Glenbrook District 225 ranked No. 2 in America
It's clear, according to school data analysis and marketing website Niche, that Glenbrook High Schools District 225 deserves national attention.
The website ranked the district, headquartered at 3801 W. Lake Ave., and serving Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South, as the nation's second-best school district in its 2022 Best Schools package.
Stevenson High School District 125 was ranked No. 1, with the high school districts covering Vernon Hills, New Trier and Highland Park all in the top 10.
Natalie Tsay, Niche senior public relations specialist, said rankings include such factors as academics, culture and diversity, and resources and facilities.
Niche collects data and user-generated content to produce a score for each factor, then calculates an overall score by assigning weights to each factor, which produces a numerical ranking, she said.
"To reach the No. 2 spot on our Best School Districts in America ranking, Glenbrook High Schools District 225 had to excel in all of the factors we consider. The district performed especially well when it came to academics, teachers, extracurriculars and resources and facilities," Tsay wrote in an email to the Herald.
"Looking at the data we collect from sources like the Department of Education and ratings our users give their district, it's clear that Glenbrook deserves national recognition."
Naturally, District 225 Superintendent Dr. Charles Johns was pleased.
"We are very proud to be recognized for our successes. It is a testament to the hard work of our staff, students and the support of our community. Nonetheless, we are always committed to continued improvement regardless of recognition," Johns stated in an email to the Herald.
Glenbrook North Principal Jason Markey agreed on that point also in an email response to the Herald.
"Any successful organization must focus on continual improvement. This is something I see every day with both our staff and students," he said.
"For example, our school improvement committee collectively focuses on larger goals, and I personally meet with an advisory board of student representatives who are constantly asking important questions and offering suggestions on how we can improve."
Niche data found District 225 tops among the nation's "Best Places to Teach," followed by New Trier Township High School District 203. Stevenson was rated No. 5, Highland Park Township High School District 113 No. 6 and Niles Township High School District 219 No. 10.
Pittsburgh-based Niche, which calls itself the market leader in connecting colleges and schools with students and families, says it has accumulated 140 million reviews and ratings.
Markey expressed particular satisfaction with that part of the ranking system.
"I think the most rewarding aspect of the recognition is realizing the pride our students and parents clearly take in our school to provide such positive reviews," he said.