New Trier Township High School Winnetka

New Trier is clearly the best public high school in illinois for bright, motivated students. The academics are top notch as are the athletics and performing arts curriculum. My son plays with the Symphony Orchestra and was able to tour Australia and play in the Sydney Opera House with the ensemble last Spring. I attended Loyola Academy myself as did my father and grandfather and it is clear to me that Loyola cannot compete with NT on the range and quality of available options.
—Submitted by a parent

Academically I was really well- prepared. But I felt lost in a sea of 4000 kids, and I wouldn't do it again. Despite joining a ton of teams and clubs, I felt really lost. I went to Notre Dame after graduating and felt like it was an academic cake- walk compared to New Trier. I had some stand- out experiences: some great Art, Art History, and Photography teachers. A fantastic math teacher that took time to teach us about life. An awesome experience on the crew team. But overall, I felt like the crazy competition and huge size made it easy to feel really lost. I'm extremely extroverted, but New Trier turned me into a wall flower for four years. Overall, I don't think the environment is has any sense of community and even very high achievers that are hugely social can feel lost.
—Submitted by a student

As a former student, I can say that NT prepared me for college better than any of the the high schools my college classmates went to. NTHS is an exceptional school, that allows kids to push themselves as far as they can go, but still has the flexibility to fit everyone's needs. Though large, NT's size is actually an advantage: the unique level system is critical to its success, and the advisery program is unparalleled in its ability to foster community and develop close friendships. I loved my time at New Trier, and found that I was capable of more things than I thought possible. The networking abilities once I left were astounding, and it seems that everywhere in the world, one can meet a NT alum. The number of clubs available (I was in well over ten my senior year alone) create a small school feel, and the class sizes were the perfect size to have absolutely excellent discussions. NT is not for the faint of heart, or for those unwilling to challenge themselves. All too easily, one can trip and fall in the mad rush of eager students pursuing their interests, academic or otherwise, but hopefully they will find friends to pick them back up.
—Submitted by a student

Top notch school and best academics in the area. Going Ivy-League after NT isn't uncommon, and the varying wealth of knowledge you pick up as a student is a plus. Most of the people who have problems with NT are socially awkward or lazy and like to blame all their problems on the school, when in reality, their social experience would be the same no matter what high school they go to. The whole "pressure cooker" that is NT is completely ridiculous, as it's the same at any North Shore school, just since NT exemplifies the North Shore, people tend to complain about it more. No matter what good school you go to, if you're in all honors classes, you're not going to have a social life, not just at NT. Yes, NT is a large school, but class sizes are the same as at the smaller surrounding schools.
—Submitted by a student

While I believe that being a student New Trier provided me with great study habits and an excellent education, it came at a very high price. Although everything worked out for me and I will be attending my dream Ivy league school in the fall, I sometimes feel resentment that I had to miss out on so many experiences so I could be what I had to be to achieve my goals. Because NT is so big, there is an incredible amount of pressure put on students to find their "niche" or talent. But in order to excel, students must in effect mortgage their lives to it. While this is possible for the extremely motivated, most teenagers are not ready to do this. As a result many kids seem to fall through the cracks because there is simply no other place to turn.
—Submitted by a student

The separation of the freshmen from the other students creates a second year of Jr. High and multiple years of unnecessary transitions. The teachers are hit or miss, and there is an atmosphere of either you are smart and work to death or you aren't and don't have to work at all. Also, much too large for a high school. Many kids flounder. And the advisory system works if you get a great adviser, like I did, but if you don't, like my brother, it is just torture.
—Submitted by a student

At 4130 students, New Trier is now the size of the undergraduate program at Dartmouth. As far as that vaunted Advisory Program, my first advisor quit; my second advisor was downsized, and then they dissolved my advisory and assigned us to other advisors. When I showed up senior year, I had to sit alone in back, because the others were still in the seats they took as freshmen. You'll notice how the district doesn't publish the percentage of students who get new advisors mid term. As for that freshman-only campus, it ends up as another year of junior high, instead of the first year of high school. The main reason they didn't reopen West as a separate 4-year high school is that they want to win a state championship in football or basketball - something they've never done - and that sticks in their craw.

My son has had a great experience at New Trier. The sophomore's get a home visit from their advisor who tracks the student over the next 3 years. The advisor is a pointperson for the students and the parents. The school works hard to make smooth transitions for students moving to a new campus. There are excellent and challenging teachers and after school programs that are well run. My son is 15 and seems to enjoy school every day. He is committed to learning new things every day and is able to articulate what he is learning with enthusiasm. I am grateful for the Wilmette public school system and how it values excellent education, social clubs, sports and the arts.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an incredible school, and much better than the Northfield Campus. It's certainly for the kids with higher abilities, but its also why they have levels, and with the elite qualities of the grammar schools the kids come into the school with, it really should be no problem to get an amazing education. If you find people you get along with, you will be very happy with your experience. Also, you must work, unlike in other schools. I suppose it really depends on what you want to achieve and your overall perspective on the school.
—Submitted by a student

I went to NT for 2 years before I transferred. I was under an unbelievable amount of pressure and I couldn't even pursue extracurriculars because there were too many other students who have been trained in a sport since pre-school. I actually ended up transferring to Evanston Twp and had a much better experience because while there still was a very competitive atmosphere, it wasn't as intense as NT and when they said no cut, they meant it. If your child is not athletically or academically priviliged then I wouldn't sen dthem there.
—Submitted by a student

While NT is academically excellent and challenging with many support services i wonder if I did my children a disservice sending them here. The school is a pressure cooker, the sports teams exclude a high percentage of the student body but I mostly worry about the overly sophisticated atmosphere wit too much of everything. The students live as though attending an adult cocktail party where to many parents similarly are trying to buy access for their kids and an awfully heavy note on materialism is a particularly strong note. The overly sophisticated scene may be part of todays culture but it is especially exaggerated here at New Trier
—Submitted by a parent

Fantastic school but it's about time they opened the Northfield Campus up as an entirely separate campus to avoid overcrowding. With over 4,000 students they could easily split it up so that about 2,000 students go to each to match the student populations of surrounding schools.
—Submitted by a student

My child the oldest of five attended NT for one year and we moved her to a smaller private school. We found it far too large and worried about our kids falling through the cracks. The athletics are only for the top athletes and even the clubs cut kids. Our kids are in a smaller private school where there is a strong emphasis on a well rounded child. The academics are tougher because the class sizes are smaller and you have to be on top of your work every day. There is no hiding behind the other 26 kids in the class as there was at NT. I think NT is doing the community a terrible disservice in keeping the HS so large.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm also a former student and I didn't realize the education that I received from NT until I left. My first year at college has been academically boring compared to the challenging fast pace of the NT curriculum. Yes, NT clubs and sports often have to make cuts and sometimes it can get a little ridiculous, but that's the way the real world works. NT taught me that I need to truly put my heart into what I'm passionate about if I want to succeed. You can't expect to have it all handed to you. I appreciate my education from NT more now than I ever thought I would.
—Submitted by a student

An amazing school. The athletics were top par for everything, and the academic standards overshadowed some colleges. The teachers are great overall, and the school atmosphere is upbeat and filled with school pride. Filled with good, caring, involved families that truely care about their students. The school had a lull in the early 2000's, but quickly made a comeback in the past years. I had no problems at this school, nor did the parents of any other students that me or my child knew. Great School!
—Submitted by a parent

As a current NTHS student, I feel the need to speak out. The administration is poor, rude, and refuses to accept responsibility for anything. They are quick to blame the parents or student in almost any situation. New Trier spends a much greater time trying to keep their 'reputation' up, rather than focus on the major problems the school currently faces: The drug use and sub-par teachers. Now, if you feel your child can do well in a large atmosphere with strict rules and a lot of heartbreak and rejection (due to its size, there really isn't much at the school that is 'no cut' - even the social work club makes significant cuts) I especially wouldn't reccomend the school for anyone with depression, ADD, OCD, or any other mental illness. They make no attempt to make accomadation for your children.
—Submitted by a student

New Trier is a school resting on its laurels and has been a disappointment for us. We moved to the district for the high school and have found that its reputation far exceeds reality. Unfortunately, this reality is absent from the thinking of the faculty, administration and board. Teachers have ranged from poor to fair for the most part. The level of indifference from most teachers is deplorable. The school is a classic case of what was an outstanding institution in its past in denial of the issues that it faces. It is interesting to note that the ISAT scores of all the feeder schools to New Trier have scores 5 to 10 points higher than those reported at the high school level. There are many explanations for the results, but a total lack of accountability. I would think twice about sending your kids here.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the post of January 20,2008. NT is great for overachievers but leave the mass middle behind--- most athletics are unavailable except to those who have trained since preschool and the advisory system is largely ineffective. I've had two sons at NT and would not do it again. It's not for everyone.
—Submitted by a parent

I had a terrible experience at NT. Found teachers mostly aloof and uncaring. Sports for the average or even above average athlete unattainable because of the large student body. I did not blossom until college and then medical school. My best experiences at NT were Art History, Wood Shop, and Stage Crew.
—Submitted by a student

Amazing, the academics are the best around, we win every sport. Its the school kids are jealous not to go to.
—Submitted by a parent