We toured dozens of schools when we were applying to kindergarten for my daughter. It was time-consuming and exhausting. We decided then that we would stretch out the high school tours over many years. We've been going to open houses for many years now, and we can tell you this, they all say the same things! "We have a great culture, great administration, supportive teachers, blah, blah blah." No one points out their flaws during a sales pitch. So what sets one school apart from another?
We have been through the CPS High School application process a couple of times now, and what we've come to learn are the questions we should have been asking. Here are some of the things that might help differentiate your high school options and better rank your choices.
- Do they have a block schedule? Block schedule means they have a group of classes on alternating days. For example, math, science, and health are on A days, and Social Studies, English, and foreign language are on B days. Classes are 90 minutes long every other day. The benefits are having two days to do any homework, daily routines are less monotonous, and there's a more collegiate feel. Downside is 90 minute classes may be too long for some, and there can be a lack of consistency since teachers aren't seeing students daily. It depends on the student's preferences.
- Do freshman have a study hall? When I went to high school, study hall was just a blow off and all the parents knew it, but we are finding it quite valuable for our kids. It gives them ample time to get their homework done, to the point that they rarely bring any home. Different schools call and treat "study hall" differently. At Jones College Prep it is called Academic Lab. Everyone has it at the same time, so it becomes office hours for the teachers and students can visit with with them if they have questions or need extra help. At Walter Payton College Prep, it is called Enrichment, and students sign-up in advance for what they want to do with that time each day, whether it be to attend a tutoring session in a particular subject, participate in a club, or explore a special interest.
- What sports are walk-on? School athletics have become so competitive. If your child intends to play a sport, you might want to research the likelihood of them making the team. There may be opportunities over the summer to strengthen their skills before Fall try outs too.
- What are the time commitments of the sports your kid might be interested in? Most sports have practices five to six times a week, with preseasons for conditioning. Some of the practices are before school, some after. If your kid just wants to play, but doesn't want to put that much time in, that should play a factor in their school choice.
- Do they have a pool? For swimmers, this is obviously important. For my son, the lack of a pool at his school was a major coup. However, more generally speaking, what are their facilities like? Do they have a football stadium and a track? If they do not, 100% of their games will be "away" games, and keep in mind that they often do not have team buses to get them to games that can start as early as 4:30pm. In addition to logistical challenges, it means less spectators which can impact the overall school culture.
- How many AP/IB classes do they offer freshman year? Don't be intimidated by AP classes. My daughter's favorite class was her AP Human Geography, and it was no harder than her other courses. At her school, AP classes are weighted up to a 5.0, so it can boost one's GPA regardless of how they ultimately perform on the AP exam.
- How is the school helping the kids succeed and reducing the pressure teens are facing?
- Do they offer test retakes/no hurt finals?
- Do they have a no homework policy during breaks?
- Do they have support on campus?
8. Think about your child's commute, not just to and from school, but also to and from pre and after-school activities when it can be quite dark out.
9. What is security like?
- Metal detectors?
- Cameras?
- Single entry/exit?
10. Where did the freshmen go to middle school? If a large portion went to the same middle school, it might be harder to infiltrate those friend groups.
11. What is the Principal status? Are they on the verge of retirement? Maybe hit up some "Friends of" Facebook groups and see what current parents are saying. A change in administration can be extremely disruptive.
12. What are their annual student social events? Are these prioritized and supported by staff/administration?
Now that you have some questions to ask, go to Chicago School GPS for a calendar of all the Open Houses.
Once your child selects their school in the spring, try to speak with a counselor before they choose their courses for the year, or speak with upperclassmen who can tell you who the best or hardest teachers are, and start following the school's parent group(s) on social media.
Best of Luck!
