University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

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The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

Established 1896
Type Private Secondary
Founder John Dewey
Director David W. Magill
Students 1773 (2008-2009)
Grades Nursery(3)–12
Location 1362 E. 59th St.,
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Colors Maroon
Nickname Lab
Mascot Maroons
Yearbook 'U-Highlights Yearbook'
Newspaper 'U-High Midway'
Website www.ucls.uchicago.edu

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (also Lab School and abbreviated UCLS; the upper classes are nicknamed U-High) is a private, co-educational day school in Chicago, Illinois.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The Lab School was founded on the principles of hands-on learning and exploration by American educator John Dewey in 1896 in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. The school began as a progressive institution that goes from nursery school through 12th grade. It is affiliated with the University of Chicago, and about half the students have a parent who is an employee of the university (and thereby receive a discount off the full tuition, normally as much as $20,000 per year).[1] It is considered one of the top preparatory schools in the United States, reflected in the Wall Street Journal's findings that the school is amongst the top five feeder institutions in the nation for elite colleges.[2][3] It has been heralded as one of the more diverse independent schools with about 40% students of color and over 44 nationalities represented.[citation needed]

The main entrance to the Lab Schools at Blaine Hall

Today the school is divided into a Nursery School (Pre-K and Kindergarten), Lower School (1st through 4th grade), Middle School (5th through 8th grades), and High School (9th through 12th grades). Many children begin the school in nursery and continue through their high school graduation, and 75% of applications are for nursery school or 9th grade. The school has over 1,700 students currently enrolled, though there are plans to increase the size. Ninety-nine percent of each graduating class enrolls in a four-year college or university.

The Lower School, Middle School, and High School are a part of the main 1362 E 59th Street building. The main building consists of five smaller, interconnected buildings: Judd, Blaine, Belfield, Middle School and U-High. The Nursery School consists of two smaller, separate buildings and is a block west and a half block north on Woodlawn Ave.

The high school math team and the science team are regular contenders for state titles, and the Model United Nations team consistently has strong showings at national conferences. The school's newspaper (The Midway) and the school's yearbook (U-Highlights) regularly win regional and national awards, as does the arts magazine, Renaissance. Other popular activities include theater, ethnic clubs, and Student Council.

The school's athletic teams, the Maroons, compete in the Independent School League (ISL) and are members of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The high school has eight boys and eight girls teams, while the middle school has five boys and five girls teams. Both operate with a "no cut policy," meaning any student who wishes to participate may. The main rivals are the Francis W. Parker School, The Latin School of Chicago, and the St. Ignatius College Preparatory School.

The school is also the birthplace of one of America's oldest summer camps, Camp Highlands for Boys, in Sayner, Wisconsin. At the request of the parents, the camp was founded by John Dewey's eventual successor, Harry O. Gillet, in 1904. The camp was for its first decade almost exclusively attended by students of the Lab School. Gillet turned over the role of camp director to Lab School instructor Dr. William J. Monilaw in 1914, and Dr. Monilaw directed the camp until 1959. Although it is no longer affiliated with the Lab School, it is still in operation today.

[edit] Notable persons

Judd Hall as visible from the adjacent Charles M. Harper Center.

[edit] Alumni

[edit] Faculty

[edit] References

  1. ^ Schedule of Tuition
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ And the winner is... Sidwell Friends

[edit] External links

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