8950 E Prairie Rd
Evanston, IL 60203

treats students well, students learn a lot.

My son has been attending since 2025, Ms. Simmons classroom. All his teachers are warm and caring, he keeps talking highly about them.  I get teacher's  email every Friday about what happened in school that week, and teachers (main teacher and interventionalist) were have been very accommodating to the needs of my kid.  Academics is excellent, a lot of emphasis on reading and math. Principal James Gray is approachable, father of four himself. He holds monthly coffee hours when you can come and talk to him directly (and is available by email). PTA is active and effective, no drama, no politics. There are many opportunities for parent involvement,  I haven’t taken them and  there is no pressure. I had many concerns from less-than-positive reviews and D65 issues but everything has been outstanding across the board. We are very happy with the school and are lucky to be a part of Walker community.  

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.