SNAPSHOT

Educational SNAPSHOT

Independent and private schools continue to thrive

The western suburbs are lucky to be the home of several exceptionally strong schools. Many have a rich history and are known throughout the communities they serve for academic excellence, a wide selection of extracurricular programs, and an inspiration for learning. Choosing a private or independent school is a complex decision for families and students, with many great options available. Visiting each school is paramount for an informed choice, but insight into each school's unique traits - from their point of view - helps illustrate their message. Thank you to our partners highlighted in this exclusive feature for Hinsdale Magazine Group to provide our readers with relevant information and enable them to discover each school's distinctive characteristics.

Avery Coonley School

The Avery Coonley School (ACS) is a leader in gifted education serving children in preschool through grade eight. For over 100 years, advanced students have thrived at the school, immersed in a mutually talented community led by highly skilled teachers who understand their academic and social-emotional needs. Students at Avery Coonley represent 40+ zip-codes in the Chicagoland area and come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. This is due to the School’s commitment to diversity and a robust financial aid budget for need-based tuition assistance.

Students at ACS enjoy being challenged and learning at a minimum of one entire grade level above their current grade. In tandem with a multifaceted educational approach, the depth of conceptual learning in all areas differentiates ACS from traditional schools. As a collaborative learning environment with a student-led approach to learning, classrooms, lessons, and expectations are structured to meet the best interests of gifted children. Avery Coonley’s 11-acre campus in Downers Grove offers state-of-the-art technology and flexible spaces for individual and collaborative work. An expansive art studio, computer lab, and Makerspace, along with 9,000 square feet of outdoor play area, including a pond, inspire learning. The new Student Service Center, opened in early January, allows Avery Coonley’s 325 students to interact with staff specialists in a space designed specifically for them.

Students enjoy activities and clubs, including fine arts, chess, strategic gaming, and debate. Avery Coonley has a very strong, engaged parent community as well, who are the key to the welcoming atmosphere. The Home & School Association organizes many activities throughout the year, and Parent Ambassadors volunteer to give campus tours.

The School’s environment harnesses the energy of students’ curiosity and interests allowing them to be themselves while exploring and developing their talents. Upon graduation, ACS students are motivated citizens of the world, creative thinkers, and independent, lifelong learners ready to meet their full potential in high school and beyond. ■

Montini Catholic High School

Founded in 1966, Montini Catholic is a family-centered, college preparatory comprehensive high school rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus as emulated by founder, St. John Baptist DeLaSalle. Their LaSallian tradition recognizes the sacredness of all persons and educates students of diverse abilities, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds while emphasizing the importance of service and responsibility to Church, family, and community Academically, their college preparatory experience prepares students for success in college and beyond. With an emphasis on small class size, courses are offered within three learning levels: Advanced Placement, Honors and College Prep. Four dual credit courses are also offered. A Signa Fidei program is offered for 20 students each year who enter Montini below grade level. Students are not placed in academic tracks and benefit from an individualized “Four Year Plan for Success” which helps them explore career interests and set goals. Over the last five years alone, graduating classes have averaged over $18,000,000 in college academic scholarship offers per year. Bronco athletes take the same qualities for success in the classroom and apply them to the field! Bronco athletes develop crucial life qualities including leadership, dedication and confidence! Montini offers 13 men’s and 12 women’s athletic teams and have celebrated a total of 30 IHSA State Championships.

Extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations play a significant role in the overall development and education of a Montini student. 95% of the student body are involved in at least one extracurricular activity. Montini boasts one of the top Math and Robotics Teams in the state of Illinois. They also have the unique ability to live their faith through numerous retreats and service opportunities including two Habitat for Humanity trips and an International Service Trip.

The Montini Catholic family inspires its students to appreciate their differences and thrive as one community. ■

Notre Dame School

Walking through the double doors into Notre Dame Catholic School’s welcoming central space, one immediately feels the warm and supportive environment that has been a hallmark of the Clarendon Hills community for almost seventy years. The school first opened its doors in 1956 to 331 students, with a majority of the teaching staff being Sisters of Christian Charity, who lived on site. Today, Notre Dame welcomes students and teachers not just from Clarendon Hills, but from all over the Chicago area. Families are drawn to Notre Dame’s lifelong family community as part of a larger parish setting. Small class sizes with individualized attention and weekly school mass foster service and leadership, embodying what Notre Dame stands for: a culture of prayer and kindness. Within a safe and nurturing learning environment, students are encouraged to utilize high-order thinking skills, establish a disciplined work ethic and develop spiritual, intellectual, and emotional characteristics.

Notre Dame proudly offers a variety of extracurricular activities and academic enrichment opportunities for students, such as school musical productions, Scholastic Bowls, STEM Club, and Altar Servers. Full-day kindergarten options are available for families as well as before and after-school care. The Parent Teacher Guild is integral to the school, offering parents fellowship and volunteer opportunities inside and outside the classroom.

The children’s formation is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, with a school of dedicated staff partnering with parents to set students on a path of success—A path following God, caring for others, and believing in oneself. Graduates carry this philosophy instilled in them at Notre Dame to find success at their first-choice high schools and throughout life. ■

St. Isaac Jogues School

St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School, a member of the Joliet Diocese, has been nurturing students' minds and souls since 1932. St. Isaac's is endorsed by the Illinois State Board of Education and prepares students academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally for their future in the 21st century. The curriculum incorporates core values of faith within the classroom, weekly mass as a school community, and working with families to balance a rigorous curriculum with a nurturing environment based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The strength of St. Isaac's is the partnership between home and school. Parent involvement is encouraged with their children's education, and parents take the lead with St. Isaac's service program. "We Invite, We Include, We Inspire, We Ignite," connects students and their families to the St. Isaac community.

The co-curricular activities support the challenging academic program. The Fine Arts program offers choir from kindergarten through eighth grade and an annual musical. Intramural and interscholastic competition is offered for boys and girls in basketball, cross country, track and field, as well as girls' volleyball, football, and cheerleading. St. Isaac's has a no-cut policy for all athletic teams. Enrichment, Student Council, Academic Bowl, DARE, Chess Club, Lego competitions, Science Fair, and Math Team are additional offerings.

In 2018, the Exceptional Learner Center (ELC) was opened. The center's vision was to support the learning of students performing above and below grade level, allowing each child to reach their individual potential.

A graduate will leave St. Isaac's with the essential verbal and written communication skills, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity to reach their full potential as citizens who can meet the challenges of a changing society. Graduates encourage acceptance, tolerance, and understanding of all cultures as global citizens and practicing Catholics within a culturally diverse world. ■

Timothy Christian School

Timothy Christian Schools is committed to an excellence-driven program of academics that is fostered by the eternally relevant morals, virtues, and values found in the Bible. As a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, it offers enrollment for students from preschool to twelfth grade at its 24-acre campus in South Elmhurst. Timothy Christian emphasizes the powerful combination of the Christian home, the local church, and the Christian school. Every student is at the intersection of Biblical Truth and academic rigor.

Each student has a God-given talent—the teachers at Timothy Christian aid students in identifying and nurturing those gifts. Teachers go beyond to ignite academic growth through differentiated instruction and workshop model classrooms.

Timothy Christian offers Advanced Placement™, Honors, and dual-enrollment opportunities for students that need to be challenged. Young students are placed in small groups to provide just-right instruction, which could include intervention, additional practice, enrichment, or extension. In high school, time is built right into the day for small group and one-on-one instruction.

Founded in 1911, Timothy Christian represents more than 70 communities with an enrollment of 1,250 campus-wide. Over the last decade, Timothy Christian has invested nearly $60MM into capital improvements without debt and continues to be dedicated to offering the lowest tuition fees for a private school with similar programming in the western suburbs.

Various clubs, athletics, and performing arts are offered to encourage every student to get involved. Timothy Christian offers over 40 extracurricular and co-curricular activities. Many compete at a state and national level; the Mock Trial team won State and competed in Nationals last year.

Timothy Christian is committed to rigorous academics with a Christ-centered community. The ultimate goal is that graduates leave with the conviction to live out the purpose that God has for their lives and do it all for His glory. ■

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