Glenbard West High School

In our current test-obsessed, highly standardized educational culture, it amazes me that a school like Glenbard West H.S. exists. The teachers genuinely care for and respect their students and their excitement for learning and passion for their subject areas is contagious! The teachers here challenge, encourage, and support students academically but, more importantly, holistically. They encourage students to explore their interests, to work hard, to be part of the Hilltopper community, and to be their best selves. I appreciate GBW's broader, healthier definition of "success." At GBW, my child is not a number or her best test score. This school is doing a great job of preparing my student for college and for life. Thank you, GBW!
—Submitted by a parent

Glenbard West is a great school for outgoing, brilliant or athletic high school students. If you are a born leader you will do great. Glenbard West does nothing to help their students become leaders and they trample on quiet, kind students. Glenbard West is about making their numbers look good so they encourage most of the students to take AP classes that are completely developmentally inappropriate for 80% that are recommended to take them. The teachers are overloaded because they are to differentiate to a huge span of learners in both the regular classes and the honors and AP classes. If you are considering the Western Suburbs to live I would look at York in Elmhurst, OPRF in Oak Park or Hinsdale Central in Hinsdale before considering Glenbard West in Glen Ellyn.
—Submitted by a parent

Glenbard West was off the chain. The teachers were very serious about preparing us for the real world and the faculty did an amazing job helping me prepare for college.
—Submitted by a student

Glenbard West is truly impressive. I have two sons enrolled with a third to start soon. The faculty is serious about getting kids ready for college yet the teachers are full of energy and have a great sense of self-assurance. They are great role models for the kids. Kids who graduate from Glenbard West have been given the tools and education they need to accomplish anything in life.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Glenbard West because of the students, teachers, and beautiful campus. The football field overlooks Lake Ellyn, and the school looks like a castle on top of a hill. However, there is a very limited amount of room, and my school could really use the extra money for things like parking spaces, athletic facilities and lights, and repairs inside the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Our family is very impressed with Glenbard West. The academics are superior, the extracurriculars excellent, the administration is first-rate and the students have been great! My daughter is in her second year in 11th grade at the school and is loving it! The other students have been particularly welcoming and she has many friends. Even at the beginning of last year, she was immediately included. Definitely NOT clickish. We moved to Glen Ellyn from another school district in Illinois and know what the opposite of this school is like! Keep up the good work
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent curriculum, excellent environment, robust extracurriculars. My child had been in private school PreK-8, and the size intimidated me at first, but even with 2000+ students, GW is still a close-knit community. We love it!
—Submitted by a parent

A great school overall. Lots of traditions and history in this old castle on the hill. One thing to be aware of is the clusters that form due to the fact that individuals have lived in the area for many years. Certainly not a community/school that supports change.
—Submitted by a former student

Glenbard West is a pretty nice school.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall this seems to be a fairly standard suburban public high school--not great in any way but good in every way. Given the tax burden the village levies, I would expect more in terms of unique programs.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is like an Ivy League Prep school - and not just because it looks like a castle on a hill surrounded by 100-year-old oak trees. The environment generates such pride and is truly unique. The staff and students (mostly) reflect this pride and GW is really a wonderful school.
—Submitted by a former student

this is the best school i have ever been to and i have been to 3 highschool in 4 years it was a blast i learned so much and met so many great people there i would for sure send my child to glenbard west well thats when i have children.
—Submitted by jessica, a former student