I'm moving to Chicago and will most likely be living in Glenview. (any thoughts on where is a great friendly neighborhood, families, etc. would be great!). Also, i'm concerned about New Trier vs. Glenbrook High... wondering if New Trier may just be TOO big (despite it's amazing reputation).
Thanks for the help!

My husband used to teach at GBN and a close friend at New Trier. I'd like to answer your question, but I'm a little unsure as to what your actual concern is. Size?

Both GBN and New Trier are among the state's top schools--per pupil spending (and related property taxes, I imagine) are very high, and they both have lots of "extras"--sports, music, etc.

I do know that GBN tends to have better athletics (Coach K from Duke? His brother coaches BBall at GBN) and has a nationally ranked debate team.

GBN has a split schedule--A days and B days, with 90-minute class periods.

New Trier is split between 2 campuses--I've only seen the old one in Willmette. Didn't know any Glenview students attended.

Based on the local reputations, New Trier will be a higher-pressure experience.

If you want to go to a good HS, have fun, then go to a decent college, graduate and make your millions, go to Glenview.

If you want to go to an elite HS, maybe not have as much fun, then go to an Ivy League school, graduate and make your millions, go to New Trier.

That is all tongue in cheek... my point is, if you are about hardcore academics, maybe New Trier has a slight advantage, although both schools are very good.

Thanks for the replies: I think my concern was both the enormous size AND the "pressure". I am all about a great education, but I suppose I'm worried about burnout too soon? As far as Glenview to New Trier, East Glenview falls in the district. The area were are looking out would be Glenview South (I think) - south of the Glen? I appreciate your thoughts!

Kids in that area of Glenview is attend Glenbrook South school (not GBN). Aren't you the poster who had pre-school age children? It's hard to know what their experience in high school will be like in ten years.

GBS is a well-regarded school, with more economic diversity than New Trier. They have resources equivalent to the better known GBN, but draw from an area with somewhat smaller homes and more apartments. I think their average ACT is about a point lower than GBN's, so we aren't talking about much of a difference. By and large, it is a high school that most people would be proud to have in their district.

New Trier students is a large school, (about 50% larger than either of the Glenbrooks) with a highly competitive student body. Their course offerings and student associations are outstanding. However, I've always thought it would be a discouraging place for an average kid. Most parents I know love it, though.

New Trier, GBS, and GBN are all excellent schools. I think New Trier has 2 campuses and it is HUGE. It's a wonderful school but it's like going to a medium-sized college when you're in high school. The Glenbrooks are big as well but not that big.

I used to work at Homewood-Flossmoor HS on the South Side. It was like working on a college campus-2 campuses, 2,500 students. I have found that aside from Lake Forest HS that a lot of the Chicago high schools are very big. At least 1,500 students+ whereas here on the East Coast (where I live now) the schools are a bit smaller in population. I worked at a high school in Ct with only 1,000 students which I found ideal.

Also, not every student who goes to New Trier goes to an Ivy League college! Not every ivy can take all the students from one high school. I found when living in Chicago that a lot of students tended to stay in the midwest, so if your children want to branch out to the East or West coast they might have a bit of an advantage because there will not be as many students from those high schools applying unlike here on the East Coast. Make sense? All 3 schools are terrific and your children will get wonderful educations and if they work hard and broaden their horizons they should end up at colleges that are the right "fit"-whether that is the "best" school they get into or not doesn't matter as much as finding the right fit.

Hope this helps. I lived in Chicago for 8 years and it rocks!

I don't know too much about the Glenbrooks, other than in the past there was a premium (higher prices) for houses in the GBN attendance area.

Yes, a small area of East Glenview attends New Trier, mostly east of Waukegan Road, where there are some very cute streets off of Glenview Road and Lake Avenue. I know New Trier has the reputation of being very competitive, but my two very different daughters both thrived there. The cornerstone is its advisor system: single-sex homerooms with the same students and advisor for the 4 years, a sort of "home atmosphere" within the bigger school. Not sure if this is still true, but a few years ago, rather than re-opening the New Trier West campus as a separate high school as had been the case in the 60's and 70's, when the "original" New Trier became New Trier East, it was re-opened as a freshman campus, with the 3 other years at the "main" campus. At that time there were about 4000 students, so, yes, it is big, but the advisory system helps to humanize the place.

One complaint often heard is that it is hard to compete for admission to elite schools with others applying from New Trier, and that being in the top 10% at New Trier to qualify for admission to the University of Illinois is also relatively harder.

Thank you SO much all of you for your help! We are looking forward to moving to Chicago - we just placed an offer for a house that falls in the Glenbrook South district. So now, the next step is finding a preschool! Thanks again.