Latin School of Chicago facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Latin School of Chicago
Address
59 W. North Boulevard Chicago , Illinois 60610 United States
Coordinates	41°54′39″N 87°37′53″W / 41.9108°N 87.6313°W / 41.9108; -87.6313
Information
Type	Private
Motto	Semper Fidelitas (Faithfulness always).
Established	1888
Grades	K–12
Enrollment	382 (Elementary; 2018–19) 308 (Middle; 2018–19) 485 (High School; 2018–19)
Color(s)	Orange      Blue
Athletics conference	ISL
Team name	Romans
Newspaper	The Forum
Yearbook	The Roman

The Latin School of Chicago is a private school in Chicago, Illinois. It teaches students from kindergarten all the way through high school (K-12). You can find it in the Gold Coast area, which is part of Chicago's Near North Side.

This school was started in 1888 by a teacher named Mabel Slade Vickery. The Latin School is also part of the Independent School League (ISL), where its sports teams compete.

About the School

How Latin School Started

The Latin School began in 1888 because a group of parents wanted a better education for their children. They invited Mabel Slade Vickery, a teacher from the East Coast, to Chicago. She opened the school with just ten 10-year-old boys.

In the early days, classes were held in private homes on Chicago's North Side. The school grew, and by 1899, it had over 100 boys. That's when it moved into its own building and became known as the Chicago Latin School.

In 1913, Miss Vickery also started a section for girls, which was called The Chicago Latin School for Girls. Later, in 1953, the boys' and girls' schools joined together to form the co-educational Latin School of Chicago we know today.

The school was created to give students a strong education to prepare them for college. Its lessons were inspired by "classical studies," which means learning about ancient Greek and Latin languages and cultures. That's why it's called "Latin School"! Even today, students in middle and high school can still learn the Latin language.

While it started as a small neighborhood school, the Latin School now has more than 1,100 students. These students come from about 70 different areas all over Chicago. The school also helps many families by offering over $3 million in financial aid each year.

School Buildings and Learning

The Latin School campus has three main buildings. The building for the youngest students (junior kindergarten to 4th grade) is the oldest. It was built in 1926 and is located at 1531 N. Dearborn.

The high school building (grades 9–12) is at 59 W. North and was finished in 1969. The middle school building (grades 5–8) is at 45 W. North and opened in 2007. This middle school building is special because it has a green roof garden and was built using materials that are good for the environment. It even earned a special "LEED Gold" award for being so eco-friendly!

The high school building was designed by a famous architect named Harry Weese. The high school and middle school buildings are connected by two bridges. Students from both parts of the school use both buildings. For example, many middle school art and gym classes are held in the high school building. All high school science classes are in the science center located in the middle school building.

The classes at Latin School are usually small, with an average of 14 students. There's also a great student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1, meaning teachers can give lots of individual attention. The school offers over 150 different courses, including many advanced "honors" and "AP" (Advanced Placement) classes. There are also many elective classes for students to choose from.

Visual Arts at Latin School

The Latin School has a strong visual arts program. Students have many chances to explore art through extra classes and projects. One cool project for ninth graders is "Mickey & The Masters." After learning about the history of Western painting, students recreate famous paintings. The fun twist is that they have to put Mickey Mouse in the painting as the main character!

The school also has two art galleries. They host about 14 art events there every year.

Music and Performing Arts

If you love performing, Latin School has many options for you! There are lots of classes and clubs focused on music, acting, and public speaking. The school puts on about 20 plays, concerts, and dance shows each year. This includes plays directed by both teachers and students, concerts for the band and chorus, and dance performances. The school provides good funding to make sure these productions are top-notch.

Sports at Latin School

The Latin School of Chicago's sports teams are called the Romans. They compete in the Independent School League (ISL).

Fall Sports

Winter Sports

Spring Sports

Famous Alumni

Many notable people have graduated from the Latin School of Chicago. Here are a few: