Moving to Chicago from East coast - Wilmette, Glenview, Hinsdale? (Evanston: 2013, house)

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

]One incident that sticks with me was riding the purple line in Wilmette and overhearing high school girls talk about the $10,000 hair extensions that their parents bought for them. They just seemed so "entitled"...

I think you got punked. The girls were lying. $300 hair extensions is more like it. The average single family house in Wilmette costs about $800,000 and is occupied by someone making about $200,000. They can't afford $10,000 hair extensions (if they exist), private airplanes, etc.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

I think you got punked. The girls were lying. $300 hair extensions is more like it. The average single family house in Wilmette costs about $800,000 and is occupied by someone making about $200,000. They can't afford $10,000 hair extensions (if they exist), private airplanes, etc.

Maybe they walked over to Linden from Kennilworth.

I hoyed what I hoyed. It was some sort of procedure. Of course this isn't representative of a typical Wilmette teenage experience, but it's a wealthy town.

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Maybe they walked over to Linden from Kennilworth.

I hoyed what I hoyed. It was some sort of procedure. Of course this isn't representative of a typical Wilmette teenage experience, but it's a wealthy town.

They could have been dropped off at the Linden El station by their private chauffeurs. Or they really did have $10,000 hair extensions paid for by money that should have gone into their parents' retirement plan. Or they were lying or kidding.

[chrissyb52]

KayinMarin

When we first moved here, both my children were at Central school (my son is now in 5th grade at Highcrest), so that is where I have the most direct experience with extra support

We utilized several of the same resources for my son, and I was pretty happy. First, because we came mid way through 1st grade, they paired my son up with other new kids in breakout social meetings to help the children feel comfortable in school. I was happy to have something like this. We had moved several times in the past 5 years, and each time he had to give up his best friend and was pretty bummed. I noticed it socially with him not wanting to make new connections, as well as not always reading the social situation properly. The next year we had him participate in a social skills group...it was a group of boys that worked on social skills every Friday. Some children were more severe in their needs. Anyone can participate. He did this for 2 & 3rd grade.

My son also had a tongue thrust (mama should have made him give that pacifier up way earlier!) which we noticed was also affecting his spelling. He'd study them but then would revert to phonetic spelling. You didn't really notice it in his speech, but in the spelling. Again, we asked for him to meet with the Speech therapist at school and he did a 12 week stint with them.

Both my children needed extra help in reading, and the teachers typically identify children that need more help and they have a breakout specialist who spent more time with them. Between our initiatives and the schools we saw good results.

All in all, I was pretty happy with the amount of services and assistance available, although I think my children did not need extensive interventions. I have several other friends whose children have IEP's (dyslexia, ADHD, etc) When I reflect, any issues they complained about were more about setting the IEP though the school board, rather than the back end. Friends in other states have the same complaints thought, and I speculate it boils down to procedure. Interestingly, almost everyone I know has had their child get some sort of extra assistance..mostly extra reading help, etc., so it certainly not just reserved for some children.

I suggest ringing the elementary schools you are interested in and asking them, as their might be a school that is even better equiped or focused depending on your needs. They will be happy to answer any questions.

[Hinsdale 2013]

We moved to Illinois last year and Wilmette and Hinsdale were among our finalists. Obviously from my user name, we chose Hinsdale. However, both are really good choices. Although I think Hinsdale shares more similarities in terms of housing costs and aesthetics with towns like Glencoe and Winnetka, here are my thoughts on Hinsdale v Wilmette:

Schools: A wash. Both have excellent schools from elementary through high school.
Special Education: We interviewed officials at both, and both seem to have good programs that care about kids. We are pleased with Hinsdale's special ed so far.
Commute: Depends on where you are commuting to in the city. Both are generally convenient with 20 minute express trains, although I don't think Hinsdale is that convenient to Michigan Ave (although I have not checked the routes).
Convenience: Advantage to Hinsdale - it is closer to airports, freeways, and very close to loads of shopping in Oak Brook.
Lake: Obviously advantage to Wilmette. If you want the beach, Hinsdale is not the right choice. Wilmette's beach is nice.
Environment: Subjective, but we found Hinsdale to be more charming in its layout. All elementary schools are walk-to, the downtown is like a Norman Rockwell painting, and the trees/houses make it very aesthetically pleasing. Wilmette struck us as having some beautiful parts and some very ordinary parts, while Hinsdale seemed nice throughout the town.
Housing: Hinsdale's average house prices are higher. Neither are cheap, though. Hinsdale's tear-downs are polarizing, but we like the results. You have a broader selection of recently built houses in Hinsdale.
Social environment: In our research, Hinsdale had a reputation to be more open to transplants than some North Shore towns because there are more transplants in Hinsdale. We have found Hinsdale to be very, very friendly and welcoming. Some folks will opine that Hinsdale has many affluent folks and lots of snobs...but honestly, we have not had that experience thus far. We know people in Wilmette who are very happy there too- but I really can't opine on their social environment.
Community: Hinsdale does seem to be very community-focused. I can't speak for Wilmette.
Demographics: Umm, neither are terribly diverse, although we haven't found the lack of racial diversity to reflect a lack of diversity of thought. Everyone seems pretty welcoming regardless of race.

All in all, these are both really nice suburbs. Anyone considering these towns should definitely spend time in both to see what they like. Good luck!

[Omoikane]

I am surprised how rarely the Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove is mentioned on this forum. It is arguably the best school in the state (private, K-8). Along with Lake Forest Country Day, University of Chicago Lab Schools, and the Latin School of Chicago, these are the most well regarded in the state.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Omoikane

I am surprised how rarely the Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove is mentioned on this forum. It is arguably the best school in the state (private, K-8). Along with Lake Forest Country Day, University of Chicago Lab Schools, and the Latin School of Chicago, these are the most well regarded in the state.

There is very little transparency with regards to how rigorous any private schools really is from an academic standpoint -- a large percentage of students are undoubtedly admitted due to things like family connection / financial support of the institution.

How would one really go about "judging" whether Avery Coonley is better / not as good as other private schools? From there own admissions information it certainly sounds as though they screen out a huge range of learners -- Admission >> Is ACS for You? - The Avery Coonley School

There is really little argument that in terms of numerical achievement no other publicly funded in Illinois can hold a candle to IMSA. It is also true that IMSA is quite unique -- it is a residential school that serves only 10th-12th grade students, it is staffed by folks who may hold subject matter PhDs but with no other teaching credentials likely could not actually be employed as a teacher in any other public school in the state and is often the subject of both praise -- Illinois-Math-and-Science-Academy-celebrates-25-years - Chicago Sun-Times as well as often critics -- Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Don't get me wrong, many kids that go to LFCD or Latin or UofC Lab may be quite talented, but since private schools are under no obligation to release data about their graduates it is all but impossible to really judge them. For folks that want to spend their money on private schools there is no shortage of options in the region, of course there are are also plenty of folks from Illinois that send their kids to residential schools in other states too. This decisions are often driven as much by social factors as any real "performance data".

[Omoikane]

Latin and University of Chicago Lab Schools regularly release ACT and SAT test scores and both regularly place at the very top among schools in the state.

Avery Coonley and LFCD both use Terra Nova, which certainly is less transparent, but what is transparent is that most of the students from both schools end up at elite secondary schools like Groton, St. Paul's, St. Mark's, Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, etc. (which similarly release ACT and SAT scores). You don't get better than that in U.S. secondary education.

Based on your argument I'm sure you'd agree that test scores aren't everything, but you'd also recognize that these private schools have more resources and offer more opportunities than their public counterparts.

[chet everett]

I do agree that they do get more money to spend on things, I don't agree that the test results are available --

George Lucas, Mellody Hobson donate large again - Chicago Tribune

Those black tie affairs consume LOTS of "donor money" -- Charity Navigator Rating - Latin School of Chicago

Latin School of Chicago Upper -- Chicago Tribune 2013 Illinois School Report Cards

University of Chicago Lab Schs -- Chicago Tribune 2013 Illinois School Report Cards

The literally "did not release" information that could be used to compare the success of kids in even the "upper" or high school equivalent...

[mattywo85]

Originally Posted by NotinKSanymore

Okay so my wife, my five-year-old, my one year-old and I are moving to Chicago this spring. Where to live?
So I'm familiar with Chicago having lived there right after college. Probably not looking to live in the same neighborhood though.

Here's what we want/know, please comment on any or all of the items below...or add anything that seasoned Chicago suburban dwellers have to offer.

1)The daily commute will be to Chicago Avenue at Michigan Ave. and will generally be 6am and 6pm. We are both fond of mass transit but MUST have an alternative (read - drive some days)

2) We love old houses, tree lined streets and kids playing in the yards (yes I know it's -10 this time of year) during the summer. We are looking for a community to settle in permanently. I know many of the suburbs are pricey, but will entertain them all for arguments sake for now.

3) Prefer high achieving Catholic schools, but believe a top rated public alternative is important.

4) please comment on the following suburbs
Wilmette
Glennview
Hinsdale

5) other suburb recommendations.

Thanks

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