8660 E Prairie Rd
Oak Park, IL 60076

treats students well, students learn a lot.

We had a terrible experience with Walker. Rough unsupervised playground culture with what we felt were racist responses by staff to an environment they allowed to exist. Poor coordination among team members. High levels of insensitivity. Inadequate resourcing. Senior management right up to Superintendent's office unwilling to respond to clear demonstrations of incompetence on the part of school staff. Student shaming and ostracization by teachers. "Restorative justice" applies only to children being told to apologize - adults unaccountable both personally and organizationally for their mistakes. Insufficient staff education to manage students with diverse abilities and backgrounds. Play disappears the moment kids arrive in Kindergarten, engendering disappointment and rage. Lack of ability to provide any kind of stimulating, project-based or otherwise engaging curriculum to students with quick intellects who come in able to read and do basic math. Multiple DCFS calls required based on behavior of people in the school environment. Unwillingness to control the environment. Sensory unsupportive environment.

While Evanston Township High School (ETHS) may provide strong support for students with IEPs and other learning plans, it falls short in serving academically advanced students. The school prioritizes inclusivity in honors courses, allowing all freshmen and sophomores to enroll regardless of previous academic performance. While this approach may be well-intentioned, it ultimately results in watered-down coursework that fails to challenge high-achieving students.Our experience, having a senior at ETHS, has revealed concerning academic trends. Colleges and universities are beginning to recognize the declining rigor of ETHS, and the results speak for themselves—students with stellar academic records (4.5+ GPAs,1500 SAT, multiple AP courses, and National Merit recognition, State Athlete ) are facing unexpected deferrals and rejections from top-tier schools, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ivy League institutions. Reports from the community indicate that very few ETHS students have been accepted through Early Action or Early Decision this year, a stark contrast to previous years.Unfortunately, this issue is likely to worsen as students from District 65—an already struggling district potentially facing state intervention—enter ETHS. If you are looking for a high school that will truly challenge and prepare academically gifted students for competitive colleges, I strongly recommend considering other options. Likewise, I advise families to avoid District 65 (K-8) if academic excellence is a priority.