Schools

Chicago’s top 10 elementary schools and their locations

Click to See Entire Map November 8, 2010

Last Monday I provided a map of the Top 5 Chicago High Schools based on the Illinois Standards Achievement Tests (ISAT) 2010 rankings released the previous weekend. Here’s a map of the Top 10 Chicago Elementary Schools based on 2010 ISAT rankings by the Chicago Sun-Times. Decatur in West Ridge was at the top of Click to continue...

Chicago’s top high schools and their locations

Click to See Entire Map November 1, 2010

The results of the 2010 Illinois Standards Achievement Tests were released this past weekend. Based on rankings by the Chicago Sun-Times, 5 Chicago High Schools ranked in the Top 50 Chicago Area Schools. Northside Prep in North Park was at the top of the rankings. Payton Prep in the Near North Side ranked 2nd. Young Click to continue...

2009 Illinois school report cards & rankings released today

October 30, 2009

The Illinois State Board of Education released its 2009 school report cards today. Use ISBE’s eReport Card Public Site to view the complete reports. Another option for viewing the report cards is the Interactive Illinois Report Card. One advantage of this site is that it lets you compare schools. Both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Click to continue...

What to do when Chicago homes for sale details don’t include schools

October 29, 2009

One of the shortcomings of all sites that let you search for Chicago homes for sale is that they don’t always list the neighborhood schools. That’s because only school district numbers are required in our multiple listing system (MLS). School districts may encompass several neighborhood schools. Neighborhood school names are optional in the MLS. Since Click to continue...

How to Identify a True Blue Ribbon School

March 24, 2009

Sunday’s Daily Herald had a very informative article on schools that tout Blue Ribbon Awards not from the U.S. Department of Education, but from paid consultants! If a school displays a Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence as shown, the award was earned, not purchased from the U.S. Department of Education. If a school displays Click to continue...

ChicagoTribune.com’s Community Intelligence

June 15, 2008

Looking for more information on Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs? After you review my neighborhoods and suburbs‘ posts, check out the ChicagoTribune.com’s Community Intelligence. For each neighborhood and suburb it shows a map with numerous amenities, market stats, demographics, crime data and schools. Community Intelligence also has several articles most recently featuring Andersonville and Wilmette. Click to continue...

How to Find Public Schools for Chicago Homes

February 18, 2008

On Saturday I showed townhouses in the Lakeview and Lincoln Park areas of Chicago to a woman relocating here from Memphis with her two children. The son is in high school and the daughter is in elementary, so schools are an important consideration in her home selection. School names currently aren’t required for listings in Click to continue...

Chicago Area High Schools with Top ACT Scores

February 10, 2008

I recently started working with a gentleman relocating with his wife and daughter from Seattle. He was clear that his top criterion in deciding where to buy a home is good schools. Even though his daughter won’t be in high school for several years, he wanted to know where good high schools are located. What Click to continue...

Finding a Home Within a School’s Boundaries Takes 2 Kinds of Searches

January 14, 2008

For families with children in school, schools are often an important part of the home buying process. On Friday I started searching for a new home for a lesbian couple in Palatine. They want to keep their 8 year old son in the same elementary school, but with another child soon to be on the Click to continue...

Why Sellers Should Confirm Their School Districts

September 20, 2007

While getting a house in Bolingbrook ready to go on the market this week, I asked the seller for the names of the school districts for his home. Not having children, he didn’t know and said I could call the schools. I explained that an agent can’t provide the information for a home. It must Click to continue...

Chicago Area Before & After School Care

June 5, 2007

Home Searching in Chicago Area School Districts

March 2, 2007

I’m currently working with a couple looking to buy a home in a specific elementary school district. Every day I run a search for new homes coming on the market in that elementary school district. As far as I can tell, buyers who prefer to look on their own online in the Chicago area can’t Click to continue...