Centennial vs. Central High School/Champaign, IL (Urbana, Country Club Hills: crimes, homes)

[molliecat1]

We are relocating to C-U area and we have a couple of concerns. First, we have considered Mahomet, St. Joseph, Monticello, etc. We find these areas have higher priced homes/property taxes and due to smaller geographical size, don't have a lot of housing or housing options available. Our youngest son will be entering his freshman year of high school, and we are considering public high school options in Champaign.

We are wondering which school is better in ANYONE'S opinion? I know Savoy has been mentioned, and it appears that those who live in Savoy go to Central H.S. Is there 'school of choice' at all? The school system we come from lacks diversity---and diversity is not an issue...the problem would be gang issues, alot of drug/alcohol use, and any serious social problems, fights, etc. If Champaign high schools have alot of serious problems of this nature----I suppose we have to "wait it out" for 4 years in the smaller burbs....and purchase a home later after he graduates---

Would LOVE to hear from anyone who has a thought on either of these 2 schools or ideas for relocation to other local areas in general

THANKS MUCH!!!

[molliecat1]

HELLO!!!!! IS ANYBODY OUT THERE WITH A REPLY???
Thanx!

[bulldawg1594]

Interactive Illinois Report Card

Interactive Illinois Report Card

[oneluckymug]

Sorry......I think the 3 schools you don't want to go to are much better then anything the Champaign-Urbana public system has to offer. Both Mahomet and Monticello have very very good all around schools with a lot to do no matter your childs interest. St. Joe is not far behind. These are also much more family friendly areas then Champaign. Check the crimes rates of Mahomet/Monticello vs Champaign. You can found plenty of good housing which isn't as expensive with reduced taxes but in the school district in those 3 places.

Great schools ratings....

Mahomet high school....9/10
Monticello high schoo....10/10
St. Joe.......................9/10

http://iirc.niu.edu/CompareSchools.a...90100040260001



Centennial...................7/10
Central........................6/10

[bulldawg1594]

Originally Posted by Miss Dee.

Hillcrest High in COUNTRY CLUB HILLS IS BETTER!!!!!!! test scords were 12.0 MOVE TO CCH MUTHA FURKERS!

oh my god you're so funny.

[molliecat1]

Thanks for your sincere reply. I did check on city-data for Centennial High School specifically, and the ACT scores for Centennial are higher than either Mahomet or Monticello. So academically it doesn't seem to be lacking. My son currently goes to a Jr. High that is ranked a '10' on Great schools rating, but the ACT scores are also slightly lower than Centennial as well. I see that Centennial is ranked 86 out of 100, and again- Mahomet/Monticello are not higher....basically in the same ballpark. This is why I don't understand, based on these factors Champaign schools get a bad rap. THANKS AGAIN--oneluckymug!!

[molliecat1]

Originally Posted by Miss Dee.

Hillcrest High in COUNTRY CLUB HILLS IS BETTER!!!!!!! test scords were 12.0 MOVE TO CCH MUTHA FURKERS!

[molliecat1]

Originally Posted by bulldawg1594

oh my god you're so funny.

[oneluckymug]

Originally Posted by molliecat1

Thanks for your sincere reply. I did check on city-data for Centennial High School specifically, and the ACT scores for Centennial are higher than either Mahomet or Monticello. So academically it doesn't seem to be lacking. My son currently goes to a Jr. High that is ranked a '10' on Great schools rating, but the ACT scores are also slightly lower than Centennial as well. I see that Centennial is ranked 86 out of 100, and again- Mahomet/Monticello are not higher....basically in the same ballpark. This is why I don't understand, based on these factors Champaign schools get a bad rap. THANKS AGAIN--oneluckymug!!

There are a lot more things to look at then ACT scores when judging a school. By almost any measure you use, the 3 schools you mentioned first come out on top of Centennial. You should be able if interested to find acts of violence in the schools as well. I think your eyebrows may be raised in the difference between the Champaign schools vs those a few miles away. A very large difference that won't show up in any of the numbers is parental involvement and community support in those surrounding schools are far and away better then the Champaign schools.

You seem to have made your mind up on Champaign.....when picking between Centennial vs Central......the former is a better all around school.

[oneluckymug]

I would also be interested to know what these ACT scores are.....

According to the 2008 ACT results, Mahomet, Monticello, St. Joseph and Centennial all had an ACT score of 22. When you look at all other measures of academic testing Mahomet, Monticello, and St. Joe come out way above the state average for reading and mathematics (sometimes 15 points over the state) and Centennial comes out slightly over or at state average.

Illinois Schools | IL | Education.com

Since they can only average the scores of the students who take it, I would be interested to know what % of students at each of these schools take the exam. If 65% of the students take the ACT at school 1 and score an average of 22 and 80% of students take the ACT at school 2 and score an average of 22......school 2 has by far the best results.......

I went to 1 of those 3 schools mentioned and 94% of my graduating class went onto college.......I doubt the same can be said of any Champaign public schools.