Located in the far Northwest side of Chicago, Taft Academic Center (housed within Taft High School) is an International Baccalaureate World School. As noted on the CPS website, IB schools “share a common philosophy—a commitment to improving the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering a challenging and high-quality program of international education.” Most notably, IB students not only adhere to Common Core State Standards but also, international standards of excellence. Students who are accepted into Taft’s Academic Center are automatically accepted into the IB program for high school should they choose to stay.
In addition, according to Taft’s website, Taft is the only high school in Chicago to offer a six-year IB program that begins in 7th grade. This is called their Middle Years Program (MYP). Within the MYP for 7th and 8th graders, students complete an honors-level core curriculum, a design course, a foreign language course, and an elective such as art, drama, or band. Like other academic centers, students can earn high school credit during their 7th and 8th-grade years; unlike other academic centers, Taft 7th and 8th-grade students are able to earn International Baccalaureate high school credits.
Taft’s website also boasts an impressive amount of sports and clubs from which students enrolled can choose to participate: more than 100. In addition, students can learn in a more hands-on environment by attending field trips to places such as Steppenwolf Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Holocaust Museum, as well as participating in “Team Building Adventures,” and more. Another unique element of Taft is its transportation policy: transportation is provided through a busing program for students who reside more than 1.5 miles away from the school.
For more information about Taft’s Academic Center and its programs, visit their website at tafthighschool.org.
Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266