Glenbrook North High School was ranked as the No. 1 public high school in Cook County, excluding those located in Chicago, by Chicago Magazine in a list titled “Best Public Schools in Chicago and the Suburbs,” published in the September 2012 issue.
According to Chicago Magazine, there are four categories that are considered when ranking suburban high schools. The classifications include: spending per pupil, graduation rate, average composite score on the ACT, and percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards on the Prairie State Achievement Examination.
According to Robert Gallivan, GBN’s 2012 distinguished teacher award winner, beyond pure numbers, the type of people that work at the school as well as the kind of students who attend make GBN “unbelievable.”
Kris Frandson, associate principal for curriculum and instruction, believes that one thing GBN accomplishes is preparing students for college, which she attributes to the faculty as well as the block scheduling system.
“The block schedule’s unique and it’s a little bit different,” said Frandson. “Our students, I think, really benefit from having that longer period of time within their classrooms and doing this rotation of the courses every other day.”
Frandson believes that the longer blocks allow teachers to occupy their students with more engaging activities.
In the opinion of Frandson, the classroom setting is not the only place where GBN students excel.
“There is not a school that can beat Glenbrook North when it comes to school spirit,” Frandson said.
Frandson credits GBN’s spirited atmosphere to the positive attitude of the student body.
Gallivan claims that there are so many resources available at GBN that it is “an embarrassment of riches.” He recently described the Academic Resource Center, known as the ARC, to a friend who teaches in another area. According to Gallivan, she was amazed by the assistance the tutors are able to provide for students.
Gallivan said if he was a parent sending his kid to GBN, he would be comforted by the academic support available.
Frandson believes that above all it is important that students are happy and have a sense of belonging in the school community.
“I live 45 minutes away and I always tell my friends it’s worth the drive,” Frandson said.