CHICAGO — Hundreds of parents and students looking to learn more about their public school options are expected to attend Saturday's Sixth Annual New Schools Expo at Soldier Field.
Representatives from dozens of charter, elementary and high schools will be available to answer questions and help parents and students fill out admission applications at the event.
The free event takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside the United Club on the ground level at the stadium. Free parking will be available.
According to Phyllis Lockett, chief executive officer for News Schools for Chicago, there are 19,000 students on waiting lists to attend a charter school.
One charter high school in demand every year is Urban Prep Academy for Young Men, according to Tim King, founder of Urban Prep Academies, the Chicago non-profit organization that operates the school for Chicago Public Schools. The all-boys school has three campuses, including its flagship location in Englewood. It also has campuses in Bronzeville and North Lawndale.
Since its 2006 inception, the first all-boys public school in the country has garnered national attention for its academic excellence. For the last three years its entire senior class, comprised mostly of blacks from low-income neighborhoods, has been accepted into four-year colleges or universities, said King.
Last year's expo attracted more than 1,000 people. Lockett said she expects a higher attendance this year in the wake of pending school closures next year.
Parents who plan to apply for admissions while at the expo should bring their driver’s license or state I.D. card, Lockett said, as well as a utility bill, bank statement, voter registration card or a medical card. This type of information is needed because many participating schools require proof that both the parent and student reside in Chicago.
