Differences
A lot of people have asked me here if there are any differences between the schools in Utah and the schools in Illinois. The answer is of course yes. My children have been in schools in inner city Chicago and the western suburbs of Chicago and those had huge differences so in a nutshell or rather a chart here are the differences I most noted from all three.
Inner City Chicago
Class Size- Around 28
PTA raises around 25,000 per year
Resources - One computer per classroom- not always guaranteed to work. No smart boards. No gym. very small theater room. no extras-art room ect, no gifted program.
Diversity- super plus.
Testing scores- below average around three students a year tested high enough to go on to elite high schools in Chicago.
Western Suburbs of Chicago
Resources- Awesome-smart board in every class, library, computer room with enough computers for ever child, parties everything.
Class size-around 23-25
PTA raises around 40,000 per year
Testing-Off the charts- My two older daughters did around a half hour or more of math a night. Of course their test scores were high. Half of the class was in advanced or gifted math.
Diversity-Excellent
Utah
Resources- No smart boards but up to date on books, plus lots and lots of recess-love it. a lot of parent involvement, including theatre and choir all donated by parents.
Class size- Around 28
PTA- I really don't know how much they raise. I'll tell you when I find out but I doubt it's 60,000.
Testing- Mediocre-
Gifted Program- There is one around six attend per grade once a week for an hour or so.
Diversity-None
