Young Magnet High School

211 South Laflin Street

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

7-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 16, 2024

This school is the best place for teachers and staff to work and enjoy in their life, as they can take out all their frustrations on these well-testes students and still students work hard and do great in academics as their parents push and support their kids, and the school staff can take all the credits for free. This "place" is best for students to spend their teenage years as these high performing kids mature very fast, that could look like depression but actually all it means is these kids have learnt to survive on dirty waters. There is lots of discrimination and micro aggression , and some teachers openly mistreat students and get away with as these teachers are supported by Chicago Teacher's Union , and the principal is new and can't support the students.This school, being a academic selective enrolment gets the cream of the high performing students in Chicago area at 7th grade, and teachers use unethical practices to stop students move to a near higher ranked HS Walter Payton and label students as "traitors" and keep grudges and harm them in subtle ways. Very toxic environment. It has diverse student population but lots of discrimination against dark skinned students and diverse learners. I am parent and seen it from within. This school, instead of adding value to academics in positive ways, uses negative , punishing tack ticks on students to keep their school ranking good and completely messing up with students academics and mental health. The take away is , for high performing students , high performing neighborhood school is better then a selective enrolment magnet high school with high ranking on rating websites.
Submitted by other on October 07, 2023

I am from a working class neighborhood located on the Southeast side of Chicago. Because of this school I was exposed to the arts and became a professional ballet dancer. Afterwards, I earned degrees from elite private colleges and universities - thank you to WYHS for opening the world to me !!!!!
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2022

This school is such a huge disappointment. My child choose it on his own because he is a high performing student and was very focused on college even from 7th grade when you make you high school choices in Chicago. Since attending-- he's a Junior now--, he performs fine academically but has gotten lost among the 1200 students with no help from the counseling department. It's gotta be a staff of 15-20 people in the counseling department and he's tried repeatedly to get college counseling and been unable to get an appointment. The excuse given was that they are busy counseling students on what classes to sign up for next year. We just got a text that counselors will NOT be meeting with juniors and that they will need to choose classes on their own and submit them to the counseling department. JUNIORS!!!! This is arguable the most important year for counseling to finish out your high school career strong. This school has poor leadership, spotty teachers-- many great ones but plenty who were pretty bad. They seem to favor people who have a Dr. in front of their name without considering their skills as a teacher.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2020

Principal Kenner is interested in her image in the media and not individual students. The school has never confronted that the mostly white and Asian Academic Center students (7th and 8th graders) who continue into 9-12th grade carry the entire school. Without them, Whitney would be a dump, because the teaching is so poor. Value-add is negative.
Submitted by student on August 27, 2015

amazing passionate student body, great teachers, high expectations of students that are often met. These kids do great things before even going off to college.
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2014

Whitney Young High School is the premier high school in the city of Chicago. What makes WYHS unique? The STUDENTS! With over 2100 students from every neighborhood and every nationality in Chicago, WYHS provides an exceptional high school experience for each and everyone of its students. Whether you're a genius or average but a hard worker, an artist or a dancer, an athlete or a writer, WYHS will inspire, engage and help each student meet their potential. Do you have to work? YES! Are some nights filled with 4-6 hours of homework? YES! Will teachers challenge you to think differently? YES! But it's done in a loving and supportive way. Parents are asked to read novels and come in for discussions with students and teachers. Parents are asked to volunteer and they DO! Dr. Joyce Kenner treats each student as her own child, because that is what she and her staff feel they are. Whether you come from an economically challenged home, or your household earns 6 figures, it doesn't matter. Every child/parent is welcomed and encouraged to be involved. WYHS is an outstanding experience for any young person. With over 50+ clubs an organization, each child finds their voice
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

My son has been a student here since 7th grade. What an amazing experience it has been for all of us. We have watched him grow, mature and just do great things at this school. He is now a Senior and the time has flown by so quickly, I can't thank the teachers and staff enough for all they have done for my son.
Submitted by other on May 05, 2013

Whitney Young is the perfect high school for me. As an athlete with high expectations of academic rigor, Whitney meets my standards in multiple categories. I get to work alongside some of the smartest high school students in the nation, as well as be a member of a city championship winning track and field team. The diversity at Whitney Young exposed me to a whole other part of the city I grew up in. I couldn't be happier with my high school experience.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2013

This is a good school. They are, however, horrible with crisis intervention. They care about academic achievement, but they avoid dealing with a child's social-emotional wellness.
Submitted by other on April 04, 2013

building needs a major facelift.it's out of date for a high school of it's caliber.the student crowd is 50% low to 50% middle/upper income.the behavior is so so.don't let this being a magnet school fool you!whitney young is no walk in the park if you're a sub.the administration babies these kids letting them have their own way because they are smart and advanced.
Submitted by other on February 27, 2013

I am a graduate of WY and am very grateful for the quality of education I received. The teachers challenged me to the point I became an independent and active learner. Students must become involved in the extracurricular activities that best suits their interest to fully reap what WY has to offer.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2013

We are very happy that our daughter will be attending Whitney Young next year. We have only heard great things about the school, teachers and kids!