GCE Lab School

9 West Washington St., Fourth Floor

Chicago, IL 60642

11 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 30, 2023

This school is a joke! They determined my child “wasn’t a good fit” and essentially kicked her out effective immediately and left me scrambling to figure out what to do. My child was failing several classes and displayed behaviors consistent with his diagnosis of ADHD (excessive talking in class, being distracted, not completing assignments), which she has a 504 plan for. The head of school said they would reconsider her admittance if she wrote a heartfelt letter explaining how she would improve and why she wanted to come back. He even had the audacity to state that the letter should have a plan to have access to prescribed medication (anyone who knows anything about ADHD medication knows we have a shortage). To insinuate you don’t want a neurodivergent student at your school unless they are medicated is so beyond unethical, I truly have no words. I’m a mental health therapist and when I shared my story with other professionals, they were as baffled and outraged as I was, and several suggested me suing. I have this IN WRITING, so there is really no use for the school even trying to deny what was said. Once she left, the school has continued to be a joke. Half of the school is high and the kids are giving each other drugs at school. People are constantly getting into fights and the school is inept at addressing it. Students are failing because their workload is overly excessive. Weird that they would kick out someone for having ADHD, but they are okay with drugs being passed in their school and fights breaking out often. Second semester my child has been at The Noble Academy and is now on the honor roll. After all of this, I’m yet to be refunded for the money I wasted paying for first semester when she was asked to leave in October. Please do not send your child here, especially if they are neurodivergent. At the rate this school is going, no way will they remain open another 5 years.
Submitted by principal on July 08, 2020

I'm inspired by GCE's commitment to preparing students for challenges in the world. The project-based classes and real-world Field Experiences truly help students understand why they're learning something. I've seen students make personal connections to material they had previously hated. I've seen students fall in love with learning again. When I was looking at K12 schools in Chicagoland, GCE stood out for its authenticity and care. I'm proud to be part of the GCE family.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2017

Our son absolutely loves GCE. We have been very impressed with the caliber of the teaching, the experiential approach to learning and the warm and supportive atmosphere. Our son literally cannot wait to go to school every day. We did an exhaustive search when looking at high school options, and GCE has more than lived up to our expectations. We highly recommend it!
Submitted by student on August 05, 2016

I just graduated from here, but still feel like a part of me lives there. Whenever people asked about where I went to school I also told them that it was my job. It is a place where students can discover things about themselves and see their true capabilities. The staff and student body make you feel welcomed and it is like a second family. I am going to miss this place, but I will never forget them.
Submitted by parent on July 07, 2016

I absolutely love GCE because it's small, diverse and everyone cares about everyone else. Students engage, reflect, and work together on learning about the real world and applying that locally. My son has been challenged and is completely prepared for college. The faculty are totally invested in the students and their success. GCE is awesome!!
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2016

Our son is graduating this year from GCE Lab School. He studied there his freshman year and then tried a traditional school and asked to go back to GCE. With their new building coming on line, this is a great school for Chicago.
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2014

We love GCE for many reasons but mainly because it's a small, successfully diverse community with a 100% purpose - driven curriculum that inspires the students to engage, reflect, work collaboratively and connect their learning to the real world. It is experiential and facilitated learning at its best! Students are challenged, taught to understand the world and truly learn to feel and empathize with others. Both the teachers and administration are invested, talented, intellectually rich individuals, all of whom breath the vision of the school. Together they create a safe and wonderful environment for learning!. GCE is a fabulous place!!
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2014

GCE has been a great haven for our motivated student. After hearing years of complaints about our large cps school, we took a leap to GCE. Gone are the stressful homework nights. Homework is still plentiful, but in an interesting and thoughtful way. The kids are happy to go to school and are engaged in inter-disciplinary studies that are actually relevant to modern life. By studying world problems and how science can solve them, my child is practicing math and science holistically. The individualized approach and strong counseling has made a world of difference.
Submitted by other on October 05, 2014

GCE Lab School is a wonderful place for learning. In school and basically all over Chicago! Creative courses teach everything students need to know, investigate this knowledge in the real world and students get to apply all of this in their projects. Great staff, great students. If I could give more stars I would do it!
Submitted by teacher on October 03, 2014

My school is a collaborative and creative haven. The staff are the most talented group of professionals I have worked with in my ten year career.
Submitted by teacher on October 01, 2014

My school is a laboratory for great ideas... is a place where curriculum is alive and the city becomes the classroom... is a place where the borders of subjects are crossed, and the borders of cultures are respected...
Submitted by student on September 30, 2014

I just transferred into GCE this year (my senior year) and I love it! The class sizes are so small, for instance my senior class is just 15 kids, so you get plenty of attention. The faculty, as well as students, are very diverse and some of the nicest people you will meet. I genuinely enjoy going to school and learning. The experience is unlike anything provided in a traditional public school, and I absolutely love it.