Admissions

We seek to attract students with potential who have limited educational options and would otherwise not be able to afford a private education. Following application to the school, students are tested and a meeting with the family is held. In making admission decisions, three factors are considered: family commitment to education; student attitude and willingness to work; and student test scores. If a student’s scores are low, but he has a good attitude and support from his family, more often than not, he will be admitted, although we cannot admit students with severe learning disabilities or emotional or behavioral problems because we do not currently have staff with appropriate credentials to support these students.

 This fall, St. Gregory’s will admit 75 boys.  Families are asked to pay $500 per year per child toward tuition, which is a fraction of the actual cost to the school. Many families cannot pay even that amount. The actual tuition cost ranges between $8,000 and $9,000 per child, depending on our annual budget.

Students

St. Gregory’s draws students from the entire metropolitan Chicago area, but is particularly sensitive to the needs of students from the west and south sides of the city. In most cases, the benefit of a private education would be financially prohibitive for our boys and their families, and while we seek to attract any student who will find this type of education rewarding, we are especially dedicated to students who would otherwise not be able to attend private school.

St. Gregory’s endeavors to create a safe haven for its students---a place where the presence of gangs, drugs and violence is absent---as well as provide opportunity to reinforce and encourage learning and develop skills not taught in the classroom. The benefits of team effort and spirit are taught through participation in flag football and basketball leagues, which compete in the West Side Catholic League. We have increased the number of tutors coming regularly to the school, and the Visiting Mentor Project is bringing positive role models in to connect with the seventh and eighth graders twice a month. Volunteers also teach public speaking skills to students in the fifth through eighth grades.

EVALUATION

St. Gregory Episcopal School measures its success with three basic criteria:

o   Acceptance into Competitive High Schools

Understanding that an excellent high school education paves the way for admission to preferred colleges and universities, St. Gregory’s stresses the importance of applying to well-regarded high schools. We shepherd our students through this process, providing support to parent and child during the necessary exams and interviews. Seven of the ten young men who graduated in June, 2004 were accepted into competitive high schools.

 o   Standardized Test Scores

We use Illinois learning standards and scores on standardized tests as a barometer of our success. Many of our students come to us with test scores below the national norm, which is one of the reasons they need to be at St. Gregory’s.

 o   Alumni Success

Of the 36 students graduating from St. Gregory Episcopal School in the last four years, 34 are still attending high school. This 92% “stay-in” rate far exceeds the rate for Chicago public high schools. Long-term tracking of graduates beyond high school has previously been beyond the financial and staff resources of St. Gregory, although sporadic contact with former students occurs frequently.

 Our desire to follow former students more closely has become a reality and we have recently begun to locate alums and gather data on the role St. Gregory’s played in their lives. By August of 2006, we expect to have an analysis of how effective we have been over the years in achieving our mission.

 ST. GREGORY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

Student Outcomes and Expectations

Academic Development

1. Students achieve competitive academic performance in core subjects of reading, writing and mathematics.
   1. Every student performs at or above grade level in reading, writing and mathematics within three years of entering St. Gregory’s.
   2. All students perform at or above 50^th percentile of national norms in reading, writing and mathematics.
   3. Every student gains a minimum of one grade level progression each year in reading, writing and mathematics.
2. St. Gregory students are accepted into and graduate from competitive high schools.
   1. All eighth-grade students perform competitively on high school placement tests.
   2. All eighth-grade students are accepted into high schools that perform at or above national averages on standardized test scores.
3.  St. Gregory students perform adequately in the non-core academic subjects.
   1. Every student participates in non-core subject curriculum that meets or exceeds the minimum curriculum standards set by the State of Illinois.
   2. Every student meets or exceeds minimum performance standards in non-core subjects as assessed by St. Gregory teachers.
4. Every St. Gregory student develops appropriate skill set and capabilities for long-term educational success.
   1. Every student develops competence in using technology for basic research, word processing, spreadsheet development and graphic display.
   2. Every student gains basic organization and study skills to allow daily success in the classroom.
5. Every parent will be actively engaged in the academic life of their son.

Social Development

1.      Students cope effectively with personal challenges, frustrations, and stressors.

2. St. Gregory students possess a good self-image.
3. St. Gregory students get along with other people (adults & peers).
4. St. Gregory students respect cultural and individual differences.
5. St. Gregory students value engagement in community.

Spiritual Development

1. Every student is knowledgeable of Christian principles as expressed in the Anglican tradition.
2. Every St. Gregory student lives according to Christian principles.

 Physical Development

1. Every St. Gregory student will have knowledge of their bodies, their health and well being, including diet and fitness, safety, drug use, and human sexuality.
2. Every St. Gregory student will have the capacity to achieve a balanced attitude regarding physical fitness and healthy life style.
3. Every boy at St. Gregory will be physically fit.