New Chicago high school recommendation for 9th grade girl

[Anonymous]

Moving to Chicago. DH has received a job offer in downtown Chicago (in the Streeterville area), and my job is also downtown Chicago (south loop across the river). What would be the schools you would recommend for a rising 9th grader with the following characteristics? (Open to public or private). Already have these on our list: Frances Parker (Lincoln Park), Sand North Shore Country Day (Winnetka), St. Ignatius Loyola.

- DD has anxiety and ADHD, possibly high-functioning on the spectrum; currently in a, somewhat liberal-leaning, highly-ranked, all girls private in the South that is described as a "pressure cooker." Spends hours on open-ended homework assignments and projects. Tends to get bogged down and easily stressed out on schoolwork and ambiguous instructions. Can miss the forest for the trees and tends to underrate her academic performance. Teachers sometimes don't like how she interjects and asks a ton of questions.
- Does very well academically; enjoys writing poetry and submits to literary magazine, plays in the orchestra and choir, and so strong arts would be great (but not an art school)
- Also enjoys coding, science, and engineering. Enjoys summer camps with interactive engineering type work. Professes to want to be an "engineer" but likely will do something less rigorous in the long run due to afore-mentioned challenges. She is the one raising her hand and asking several questions to the outside speaker visiting the school.
- Enjoys long distance running (but is not competitive so helpful if no cuts)
- We are practicing Catholics. but she is nonbinary and identifies as such.
- We want a co-ed environment b/c current all-girls' private environment has been competitive and stressful.
- currently has a small group of other nerdy girls who are good friends

[Anonymous]

I cannot help much on the specific school recommendations as our DD is only 10. But we live in South Loop and many families send to St. Ignatius and recommend it. For public, Jones Prep is well regarded but CPS is an animal of its own (we are a CPS family and intend to be thru high school). LMK if I can help with anything more general. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Francis Parker is, as I understand it, the best private school. Hard to get in, though.

[Anonymous]

You've missed the deadline to apply for any of the selective enrollment high schools (public) for this fall, so in terms of public, your only option would be the neighborhood high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving to Chicago. DH has received a job offer in downtown Chicago (in the Streeterville area), and my job is also downtown Chicago (south loop across the river). What would be the schools you would recommend for a rising 9th grader with the following characteristics? (Open to public or private). Already have these on our list: Frances Parker (Lincoln Park), Sand North Shore Country Day (Winnetka), St. Ignatius Loyola.

- DD has anxiety and ADHD, possibly high-functioning on the spectrum; currently in a, somewhat liberal-leaning, highly-ranked, all girls private in the South that is described as a "pressure cooker." Spends hours on open-ended homework assignments and projects. Tends to get bogged down and easily stressed out on schoolwork and ambiguous instructions. Can miss the forest for the trees and tends to underrate her academic performance. Teachers sometimes don't like how she interjects and asks a ton of questions.
- Does very well academically; enjoys writing poetry and submits to literary magazine, plays in the orchestra and choir, and so strong arts would be great (but not an art school)
- Also enjoys coding, science, and engineering. Enjoys summer camps with interactive engineering type work. Professes to want to be an "engineer" but likely will do something less rigorous in the long run due to afore-mentioned challenges. She is the one raising her hand and asking several questions to the outside speaker visiting the school.
- Enjoys long distance running (but is not competitive so helpful if no cuts)
- We are practicing Catholics. but she is nonbinary and identifies as such.
- We want a co-ed environment b/c current all-girls' private environment has been competitive and stressful.
- currently has a small group of other nerdy girls who are good friends

Sounds like you want a Catholic high school. They are typically not pressure cookers (except Ignatius,which is) and aren't hard to get into. Sports and clubs will generally be no cut. The only issue I could see is being non binary. I'm unclear on how catholic schools will handle that. Best bet is to figure out which public transportation line is closest to your home, map out the catholic high schools near to that line, and call each of them to see if there are still openings and how they'd treat a non binary kid. Btw, North Shore Country Day is VERY far from the loop and will take at least 60-90 minutes each way if driving. You can take the metra up, and I'm guessing NSCD offers a shuttle.

All the "good" high schools in Chicago are selective enrollment and pressure cookers and it's too late for entrance for this fall. I'm not sure what the neighborhood high school is (public). There are plenty of charter schools and they *might* have openings for the fall, but quality might be an issue. Catholic school seems like the best fit where there'll be a spot.