An Overview of Francis W. Parker School

Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Francis W. Parker School (also known as Parker) is a private school for students at every grade level: junior kindergarten to senior year of high school. It’s ranked the 5th best private high school in Illinois and has a student-teacher ratio of 9:1. The average SAT and ACT scores at Parker are 1420 and 31, respectively.

Parker offers a diverse and challenging curriculum which includes both general classes in math, science, reading, social studies, and more, as well as more specialized classes such as “Sociology of Sports,” “Literature and Censorship,” and “The Civil Rights Movement” among others. In addition to a rigorous course load, students are encouraged to explore the arts, as well as athletics in their “no-cut athletics program.” They also offer a Senior Seminar which “provides a safe space for seniors to reflect on their final year of high school and prepare for their next journey.”

Outside of the classroom, students also attend conferences and participate in a schoolwide Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. Students can also elect to participate in the Model UN program which competes locally, nationally, and internationally. Beginning in junior year, students also have the opportunity to utilize Parker’s College Counseling Office which provides a laundry list of meetings, advise, and thorough information to help guide students in their applications to the schools of their choices. To find out more about their College Counseling Office, curriculum, athletics, or more, visit their website at https://www.fwparker.org/.

Since Parker is a private school, students must take the ISEE to gain admission into the school as well as apply. In addition, Parker charges approximately $34,000 in yearly tuition to attend. Test Prep Chicago will offer both tutoring and courses for the ISEE beginning in the fall semester. Sign up for our newsletter on testprepchicago.com to be notified of new class offerings, including the ISEE course.

Lauren Lynch, Director of Tutoring and Communications
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of Latin School of Chicago

Founded over a century ago in 1888 by Mabel Slade Vickery, Latin School of Chicago is located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood on the North Side. The school was established when a group of parents unsatisfied with the education their students were getting in public schools came together to create a parent-owned school with East Coast teacher Mabel Slade Vickery at the helm. The school began with ten boys in 1888 and today has approximately 400 elementary students, 300 middle school students, and 500 high school students all of which are coed.

Latin School is now one of the premier private/independent schools in Chicago and ranks as the third best private K-12 school in Illinois. The student to teacher ratio is 8:1, and its graduation rate is not only 99%, but 99% of its students also go on to attend a four-year college. The school also has an impressive average for its ACT and SAT scores: 31 and 1370, respectively. With all of its successes, however, it isn't particularly diverse with nearly 70% of students identifying as White, 11% identifying as Asian, 6% identifying as Hispanic, and 6% identifying as African American.

Curriculum at Latin School includes standard, specialized, honors, and AP courses in math, science, English, social studies, and history. In addition, they have a wide range of performing and visual arts classes as well as physical education courses. Languages available to study include Latin, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. Students are also able to elect to have a School Year Abroad (SYA) with both year-long and summer programs available in Spain, France, Italy, and China. In addition, they offer an exchange program through schools in South Africa, Germany, France, and India.

Something that is also unique to Latin School is their Capstone Studies Program and their Project Week. Their Capstone Studies Program allows seniors to apply “to participate in a year-long Capstone Studies Program, which allows them to create an interdisciplinary project that links their research to Chicago community resources, or present a senior project that is not strictly academically focused.” The Project Week is also a favorite of students at that school. It allows “upper school students [to] spend one week each March exploring the world outside of the classroom during Project Week. Students can choose to learn about literature, art, technology, or the Civil Rights movement, participate in community service or outdoor education, travel the world or get to know their city in a new way.”

All of these programs are based in Latin School’s mission which states that it “provides its students with a rigorous and innovative educational program in a community that embraces diversity of people, cultures and ideas.” It further adds, “Latin inspires its students to pursue their passions and lead lives of purpose and excellence.”

Since Latin School of Chicago is a private school it does require tuition. Their website states that their tuition for 2019-2020 was $32,815 for grades PK-4, and $36,675 for grades 5-12 with payment plans and financial aid available. For more information about Latin School of Chicago including tuition or academics, visit their website at latinschool.org.

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