Oak Park & River Forest High School

OPRF is a shinning example of everything a good American school should be: an excellent educator that has a diverse, intelligent, and animated student body successful sports teams and extracurricular groups that cultivate strong leaders, actors, scientists, doctors, bloggers,.. and an open-minded philosophy on diversity and acceptance of various (racial, ethnic, sexual) demographic groups.
--Submitted by a student

I love this school because my son can walk to it, and they offer some excellent clubs and courses. It's not even close to being family-centered in its practices.
--Submitted by a parent

(Contd.) We sold our Gold Coast condo and moved 'back' to River Forest so my daughter could benefit from the same great education. She is now working on her PhD. Thank you OPRF schools !
--Submitted by a parent

i graduatedd from oprf in 2009.its the best school in all possible way.if u like to be more interested in academics its the best choice.if u like to be good n extra curricular actvities its the ulimate choice

Outstanding academic and co-curricular program marred only by autocratic, parochial leadership.
--Submitted by a parent

OPRF is large, but if you value education, you will thrive - it's as good as a small liberal arts college, particularly history with a number of faculty with law degrees and doctorates in their subject matter
--Submitted by a parent

I am a 2004 graduate of OPRF and I must say that if I'd gone to any other high school, I probably wouldn't have been as prepared for college life. OPRF prepared me in a way in which I knew that when I begin to attend college that I would ACTUALLY HAVE TO STUDY. Many of my college peers tell me that when they were in high school they didn't have to pick up a book, which is really sad. OPRF strives towards excellence and only produce the best students when it comes to pursuing a high education and hires only the most qualified faculty members who will continue to bring nothing but success to the school. The education is AMAZING, the diversity is unbelievable, and If I were to move back to chicago, OPRF would be my # 1 choice!
--Submitted by a student

OPRF is an excellent high school. As a parent of a sophomore I have been pleased with the overall quality of the institution. My only issue is that the school does not have an advisory system. This would help immensely for students to be able to connect with at least one adult who has his or her best interests at heart. For a school of its stature it is surprising that it does not have one. OPRF serves its best students quite well, but for those students who might need special attention or who struggle academically it still has some improvement to do. However, the school offers the best of everything for its students.
--Submitted by a parent

Good class size, excellent counselling staff.
--Submitted by a parent

OPRF has provided an excellent education to its students for 132 years. Despite significant demographic shifts in the community since the 1970s, this school continues to achieve test scores, college matriculation rates, and National Merit scholar honors at the same rates realized 40 years ago. It has produced a Nobel Prize winner, at least four Pulitzer Prize winners, a Miss America, an Academy Award nominee, and scores of other leaders in many fields. The facilities are first-rate, the faculty is outstanding, and community support is very high. Oak Park has a well-deserved national reputation as one of the best high schools in the country, public or private. It is hard to imagine any alumnus who is not proud to say, 'Oak Park is my alma mater' and hard to imagine any parent of a graduate who would not say, 'I'm glad my child went to OPRF.' It's that good.
--Submitted by a former student