Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS: Top School in Chicago, IL (2026 List)

About Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS

Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS is a public alternative school serving students in grades 9 through 12 in Chicago, Illinois. It is a premier transitional educational school, with an enrollment of about 150 students and a student-teacher ratio of about 6:1. The school is recognized as a premier school for its dedication to stable, quality academic instruction and social-emotional support, so that students are still making progress towards a high school diploma in a unique learning environment. The student body is mostly composed of economically disadvantaged youth. Minority enrollment is about 99%. While standardized test scores (for Math and Reading) are often used to customize instruction to each student’s needs, Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS also provides students the chance to take important assessments like the SAT. The school is well funded and receives over $65, 000 per pupil. It is known to be one of the best schools to nurture academic resilience and provide a professional foundation for the students at critical transition points, and it is one of the best high schools in Illinois.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 0%

Reading 0%

State average proficiency is 0% in Math and 0% in Reading.

47

Full-time Teachers

1

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

0

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

147 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS Contact Information

Address

1100 S Hamilton Ave, Chicago, IL, 60612

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Phone

(312) 433-7110

Call Now

Website

http://www.cps.edu

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:45 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Cook Co Juvenile - Jefferson Alt HS is within the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center that earned exemplary status from the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts and the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice in 2025 for meeting or exceeding all 32 state standards. Major improvements made by the facility were Millimeter Wave Body Scanners, the end of routine strip-searches and fixed-room disciplinary time, and individualized behavioral and mental health plans, with expert consultation.

FAQ

Q1. Are students allowed to go to cultural and arts events?

Ans. Yes, Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS encourages students to be creative by offering programs in music, theater, and the visual arts.

Q2. Can students get rides from all neighborhoods?

Ans. Bus service is available depending on the district's eligibility zones.

Q3. Does Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS offer individualized learning assistance?

Ans. Yes, Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS gives students advice and help to help them reach their academic goals.

Q4. Do students get help getting ready for college?

Ans. Yes, Students can take the SAT and ACT and get help planning for college.

Q5. How does Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt HS get students ready for success in the future?

Ans. Planning, skill-building, and guidance programs help students make the transition to college, vocational training, or a job.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say