In retrospect, as an alumnus, not a bad place to go to High School. I learned many life lessons…read morehere, learned how to play guitar in their basement, met some great life long friends and got big push into college. The Jesuits are powerful people and have expanded their unique high school model nation-wide!

Great school with connections to some of Chicago major employers. If you can get take advantage of…read morethe opportunity.

Very questionable school. Lots of very interesting faculty. I've had some very bad experiences with…read morethe faculty. Students are overall pretty nice. Some of the parents are also problematic.

I went to Whitney Young and it was fun. I learned a lot. Best teachers, by far Mrs…read more Brusek-Kaczmarek (English & Polish Club), Mr. Pasowicz (Psych), Mr. Jay Rehak (English & Writers Club), Mrs. K. Rehak (Chemistry-- not related to the English teacher), and finally Mr. Bruner (Art class & Art Club), who is no longer there, but who has changed my life forever. I think we all have a teacher that really touched us. Who knew that from freshman art, I'd be going to art school instead of journalism school like I first imagined for college. It was all because of Mr. Bruner. He got me my first job working for the city painting a mural, and I've been doing art ever since. So even though I am more in the fashion thing right now, hats are very artistic and sculptural. This is not your typical high school. Academics are very valued here. There are no cliches, at least there really weren't when I went there. I got along with everyone. I was really into art and writing, so I did that, and I had outlets for that through the after-school clubs. The minus was that the kids here were way too focused on learning and partying was sometimes out of the question with some people. Luckily, I had a group of friends from grade school that I let loose with. When you're doing Honors and AP classes, you need to balance that with a healthy dose of partying.

As someone who use to go to this school, people would always smoke in the stalls and bullying was…read morereally common, literally got bullied here too but yeah honestly please don't put your child in this school unless you want them to have popcorn lungs when they get older ..

This is one of the most remarkable schools that I have encountered. They emphasize movement, diet,…read moreand social skills as much as the basics that all of the other schools are based on, and the results are remarkable. I give this school and its administration very high marks!

I am writing this because parents deserve to know what kind of "Christian" high school Chicago Hope…read moreAcademy really is. As a child of God, I stand firm on my faith; I also believe that right is right and wrong is wrong and no matter what entity. This educational establishment is not above reproach and due to their lack of integrity where their actions have been inconsistent and disreputable, leads one to believe that the people leading this school is not suitable for ANY trust or leadership and must be held accountable. What happened to my child -- and to our family -- was not just disappointing. It was shocking, heartbreaking, and completely at odds with the values this school claims to represent. My child was expelled without a single real explanation. No meeting. No conversation. No attempt to understand what was going on. As parents, we were left standing there, stunned, trying to make sense of a decision that the school refused to justify. For an institution that talks endlessly about integrity and transparency, the silence was deafening. And let me be clear: this wasn't just a disciplinary issue. My child, like so many teens after COVID, has been carrying real trauma. Anxiety. Emotional exhaustion. The kind of struggles that any school -- especially a Christian one -- should be prepared to meet with compassion, patience, and support. Instead, they responded with the coldest, most dismissive approach imaginable. The counselor, who should have been a lifeline, was nowhere to be found in any meaningful way. No advocacy. No guidance. No effort to understand the emotional reality of a teenager trying to navigate a world that has been anything but stable. Their role felt symbolic at best, nonexistent at worst. And the disciplinary dean -- the person who should model wisdom, empathy, and discernment -- acted with a level of rigidity and detachment that was honestly disturbing. There was no trauma informed lens, no attempt at restoration, no recognition that teenagers make mistakes and need adults who can help them grow. Instead, the response was swift, punitive, and utterly devoid of grace. This school had a chance to live out the Christian values it advertises: redemption, forgiveness, compassion, partnership with families. Instead, it chose the path of least effort -- remove the "problem," avoid the conversation, and pretend that's leadership. It's not. It's cowardice dressed up as discipline. It's easier to expel a hurting teenager than to actually support them. It's easier to shut parents out than to admit that maybe the school mishandled something. It's easier to hide behind vague statements than to practice the honesty and accountability they demand from students. There's a name for this type of action - HYPROCRISY!!! By definition, the practice of professing beliefs, virtues, or feelings that one does not actually hold, often engaging in the same behaviors one criticizes in others. If you are a parent considering Chicago Hope Academy, especially if your child has any emotional needs, any trauma, any challenges at all -- please think twice. A school that cannot extend compassion to a struggling teenager is not a school prepared to guide them. A school that refuses to communicate with parents is not a school that values partnership. And a school that expels a child without explanation is not a school that understands the responsibility it carries. We expected a community rooted in faith and humanity. What we encountered was a system more interested in protecting itself than supporting the young people entrusted to its care. This experience was devastating for our family, and no parent should have to go through it.

Chicago Hope Academy has been a great choice for our son. Prior to attending Chicago Hope our son…read morewas not involved in any organized sports. Chicago Hope encourages every student to participate in a sport or extra curricular activity. Our son began running cross country in the fall, wrestling in the winter, and track in the spring. He has since dropped wrestling to participate in indoor track during the winter season. This has been a great experience for him as it has provided a place where he can feel part of a team, understand the work it takes to be an athlete, and the benefits of working hard to achieve progress toward a goal. The administration and staff at Chicago Hope have been fantastic. They are very receptive to parent involvement, and are willing to work with each student to make their high school experience a success regardless of the students future goals regarding college, trade school, or whatever choice is made. We have been very satisfied with our experience.

This is an amazing school in the heart of Chicago. The new building opened about a year and half…read moreago and it is really state of the art. The building may be new but this school has a lot of history in the city. There is a beautiful green space on the roof of the school. It is great to go up here and enjoy the urban jungle which is our city. There is also a fun play area for the students including nets overhead...we would not want a basketball going over the side and hitting someone in the head 3 stories below. Ouch!!! The staff here is great. They truly care about the students. The IB program here is also really great too. I wish I could go back to grade school and attend here. I also love the front office and the security guards too. Everyone here is so friendly and it makes the experience of school fun. I also must throw out some congrats to Kenneth Staral the school principal. He cares so much about education and the well being of all of the students. If it was not for him, I am sure that this school would not be this successful. He is a blessing for putting together such a great education plan for the students. In the warmer months, there is a guy that lives in the high rise, over the school on Oak, that will play his bag pipes on the top floor of his balcony. At first, I thought I was in some movie with hidden cameras but then realized this guy was up there practicing. So if you are ever walking around the school and you hear the music just look up and you will see this guy. I do get a tear in my eye when he starts playing "Danny Boy"! My little one will start to dance...he has even waved at us from 20 stories above. Fun Fact: The school is named after the first mayor of Chicago. Mr Ogden was involved in real estate, he also was involved with canals too. In fact, his company cut out the canal that made Goose Island in Chicago. He later moved on to the railroads and was president of Union Pacific. He built a railroad to Wisconsin to bring grain to Chicago and also a railroad out West too. He was on the cutting edge of progress and growing our nation. The parents, students, faculty and staff make the learning experience here at Ogden great and I look forward to many more years here.

When I was a kid, I had aced the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Did you know you could ace them?…read moreNeither did I. What I mean by that is that I scored a straight 99th percentile on every single one of my Iowa Tests and got a strange invitation in the mail. The invitation was from pre-International Baccalaureate Program to take an exam and potentially join Abraham Lincoln Elementary or William B. Ogden Elementary. Little did I know, this little invitation would change the rest of my life. At the exam, I met a friend that had moved away in third grade and we laughed wondering why we were both here. We both talked and said that Ogden School sounded better than Lincoln Elementary School, so that is what we decided. After taking their exam, I also had an interview. I was informed that I had scored the fifth best in the city and that I could pick Ogden or Lincoln. Seeing as my friend and I agreed on Odgen, Ogden it was. I missed my first day of school because the school bus did not show up until 9 in the morning, but by then I had already walked back to Volta Elementary as I did not know what to do. Over the years the bus was pretty consistent, except for the day that I missed it and decided to take the train downtown to school. Being eleven years old, sometimes you just don't know where you're going. I got off the train and started walking and then realized that I had no idea where I was. I walked into a police station and yelled, "Help, I need help!" After explaining that I was lost and late for school two cops drove me six blocks to school and apologized for swearing like pirates. I arrived to the playground in the back of a cop car and the kids thought that I had been arrested! With regard to the curriculum, it was a bar up from the Gifted Program that I had been in Volta Elementary and the adjustments took awhile because whereas before I was able to dominate, I struggled with the new social situation and had to take extra time to regain my bearings. By 7th grade, I was doing well in school again and liked French class the best since it was the most interesting. I still speak French today, which serves as a testament of the merits of Ogden's rigorous curriculum. At Ogden, you also learn to deal with kids coming from the deep south side and kids who live right around the corner on the Gold Coast. The pre-IB Program at Ogden set me up well for my future IB entry exams at Lincoln Park High School. The French curriculum is a must have for kids who will want to be speaking French in the future and is a cheaper alternative than sending kids out for private lessons. I also learned the ability to respect and tolerate the diversity of races and socioeconomic statuses of the various Chicagoans that will be found at this school. If you ever wonder who William B. Ogden was, he was the first mayor of Chicago. He worked extensively with land developers and reached the epic agreement that guarantees the land on our lakefront as public parks now and forever. Well forever until the city decides to lease it out for the next quick buck.

Steven-You were in Kindergarten through 5th Grade there those years. How would you even know it…read morewasn't a good enough place to send your kids to at such a young age ? Please. Give me a break. The staff is wonderful and the school is unbelievably organized with tons of activities and events. The teachers have been there for YEARS and are unforgettable teachers you will remember for the rest of your life. Joyce and Wendy in the office are AMAZING ladies !!!

My son is currently in 3rd. Grade and has been attending BCA since PreK3. This is great school…read morewith dedicated teachers and a very good athelitic program starting in 1st grade.

This school is something else with their harsh punishments (demerits / 4 demerits equal one…read moredetention) I always teach my son that he need to follow rules and regulations but this is ridiculous! My husband called my son during his auditorium session (NOT NORMAL CLASS TIME) and because he answered his phone they gave him 4 demerits which I personally told him not to serve it because I understand if his friends were to call to be fooling around during class, i understand but when his dad is on the phone because he has been sitting out there in his car over an hour and he wanted to check on his son- his phone was taken away from him this is completely UNACCEPTABLE! He was held in the school with out us not knowing, without communication! we didn't know till 7:00 when he was able to borrow a PHONE FROM A STRANGER TO CALL US! UNACCEPTABLE & UNPROFESSIONAL I know 4 families that let their children go to THIS school and after 2 months they transfer them out! They completely strict on this kids! the kids are under a huge pressure from the school! students are depressed and overwhelmed because of the rules and restrictions. I don't recommend this school. Look at the review from true parents not someone they told to make a fake review!

This school is part of the Noble Street Charter Network. My daughter graduated from the original…read moreNoble High School, so I assumed they were all the same. This school was able to make addendum's to their rules, which did not have to be approved by the superintendent. It is also the teachers discretion for any type of punishment (demerits / 4 demerits equal one detention, which is $5) for whatever reason. If the students try to challenge the demerits, they receive more demerits. No one is right 100% of the time and if a student really didn't deserve the punishment, you should be able to challenge it. Unfortunately, I did transfer my son out of the school and wish I had done it much sooner. The governance of each school needs to be reviewed and approved by other officials other than those at that school. I am a strong believer of discipline, however not every student needs it to the extreme of this school and it takes it's toll on the good ones. Also, the teachers do not require a teaching degree. They are only required to have a bachelor degree in the studies they teach (math, science, etc.). I wish I would have found this out sooner, because in order to become a good teacher you need to understand adolescent behavior. I don't understand how or why any school would hire anyone without a teaching degree. That is scary because the Noble Street Charter Network of schools do receive CPS money, so the teachers should have a teaching degree. The auditorium is always filled with students serving detention and thats because they can receive many demerits in one day for whatever petty reason. The $5 per detention can add up very quickly. The night school fees are ridiculous as well. They are $140 per class and the teachers nit pick on the students with their homework and don't give them all the credit for at least completing it. The one star rating is for the front office staff. They are so wonderful and really try to help you in anyway they can. Final thought is to thoroughly research the CPS school within your neighborhood. They are not all bad and are probably better than some of the Charter High Schools. All of our children are different, so please find what will work best for them. I strongly discourage anyone sending their child to this high school.

The band there is awesome it's nice to see kids into playing instruments again will definitely be…read moreattending some performances from this group #makebandgreatagain

This school is ass I don't recommend for your kids going if you can get I to a better school I…read morewould period sis . But anyways they do hall swipes in 2022 like bruh I know I'm a freshman but like I ditch everyday that how much this school sucks and you have to get checked in the morning. Last time I snuck in a AK-47 and they didn't even do nothing but when I sneak in drugs I get in trouble like what but yeah don't come to this school

Jones College Prep is 100 on the US NEWS and WORLD REPORT Top 100 High Schools…read more I am so grateful for Jones College Prep, from which my eldest daughter graduated last night and from which my younger daughter will graduate in two years. For those of you who believe you must move to the suburbs to obtain a quality education for your children, it just ain't so!! Jones is small (700 students), academically rigorous as a public "Selective Enrollment School" (granted, with highly competitive admissions), and its most unique quality, remarkable diversity: 30% Hispanic, 24% White, 24% Black, 11% Asian, 8% Native American (in Chicago!), and 4% Multiracial. Here is one astonishing factoid that speaks volumes about the quality of education at Jones, and the depth and talent of the 200+/- member Class of 2008. Collectively, these kids were awarded $11.14 million in scholarships. That's something like $55,000 per student. Here is a representative list of the caliber of colleges represented by this year's graduating class: Bard, Barnard, Bennington, Carnegie Mellon, Coe, Cornell, Eugene Lang, MIT, NYU, Oberlin, Purdue, University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wellesely, and many more. Not all public schools suck.

Jones is a wonderful school in the city of Chicago. Any child would be lucky to get in and go…read morethere. I currently have a daughter attending (sophomore), and my son will be joining her there, as a freshman, this fall. A true gem of a school in the south loop.