2011 Fairfield Rd
Lindenhurst, IL 60046

This school has some of the most discouraging and unsupportive staff I have ever encountered. During the college application process, my family was facing a serious financial crisis, so I asked for an application fee waiver. Instead of helping, college advisor Nathan Bargar tried to discourage me from applying to the school I cared most about, UIUC. In an email, he told me: “If you can’t pay a $75 application fee, what is going to happen when you have a $35,000/year college bill?”That comment was insulting, dismissive, and completely inappropriate to say to a student asking for support. Rather than encouraging students to pursue opportunities, he made students feel embarrassed for their financial situations and acted like certain schools were out of reach.What makes this even worse is that I ended up getting into UIUC with a full-ride scholarship. Meanwhile, I know students who avoided applying to schools they were genuinely interested in because staff made them feel uncomfortable, unsupported, or incapable.For a school that claims to care about student success, the environment is incredibly demotivating. Passionate and hardworking students deserve advisors who uplift them instead of staff who project limitations onto them.

I've had a wonderful experience with Hooper. The teachers are not only highly qualified but also genuinely care about the students' growth — both academically and personally. The administration is approachable, organized, and always open to feedback.The school offers a well-rounded curriculum, including extracurricular activities, sports, and arts, which help students explore their interests and develop new skills. The atmosphere is positive, inclusive, and safe — making it a place where students are encouraged to thrive.Communication with parents is consistent, and there’s a real sense of community here. I highly recommend BJ Hooper to any family looking for quality education in a nurturing environment.

One of the worst middle schools in the area. Not very good students most of them smoke and fight especially those Venetian Village/West Miltmore kids.