homes to sell in Minooka.

The truth is, kids with parents who care and that are from non-low income households, do well at CPS. Even non-magnet schools. Just as they would in Elmhurst.

The CPS school day is 7 hours, the vast majority of which is classroom time.

[cubssoxfan]

The selective enrollment schools in CPS are some of the best schools in the state. BUT, from what I have read, there is a cap to the number of high performing students selected by zip code to enhance diversity and provide opportunities for lower income students. Nothing wrong with that except it penalizes kids who have earned high grades, as some of them are left out. If your student is enrolled in a well regarded suburban district ALL students are allowed to participate since it is all encompassing enrollment not selective enrollment. One less thing to worry about.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

The selective enrollment schools in CPS are some of the best schools in the state. BUT, from what I have read, there is a cap to the number of high performing students selected by zip code to enhance diversity and provide opportunities for lower income students. Nothing wrong with that except it penalizes kids who have earned high grades, as some of them are left out. If your student is enrolled in a well regarded suburban district ALL students are allowed to participate since it is all encompassing enrollment not selective enrollment. One less thing to worry about.

You can move to a good open enrollment school in Chicago and you are guaranteed to get in, it's just like a suburb. Sauganash, Wildwood, Peirce, Coonley, Audubon, Bell, Waters, Blaine, Burley, Agassiz, Nettlehorst are all automatic in if you live in the attendance area.

I agree with the comments about High School. It is very very difficult to get into the top Selective Enrollment HSs in Chicago.

[chet everett]

I have never sold or assisted in the purchase of any residential real estate in Minooka or frankly overthe past five years, any point further west than Glen Ellyn.

The facts about the length of the CPS school day as compared to others and the paucity of instructional calendar days is indisputable. There is plentiful research / documentation to show the lack of instructional time that CPS and CTU have fought over.

Larger high schools in the suburbs have a far wider range of students than the highly selective CPS magnet schools. The range of course offerings, extracurricular activities / clubs ieaves CPS in the dust. There is more to "diversity" than having a hobo's stew of underprepared students and the success of CPS selective admissions schools relative to most neighborhoods CPS schools reflects that as vividly as anything els ,ever could...

I agree that parents that put forth effort to guide their students toward academic achievement are the single most important factor in any individual student's success but the role of skilled teachers working in an effectively administered setting is a very close second. The quality of instruction in too many CPS facilities, including magnet schools that perform well on the weak state mandated tests, is abysmal.

Any wise parent that can choose to live in an area where the local schools will provide an easy to enroll, progressive learning environment with high acheivement through first rate instruction would be foolish to do other than understand the importantance of these things. The relative value of such communities is reflected in the price stability / appreciation they show.

Again, these are nothing more than facts. I completely sympathize with those who choose a different sort of lifestyle, and I often offer helfpul experience based advice to this choosing that option.

My quibble is the lack of understanding among some who do not fully appreciate the trade offs of either choice.

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Of course you would, you have homes to sell in Minooka.

The truth is, kids with parents who care and that are from non-low income households, do well at CPS. Even non-magnet schools. Just as they would in Elmhurst.

The CPS school day is 7 hours, the vast majority of which is classroom time.

[Vlajos]

We know Chet is an expert on many things, but I wouldn't trust a suburban realtor who has an obvious agenda.

Chicago school day not much shorter than some others in state - Chicago Tribune

This article is before CPS increased the school day to 7 hours.

[hindukid]

You can trust Chet or you can trust US News. Fact is that US News ranks every high school in the state and the top 4 schools are all in the city of Chicago.

Fact is also that Northside Prep and Walter Payton have higher ACT scores than any public high school in the suburbs including New Trier and Stevenson. Its not just "weak Illinois tests" but also the college entrance exam.

Also this does not take into account that attending a CPS magnet school your child will be exposed to a wealth of socio-economic and racial diversity that just is not going to happen in the burbs.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by hindukid

You can trust Chet or you can trust US News. Fact is that US News ranks every high school in the state and the top 4 schools are all in the city of Chicago.

Fact is also that Northside Prep and Walter Payton have higher ACT scores than any public high school in the suburbs including New Trier and Stevenson. Its not just "weak Illinois tests" but also the college entrance exam.

Also this does not take into account that attending a CPS magnet school your child will be exposed to a wealth of socio-economic and racial diversity that just is not going to happen in the burbs.

Of course this is very true. In addition, Chet keeps talking about some intangible better in the suburbs thing, but there is no explanation of what that is. Is it the air quality? Is it more white affluent people?

[Ace Rothstein]

Originally Posted by hindukid

You can trust Chet or you can trust US News. Fact is that US News ranks every high school in the state and the top 4 schools are all in the city of Chicago.

Fact is also that Northside Prep and Walter Payton have higher ACT scores than any public high school in the suburbs including New Trier and Stevenson. Its not just "weak Illinois tests" but also the college entrance exam.

Also this does not take into account that attending a CPS magnet school your child will be exposed to a wealth of socio-economic and racial diversity that just is not going to happen in the burbs.

Nobody is doubting the best schools in the state aren't in CPS. It is just VERY difficult to get into those schools. Lots of applications, very few accepted.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Ace Rothstein

Nobody is doubting the best schools in the state aren't in CPS. It is just VERY difficult to get into those schools. Lots of applications, very few accepted.

True for High Schools, but not for elemetary schools. There are plenty of good CPS non-magnet elementary schools.

[chet everett]

Here is just one slice of how some schools compare --

Walter Payton College Prep > Academics > Departments > Music

Music Department | New Trier Township High School

Hinsdale Central Music

York Community High School: York Athletics

Walter Payton College Prep Athletics Calendar

Athletics Welcome

New Trier Athletics | New Trier Township High School

Athletics Dept || Home

York Community High School: Music