Whitney Young Magnet High School
 

 

Where Academic Excellence is the Standard

Whitney Young High School is a Chicago Public School that is known for producing quality students that are prepared for college. The school opened its doors to students on September 3, 1975 and was the city's first public magnet high school which offered an academic college preparatory curriculum. As a college preparatory school, Whitney M. Young Magnet High offers an wide range of Advanced Placement classes for the college-bound student. In addition, college courses are available to students who exhaust Advance Placement offerings. These students may participate in the Talented Seniors Program at University of Illinois at Chicago, select technology offerings at DeVry Institute of Technology, or take part in the CPS' College Bridge Program. Approximately 450 students enter the Magnet Program each year.

Demographically, the school is microcosm of the entire city, as its enrollment is drawn from the city at large. Admission to Whitney Young is granted based on entrance exams and middle school grades, and is open to all residents of Chicago. More than 9,000 elementary students applied for the 425 spots in the 2005/2006 Freshman class. One hundred per cent of Whitney Young students go on to college, and graduating seniors averaged a 25.5 on the ACT as compared with the national average of 20.9 and the Illinois state average of 20.3.

The 2,155 students who began the 2005 school year commute to the school from all over the city. The student population is highly diverse — 35% African American, 27% White, 21% Latino and 17% Asian.

The school has earned numerous accolades and consistently scores among the top high schools in the state of Illinois. In 2005, the school decathlon team repeated for the 19th straight year as the State Decathlon champion and finished 5th nationally. 100 graduates were named Illinois State Scholars, and the Whitney Young Math Team finished first at the Chicago Citywide Math League. Additionally, the Class of 2005 had 21 National Merit Semifinalists, the third highest in the State of Illinois. Also in 2005 the school earned recognition as one of the top schools in the country by US News and World Report, ranking the school among the top 10% of high schools nationally. This ranking includes both public and private high schools.

2005-2006 Sports Achievements

Whitney M. Young Magnet High School won eight city championships in 2004-2005, including Girls Basketball, Freshman/Sophomore Boys Basketball, Sophomore Baseball, Boys Swimming Relays, Chess, Cheerleading, Boys Indoor Track, and Boys JV Tennis.

  • Girls Varsity Basketball team repeats to win the 2005-2006 City Championship
  • Girls Varsity Basketball team wins 2004-2005 City Championship and finishes 3rd in State
  • Boys Freshman Basketball Wins 2004- 2005 City Championship for 2nd straight year
  • Chess Team Wins 2004-2005 City Championship
  • Girls Volleyball team wins 2005-2006 City Championship

Over 60 Clubs and Organizations~ Significant Other Achievements

  • One of ten Illinois schools selected as an Exemplary School by the Education Department of Illinois State University
  • On the 2005 Illinois State Achievement Test, 100% of all 7th and 8th graders met or exceeded state standards.
  • Two Whitney Young students scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT.
  • Whitney Young's Academic Decathlon Team won their 20th Illinois state title and finished fourth at the national competition.
  • Whitney Young's Math Team finished first at the Citywide Math League Competition.