Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy facts for kids

Robert E. Lindblom Math & Science Academy
Address
6130 S. Wolcott Avenue Chicago , Illinois 60636 United States
Coordinates	41°46′56″N 87°40′20″W / 41.7821°N 87.6721°W / 41.7821; -87.6721
Information
School type	Public Secondary Selective Enrollment Middle
Motto	Our History Guides our Future.
Established	1917
School district	Chicago Public Schools
CEEB code	141122
Principal	Everett L. Edwards II
Grades	7–12
Gender	Coed
Enrollment	1,382 (2022–2023)
Campus type	Urban
Color(s)	Maroon      Gold
Athletics conference	Chicago Public High School League
Team name	Eagles
Accreditation	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper	The Talon
Yearbook	The Eagle

The Robert E. Lindblom Math & Science Academy High School (LMSA) is a special public high school and middle school in Chicago, Illinois. It's known as a "selective enrollment" school, meaning students need to apply and meet certain requirements to get in. Lindblom is located in the West Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's south side.

The school is part of the Chicago Public School system. It was first built in 1919 and is named after Robert E. Lindblom. He was a trader from Sweden who lived in the 1800s.

Lindblom was originally created to help students learn skills for industrial jobs. Over time, it changed to prepare students for college. In the early 1960s, it became one of Chicago's first selective enrollment high schools. It mainly served communities south of Roosevelt Road.

In 1999, the school's name changed to Lindblom College Prep High School. After some challenges, the original building closed for two years in 2003. Students attended classes at a different elementary school during this time.

Lindblom reopened in 2005. It housed two groups of students: the last senior class of the College Prep program and the first freshman class of the new Math & Science Academy. In 2010, the Lindblom building was officially named a Chicago landmark.

School History

The Lindblom school building was designed by architect Arthur Hussander. It was finished in 1919. The building has three stories and was built in a style called Beaux-Arts. This style often includes grand features like Roman columns.

Lindblom has a large auditorium with 2,000 seats and two balconies. It also has two gyms, a big study hall on the third floor, a swimming pool, and even a greenhouse.

When it first opened, many students were from European immigrant families. The school focused on helping them learn and succeed. After World War II, jobs changed, so the school updated its classes. It started preparing students for college degrees instead of just industrial jobs.

In the 1999-2000 school year, it was renamed Lindblom College Prep High School. It continued to serve a growing and diverse group of students.

Architect's drawing of Lindblom, around 1919.

In 2003, Lindblom went through a big two-year renovation that cost $42 million. This project updated the building and prepared it to become a math and science school. BauerLatoza Studio helped modernize the building's systems. They also designed new computer and science labs.

The school had a grand reopening on October 14, 2005. A famous TV journalist, Cheryl Burton, who was a former student, hosted the event. Lindblom reopened that fall as the Lindblom Math & Science Academy. It welcomed its first class of freshmen. The last class from Lindblom College Prep High School graduated in the spring of 2006.

When the Math & Science Academy first opened, it faced a challenge with student enrollment. However, it quickly grew in popularity. In December 2008, the school building was given preliminary landmark status. In June 2010, the Chicago City Council officially made it a city landmark. They called it a "distinctive and exceptional example" of Beaux-Arts architecture.

What Students Learn

Daily Schedule

Lindblom Math & Science Academy uses a "block schedule." This means students have fewer classes each day, but those classes are longer. Students usually have four classes daily. Three classes last 100 minutes, and one lasts 50 minutes. There is also a 50-minute lunch period.

This schedule helps students focus deeply on their subjects. The 100-minute classes meet two days a week, and the 50-minute classes meet four days a week. Lindblom was the first high school in Chicago Public Schools to use a year-round balanced schedule.

Academics at Lindblom

Lindblom is one of ten selective enrollment schools in Chicago. This means all classes offered are at an Honors or Advanced Placement (AP) level. AP courses are college-level classes. Students can earn college credit if they pass the course and a special AP exam.

In 2008, Lindblom brought back its academic center middle school program. This program serves seventh and eighth graders. Students in this program are often called "Ackies." Lindblom is one of the few high schools in the city that has a middle school program inside the high school building. The first group of Ackies graduated in 2014.

Partnership with Baxter International

In 2008, Lindblom started working with Baxter International. This company partnered with the school as part of its SCIENCE@WORK program. Baxter donated money to help with science education at Lindblom.

The partnership helps Lindblom's biotechnology courses. It also supports a program called the Biotechnology Center of Excellence. This program helps teachers from other Chicago high schools learn about biotechnology. They can then create their own biotechnology programs at their schools.

Activities and Sports

Lindblom students can join many sports and activities. The school competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is part of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

Some of the sports offered include:

• Football
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Softball
• Soccer
• Water polo
• Wrestling
• Volleyball
• Cross country/track
• Swimming
• Golf
• Tennis
• Bowling

The Lindblom Debate Team is also very active. They compete in the Chicago Debates league, which is part of a national organization. Lindblom was one of the first five schools in Chicago to have a debate program, starting in 1997. In the 2008–2009 school year, Lindblom started its first Girls' Swim Team and Boys' Swim Team. That same year, the school also started its Water Polo team.

Famous Former Students