Looking for schools with large Jewish communities in Chicago

My family's considering a move to Chicago, and one thing that's really important to me personally is a strong Jewish community. Can anyone tell me about the most Jewish public high schools in the area?

While exact religious compositions of public high schools are not readily available due to privacy reasons, nearby communities can often provide insight into potential student backgrounds. In terms of Chicago, certain suburbs - like Skokie, Highland Park, and Buffalo Grove - have sizable Jewish populations. High school communities often mirror the surrounding area, so high schools in these regions might have more sizeable Jewish communities.

For instance, Niles North High School and Niles West High School in Skokie, Deerfield High School and Highland Park High School in Highland Park, and Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire (close to Buffalo Grove) could potentially fit your needs. Keep in mind, though, that public school enrollment is generally tied to your geographic location, so you’d need to live in the specific boundaries of these districts.

You might also look into joining youth and community organizations. Local synagogues often have active youth groups attached to them, like NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) or USY (United Synagogue Youth). Looking beyond high school, Northwestern University, in Evanston just north of Chicago, has a large Jewish population and a number of Jewish organizations on campus that range from religious to cultural to social justice-oriented. Similarly, the University of Chicago has a strong Hillel foundation.

Remember to also consider the school’s overall fit – curriculum, extracurriculars, and the social environment. Best of luck with your search!