Maryville's Jen School to accept female high school students

For the first time, female students will be able to attend Maryville's Jen School in Des Plaines, a year after the campus stopped housing boys because of state budget cuts.

The Illinois State Board of Education last week approved a request by the school, which provides education for students struggling in traditional schools, to accept female high school students in the fall.

"I'm hoping that it will continue to allow us to grow and provide more services to more students," Principal Anne Craig said.

Only male students have attended the school since it opened in 2007, because the campus provided residences for boys considered wards of the state. The budget cuts combined with the state's effort to reduce the number of children in residential treatment facilities led Maryville shutter that program.

This opened the door for the school to offer classes for female high school students. The school currently has programs for boys in fifth grade through high school.

"It was time for us to examine what else we can do to expand our service," Craig said.

Unlike other specialized education programs in the area, the school's programs for academics and physical education classes will be gender specific. Programs will be integrated for vocational training, Chicago Area Alternative Education League sports and all-school activities.

The school will accommodate up to 70 students.