Oak Park & River Forest High School

This school has teachers that you can really learn from, but with my experience a lot of the staff doesn't really care about doing anything that they don't absolutely have to do. This is especially true in a non-honors class. Despite not being great in English classes, I enrolled in the honors English program just so that I would have a chance at having a teacher that would be able to maybe stay after school and explain something to me.
—Submitted by a student

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

School near Chicago, a great place.
—Submitted by a parent

I am an O.P.R.F.H.S. Class of 2005 graduate who couldn't be prouder of my old high school. The place is like a college, not only in its size but in its overall quality as well. Whether you are a rocket scientist, a musical prodigy, a poetic genius, or a star athlete, you will thrive at OPRF and be able to fully maximize whatever your talent happens to be. I personally am now attending a top public university, and to my delight, I am discovering myself to be way more prepared for college life (not only academically but socially as well, probably due to the incredible diversity of Oak Park) than almost all of my classmates. After attending a school like OPRF, I can say without hesitation... high school was harder than college. OPRF was that good... I firmly believe that you won't find a better high school experience anywhere.
—Submitted by a former student

OPRF is big and a really great place. The academics are excellent and the AP program is certainly one of the best anywhere. There are lots of choices of what to do in acadamecs, sports, and extracurriculars. In response to a very negative and shallow review of OPRF shared earlier, the security guards are necessary because of the sheer number of students that are at OPRF. The students are very smart and very motivated, which is why OPRF has won a number of national competitions in various club activities, and why there is such large participation in clubs and activities.
—Submitted by a student

There are classes for every learning pace, and you are able to get so much out of the classes even just by listening. The teachers are so dedicated to their work and students, and work hard to help students get to where they want to be later on in life. As far as individual interests of the students, if you're interested in it, they probably have a class, club, team or sport for you to get involved in. Parents are always encouraged to get involved with the student's academics and extracurricular activites. Letters are sent home to inform parents of honors achievement breakfasts and, parent comments and questions are always encouraged and valued. Oak Park and River Forest high school (OPRFHS) is an excellent school that offers so many opportunities to it's students, and it's diversity of students and staff create an amazing atomposphere to be surrounded in as teenagers.
—Submitted by a student

Quite simply, this high school is probably as good as any public school in the country. Great academics + large, diverse, student body + slew of interesting athletic and co-curricular opportunities = top notch school.
—Submitted by a student

I love oprf its a awesome school very big but thats alright the teachers are awesome and they care! goooooo huskies.
—Submitted by a student

This is a college prep high school that is stronger in liberal arts than math/sciences, though they have college level courses across the curriculum. I would not be surprised if the history department is ranked best in the state - they are that good. While there are some excellent math/science teachers, there are a few duds in each of those departments (as there are in any school). The dedication and quality of teachers is excellent. A student who does well in the honors courses at this school will excel in college. BTW, that prior comment about rowdy halls and lack of discipline is just a perception of that person - my kids do not share that perception. Ask the students. What could be improved? Better parent-teacher communications; early warning system to parents for those students not making the grade. A more forgiving tardy policy that does not require parents to lie.
—Submitted by a parent

OPRFHS is dedicated to the student body! This school not only has the goals of academic excellence but to build self-esteem in the students as well. Teachers and faculty are approachable and want your student to achieve his/her best.
—Submitted by a parent

When I went to this school the halls were chaotic and untended. Now as my oldest child has begun to consider high schools, I see that little has changed. Drug abuse is rampant among students and the level of responsible faculty mebers is rapidly declining. It takes security guards to keep a bunch of high schoolers in line here.
—Submitted by a former student