When talking about prestigious public high schools in Chicago, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School is a name that comes up frequently.

Opened in 1975, many people may recognize it as the school where Michelle Obama graduated. However, as a parent, there's something more important to consider than famous alumni: "Will my child get into a good college if I send them here?"

To put it simply, this school does indeed send students to college successfully. According to data released by the school for the graduating class of 2025, there are about 500 graduates, a 100% graduation rate, and an impressive 98% of students went on to college. The total amount of scholarships awarded to graduates reached $64 million. The average SAT score was 1,251, and the ACT average was 27, with 18 students being National Merit Semifinalists. This is not just a rumor; the numbers confirm the school's academic excellence.

So, do students get into top-tier colleges like Ivy League schools? Yes, they do. The school has stated that graduates have been accepted to institutions such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Duke, and Caltech.

There are also more realistic statistics available. Looking at the actual college enrollment of the 2023 graduates, 101 students registered at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 39 at UIC, and a remarkable 21 at Northwestern University. Additionally, 11 went to the University of Michigan, 7 to the University of Chicago, and 7 to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

With these numbers, saying that "students go to good colleges" is not an exaggeration. Haha.

Especially impressive is that 21 students from one graduating class actually enrolled at Northwestern. This is not just the number of acceptances, but the actual number of students who attended.

However, getting into Whitney Young does not guarantee admission to an Ivy League school.

It is a Selective Enrollment High School that specifically selects academically strong students. Recent CPS data shows that for the 9th-grade selection process, 10,140 students applied, and only 369 received offers. That's about a 3.6% acceptance rate. Students compete based on a combined score of 900, which includes a minimum HSAT score of 450 and a 7th-grade final score of 450.

Once admitted, the school is not an easy place to study. The school currently offers 94 Honors courses and 29 AP courses. This means that a student who was previously a top performer may find themselves surrounded by many peers who are just as academically driven. While parents may appreciate this, students might suddenly think, "Wasn't I supposed to be the smart one?"

Michelle Obama also graduated from this school before attending Princeton University and later graduating from Harvard Law School.

However, the true strength of Whitney Young is not just one famous graduate. The fact that nearly all students advance to college and that the school consistently sends students to prestigious institutions like Northwestern and the University of Chicago, as well as top universities across the country, is a significant advantage.

Therefore, for Korean parents considering education for their children in Chicago, this is a school worth aiming for.

However, it's not a school you can automatically attend just by moving to a good neighborhood. Admission requires testing and competition based on grades. So, it's not enough for parents to simply say, "I heard Whitney Young is great"; if a child is truly motivated to study, they need to understand the admission requirements and prepare from middle school.