2311 Cullom
Chicago, IL 60618

Let me spin you a yarn about Amundsen High in Chicago, where my daughter’s spent the last three years sharpening her wits and her pencils under the watchful eyes of folks who actually know her name. They’ve got an International Baccalaureate program so fine-tuned it could teach a cat to juggle, yet the teachers here treat it more like a friendly chess match than an unsolvable riddle. They’ll guide her through every labyrinth of IB essays with the patience of a Midwestern Sunday preacher, then send her off with essay tips and scholarship pointers that’ll make her application shine brighter than a brand-new penny.Beyond the classrooms, those bustling, bustling halls, she’s found herself on the soccer pitch dueling in the CPL Premier Division, belting out tunes in a musical, and tinkering away in clubs. All the while, there’s a community wrapped around her back like a warm blanket: counselors who steer with gentle wisdom, parents trading stories and support at every game, and classmates turned comrades in every grand adventure. In short, Amundsen has given her a sturdy launchpad of challenge, camaraderie, and cheer, so when she sails into her senior year, I'll be confident she can steer her way forward

I used to attend Coonley, and last year I graduated and am now in highschool. I'd like to share my experience to hopefully influence a parents decision to send their kid here.After the new administration came, coonley went downhill. I've seen people blame it on overcrowding or Covid, but I believe it is more.At Coonley, staff were constantly cruel and yelled and scolded us. Bullying against me and my friends got worse and worse, but the staff didn't do much of anything about that. I am disabled, but was given almost no accomodations even though I had a 504 and IEP. I couldn't keep up and as my disabilities got worse, I had to skip school for medical appointments. But the school kept calling and highlighted the importance of attendance and then gave me consequences for not showing up resulting in me barely graduating. I was in the hospital. I was at one point assaulted by another student and when I spoke up about it the staff did nothing, claiming they couldn't control it because of their own disability. I was diagnosed with that same disability later. It doesn't make it okay. They even kept sitting me next to them and assigning them with me which allowed their harassment towards me to continue. Coonley failed me, and when I made it to highschool and the staff and teachers were so friendly and compassionate towards me, I was confused. Was this how my middle school experience should have went too?