Anyone familiar with UChicago Lab School?
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Anonymous
| Isn't Saint Ignatius the most prestigious hs in the Chicago area? |
Anonymous
No one there wants to leave their little bubble. Why risk your kid's life unless you need to? |
pbraverman
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Normally I wouldn't comment on this but I'm a native Chicagoan with many friends who attended the UC schools. (I attended public schools in the north suburbs.) Here are a few questions I'd grapple with if I were considering UCLS. 1. What's commonly referred to as "UC Lab" is actually two schools — the Lab School (with three or four divisions from N to 8) and University High School. The Lab School was just that — a laboratory for the education department, until the University shut down the department about 20 years ago. Founded by the godfather of progressive education, John Dewey, Lab was deeply progressive. (That's an educational philosophy, not a political affiliation.) "U-High," as it's commonly called, was never a "lab school" that I know of. While the education department is moribund, the reputations of the two divisions are intact — but this is obviously a broad brush, so take it with a grain of salt (or maybe with a stroke of paint). 2. I would be wary of trying to associate one city's schools with another. At over 2000 kids, the UC schools really don't compare well to any specific DC schools, and I think it's likely that prospective parents would be distracted by the comparison. For one thing, private schools do not play the roles in Chicago that they play in DC, so the culture around a statement such as "It's like Sidwell" really doesn't make sense. Chicago's population is five times that of DC but it has only a fraction of the independent schools — they just don't compare. Another angle: In its educational approach, the UCLab lower school could probably be compared with that at, say, Georgetown Day School — but if you make that assumption, it's then easy to imagine that you're applying to GDS instead of finding out all you need to know about UCLab. I think it's fair to say that the UC schools are unapologetically intellectual. And while there are several schools in DC that could be described that way, but none of those DC schools really feels anything like the UC schools. (In all honesty, I haven't visited UC in a long time, and acknowledge that any school evolves.) 3. The school is one of the very few in the US whose faculty is unionized. It may not affect your children on a day-to-day basis, but the teachers at Lab wield a lot of power compared to those elsewhere. I'm not judging whether that's good or bad. It's just a factor, and it's probably worth asking current parents how that plays out if you end up looking seriously. 4. There are very few big independent schools in Chicago (or the Midwest generally). If you favor the progressive roots of Lab, you should also look at Francis Parker, in Lincoln Park, as well. It's one of the most dyed-in-the-wool progressive schools in the country, with a progressive curriculum through grade 12, and a North Side campus in case that's an advantage to you. This is hardly secret information — I think almost anybody would recommend the same. Parker's main competitor, the nearby Latin School of Chicago, is much more traditional, and equally well regarded on its own terms. I'm not an expert on Chicago schools these days, but I hope that gives you a little to chew on. Peter _____________________ Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's too easy to write uninformed, personal, or mean-spirited posts if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools. I have read hundreds of admission files, and I have counseled hundreds of students in finding their next schools in the DC area. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students and parents ahead of you.  If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> peterbraverman <dotcom>
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Anonymous
| Is it true the Lab and High School are surprisingly humble modest low-key where most private schools of its caliber are elitist and snobby? If true, how does an elite private school cultivate that vibe? Curious if there are distinct things they do to dissuade the arrogant pompous snobby vibe. |
pbraverman
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The people I know best from U-High are definitely modest people, but I think it's mostly just the Midwest. I dunno ... a school is a culture, just like any organization. Most people who found something as ambitious as a school have a lot to do, so thinking about culture doesn't often rise to the the of the list — especially if it's founded in, what, like 1895 or something? Chicago's culture isn't as competitive as that in DC, and the city is bigger, so not everybody knows everybody. Also, they don't have chicagourbanmom.com. (Seriously, the closest thing I could find is chicagoschooloptions.com. The private school forum has nine topics, and 20 total posts, the most recent being a month ago!)
Peter |
Anonymous
I think it has that vibe because many UChicago faculty kids go there and academics are usually not rich at all. They're there because they get half tuition (and because it's a great school). So less of a richy-rich crowd. |
Anonymous
If you're Catholic, yes. |
Anonymous
Wtf is up with their addition? All of campus is gorgeous historic Gothic buildings, then they tacked this crap onto the Lab School. Atrocious.
more pics: https://www.buildordie.com/gordon-parks-arts-hall |
Anonymous
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Early-posting Chicagoan here.
Most of the "elite" Chicago (and Chicago 'burb) schools are public schools. In Chicago itself they are generally public magnets. In the 'burbs they are generally in UMC areas but not wealthy by DC standards. So going to private school doesn't denote anything particularly special, and it's not a social scene in same way that it is here in DC. The kids that go to Lab are not any wealthier or more socially elite than the kids who go to publics. |
Anonymous
I disagree completely. New Trier, Hinsdale central, Lake Forest, etc. - these are all just as wealthy (if not more) than the Dc burbs... |
Anonymous
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Some of the wealthiest areas are as wealthy as the DC wealthy, yes, but the excellent public high schools are not exclusively in these wealthiest areas.
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Anonymous
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Town run top public schools will always too large county run public schools.
I went to catholic school there, if you live on south side def consider lab. |
Anonymous
| *top |
Anonymous
Nope. As presidential children security concerns were of referenced in attending Sidwell ( not showing much confidence in the secret services ability to secure a building, that.), but before coming to o Washington. they attended this very nice private school in Chicago. I'm not sure what the family security concerns was at that time. |
Anonymous
Ah, gotcha. I misunderstood. |