High Schools - North Shore vs. City, Public vs. Private (Chicago: real estate, crime)

[Suburban Mom of 2 Kids]

So, give me a bit of latitude on this one....as I mentioned in a previous post, my family and I are looking to move in the near term future. We are currently in the Northwest Suburbs, and both work in the city (downtown). Our children are in a small private PS-8 school on the North Shore and doing well overall, both socially, emotionally and academically. So, for obvious reasons, we'd like to make our lives a bit less hectic and a bit more convenient for all of us, and get close to something!

With that said, doing some preliminary analysis, 4-5 years out, when our oldest will be in high school and thinking that our next move will last us anywhere from 8-12 years....we know what we like, and want from a real estate perspective, and we will be able to find a place that is workable for us in all of the general areas listed below. We are a bi-racial family, and the ultimate choice of high school would be one that readily accepts people for who they are, regardless of race, color, creed, sex, etc.

Our target move location is broad...anywhere on the North Shore would be better than where we are right now, although the closer to the loop, the better. Obviously, anywhere in the city would be great too, BUT, would have to have confirmation of an elementary school for the children to attend before that move was made....not willing to leave the elementary school decision up to our "local" school necessarily.

I'd be interested in the forum's thoughts on the following high schools (thanks for thoughts already on New Trier).....again, conceding academics at these schools are generally top tier.....if you had a choice of which high school to attend, and where to live, what would you pick and why?

City High Schools:

• Walter Payton Prep
• Latin
• U of C Lab Schools
• Whitney Young

Suburban High Schools:

• Loyola Academy
• Lake Forest Public
• Lake Forest Academy
• Woodlands Academy (Girls only)
• Evanston Township High School

Not listing Highland Park high school or Glenbrook North/South, as we are not interested in moving to those areas.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by Suburban Mom of 2 Kids

I'd be interested in the forum's thoughts on the following high schools (thanks for thoughts already on New Trier).....again, conceding academics at these schools are generally top tier.....if you had a choice of which high school to attend, and where to live, what would you pick and why?

City High Schools:

• Walter Payton Prep
• Latin
• U of C Lab Schools
• Whitney Young

Suburban High Schools:

• Loyola Academy
• Lake Forest Public
• Lake Forest Academy
• Woodlands Academy (Girls only)
• Evanston Township High School

Not listing Highland Park high school or Glenbrook North/South, as we are not interested in moving to those areas.

Also, I love Evanston for its walkability and many restaurants and also because there is lots to do connected with Northwestern.

I am a big supporter of public schools and my kids went to ETHS. At the time, they could not have gotten a better education. The number of course offerings alone was worth it as I had a son who was a math-science genius (he did the chem-phys program and had multivariable calc in his senior year) and a daughter who was a technical theater person (she does that for a living now after going to Carnegie Mellon for tech theater). They had great art and music for her - she was in a show choir, she did tech for all three theater programs - musicals, drama, student produced and readers theater.

If you want a smaller private school:

Have you looked into Roycemore (it goes k-12) and I think it is an excellent college prep school. It is smaller than ETHS, but since you are already doing a private elementary, it might suit you.

Roycemore Private School in Evanston Illinois Serving the North Shore

Some parent ratings here:
Roycemore School - 640 Lincoln St, Evanston, IL - Trulia

Student Review
Upper School (Grades 9-12) | Roycemore Private School in Evanston Illinois Serving the North Shore

[thePR]

Where are you currently living?

I would suggest Loyola or Lake Forest High School. I would not want to go to high school in the city, nor wold I want to send my kids to high school in the city.

I do not like the idea of gender specific schools or spending all the money to live in a nice area to go to a private school that is probably not as good as the public schools. The school is also too small. All that takes Woodlands Academy off the list.

Evantson High School is not bad academically, but it isn't great. The quality of the building is poor, and has a decent amount of crime associated with it/the area.

Lake Forest Academy is private and too small.

I made an exception for Loyola because of its reputation. Its not as prestigious as it used to be, but it is still good. Lake Forest High School would be my number one choice.

[847mom]

What is poor quality about Evanston Township's building? Are you speaking from direct experience, or just from driving by? Yes, it is definitely older than most other schools, except for maybe New Trier, which could also use some updating. I went to ETHS and it was always very well taken care of with great theaters, librairies and multitudes of gyms. They have some of the best sports facilities around, such as baseball, football and softball, swimming. The families I have known who have kids that have gone there more recently, have been more than satisfied with it. It is not for people who do not want their children to go to a school with a very diverse student body, both racially and financially. I feel that I am a better person because I had the experience of going there.
Most of the "crime" associated with that neighborhood has not involved students. Undeniably, it is a more urban suburb. It is very hard to compare, with Lake Forest, which would probably be a complete opposite. They have a new and beautiful school, but I have never heard anything positive or negative about it. Loyola Academy was never prestigious during my high school era. Certainly not a bad school in any way, but if a religious education is not something that your family really requires, I don't really see the point.

[thePR]

I've been in Evanston High School before.

[Suburban Mom of 2 Kids]

Which is prompting the desire to move closer to something!

[pvande55]

One advantage of sending them to private school is you are not constrained by residency. I know someone who went to NS Country Day School (Winnetka IL)and said many of the students commuted from places where the school district was not so great. I guess, why pay all that property tax to get a good school. Why haven't you listed that school?

[thePR]

Originally Posted by Suburban Mom of 2 Kids

Which is prompting the desire to move closer to something!

So what made you choose those areas/high schools other than getting closer to everything?

[chikid]

Originally Posted by thePR

Where are you currently living?

I would suggest Loyola or Lake Forest High School. I would not want to go to high school in the city, nor wold I want to send my kids to high school in the city.

I do not like the idea of gender specific schools or spending all the money to live in a nice area to go to a private school that is probably not as good as the public schools. The school is also too small. All that takes Woodlands Academy off the list.

Evantson High School is not bad academically, but it isn't great. The quality of the building is poor, and has a decent amount of crime associated with it/the area.

Lake Forest Academy is private and too small.

I made an exception for Loyola because of its reputation. Its not as prestigious as it used to be, but it is still good. Lake Forest High School would be my number one choice.

Just curious and not judging, but what are your reasons for that?

[thePR]

Originally Posted by chikid

Just curious and not judging, but what are your reasons for that?

You can live in a nice part of Chicago and that area's high school can still be not the best. I don't want to spend all that money to live in a good area not to have good schools and I'm not going to pay extra for a private school.