An Overview of Amundsen High School

Nestled between Andersonville and Lincoln Square, Amundsen High School has been a part of the CPS district since 1929. It was named after the famed arctic explorer, Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen, who is known for leading the first expedition to the South Pole in 1911, as well as being the first to sail through the Northwest Passage. The school’s student to teacher ratio is 15:1, and its student to counselor ratio is one of the best in the CPS district. Amundsen has a diverse student population as well (84% minority enrollment).

Amundsen is also an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the IB Diploma Program since 1999, and the Middle Years Program since 2003. About 22% of students participate in IB programs and classes, and the school has had a 70% pass rate on the IB Exam for the last four years. Students that take part in these programs are guaranteed college credit in all Illinois public colleges and universities. Amundsen states “The IB Program offers students an opportunity to have a well-rounded and rigorous college preparatory curriculum in a neighborhood school. The IB Program provides students with the discipline and skills necessary to take on future endeavors. Besides an excellent academic education that prepares them for post-secondary study, the IB Program gives students an opportunity to build character and perseverance to become future leaders in the community.”

Beyond the IB programs, Amundsen also offers a Career and Technical Education Program (CTE). This intense training program allows students to make the leap from in-school learning to applicable industry problem-solving. It also has some truly unique concentrations, including Web Design, Game-Programming, and even an Apple-designed program to develop apps on their systems.

Over the years, Amundsen’s facilities have also undergone significant improvements and changes. The gymnasium, on-site pool, and computer and science labs have all benefited from the $20 million in renovation. Amundsen students also have immediate access to Winnemac Park’s softball, soccer, and baseball fields. The football stadium, Jorndt field, was also recently renovated, and seats over 1,000 people.

For more information on Amundsen High School, visit their website at https://www.amundsenhs.org/

Nate Hall, Tutoring Coordinator
nate@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of Taft Academic Center

Located in the far Northwest side of Chicago, Taft Academic Center (housed within Taft High School) is an International Baccalaureate World School. As noted on the CPS website, IB schools “share a common philosophy—a commitment to improving the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering a challenging and high-quality program of international education.” Most notably, IB students not only adhere to Common Core State Standards but also, international standards of excellence. Students who are accepted into Taft’s Academic Center are automatically accepted into the IB program for high school should they choose to stay.

In addition, according to Taft’s website, Taft is the only high school in Chicago to offer a six-year IB program that begins in 7th grade. This is called their Middle Years Program (MYP). Within the MYP for 7th and 8th graders, students complete an honors-level core curriculum, a design course, a foreign language course, and an elective such as art, drama, or band. Like other academic centers, students can earn high school credit during their 7th and 8th-grade years; unlike other academic centers, Taft 7th and 8th-grade students are able to earn International Baccalaureate high school credits.

Taft’s website also boasts an impressive amount of sports and clubs from which students enrolled can choose to participate: more than 100. In addition, students can learn in a more hands-on environment by attending field trips to places such as Steppenwolf Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Holocaust Museum, as well as participating in “Team Building Adventures,” and more. Another unique element of Taft is its transportation policy: transportation is provided through a busing program for students who reside more than 1.5 miles away from the school.

For more information about Taft’s Academic Center and its programs, visit their website at tafthighschool.org.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266