EDGEWATER — Susan Lofton, principal of Senn High School, announced at a local school council meeting that Senn had shed its probation rating, the lowest assigned by Chicago Public Schools.
Lofton, who has been Senn's principal for two years, said CPS had promoted Senn from a Level 3 to a Level 2 school, which denotes good standing on a variety of metrics, including performance and student growth.
"It's a comforting feeling to know that the school in your backyard can provide the education and safety you want," Lofton said.
Two years ago, 60 percent of students at Senn weren't from the neighborhood; parents were sending their kids to other schools, Lofton said at the Nov. 8 meeting.
Now that statistic has flipped, and 60 percent of the students live nearby.
Lofton also received a $5,000 merit award from CPS for her work at Senn. She was one of 10 high school principals, including those at charter schools, to get merit pay. Lofton said she donated the money to be used for a needs-based scholarship at Senn.
