Young Magnet High School: Best High School in Chicago (2026 List)

About Young Magnet High School

Young Magnet High School is a highly-rated public magnet school serving students in grades 7-12 in Chicago, IL. One of 149 high schools in the Chicago Public Schools system, it is a top-performing school with a strong academic atmosphere. The school has an enrollment of about 2,150 students and a student-teacher ratio of approximately 18:1.The school is one of the best for advanced academics, with a wide variety of Advanced Placement® coursework and an impressive 87% participation rate. Diversity is the essence of this student body, with the total minority enrollment being 76%. A large percentage of economically disadvantaged students succeed in this highly competitive environment. The academic proficiency data is outstanding, 91% of students meet standards in mathematics and 90% meet standards in reading. The school's strong college-preparatory focus is evident in the fact that students regularly take the SAT and ACT.Young Magnet High School is one of the best schools in the state and has a wonderful community and dedication to excellence. Its strengths lie in its high academic standards and its capacity to equip a diverse student body for success in the university environment, and it is one of the best high schools in Illinois.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 91%

Reading 90%

State average proficiency is 91% in Math and 90% in Reading.

133

Full-time Teachers

17 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

3

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

2221

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 24.04%

Asian 24.67%

Hispanic 28.46%

Black 18.01%

Two+ Races 3.96%

Native Am. 0.18%

White

24.04%

Asian

24.67%

Hispanic

28.46%

Black

18.01%

Two+ Races

3.96%

Native Am.

0.18%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 2221

49.75%

1105 Female

50.25%

1116 Male

Student Population

2221 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 17 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

246 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Young Magnet High School Contact Information

Address

211 S Laflin St, Chicago, IL, 60607

View on Map

Phone

(773) 534-7500

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

Whitney M. Young Magnet High School celebrated a historic milestone in 2025 with 23 students earning perfect ACT scores, reflecting the school’s demanding academic environment. The Near West Side campus continues to build on a tradition of excellence with Academic Decathlon, Science Bowl and Math Team programs that have won regional and state titles, including the 2026 “Triple Crown” in City of Chicago Math League, North Suburban Math League and ICTM competitions. Young has 33 Advanced Placement classes, dual credit and award-winning arts, athletics and debate that prepare scholars for top universities.

FAQ

Q1. How does Young Magnet High School 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.

Q2. Does Young Magnet High School make it easy for students to learn?

Ans. Yes, Young Magnet High School stresses inclusion, staff support, and learning together to help all students do well.

Q3. What does Young Magnet High School do to help students get ready for life after graduation?

Ans. College planning, mentoring, and skill-building programs help students move on to higher education, vocational paths, or jobs.

Q4. Do students get help with standardized tests?

Ans. Yes. The school has resources to help students get ready for the SAT and ACT tests.

Q5. Are students allowed to go to cultural and arts events?

Ans. Yes, Young Magnet High School encourages students to be creative by offering programs in music, theater, and the visual arts.

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

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