This story was originally written by McKinley Park News.
Horizon Science Academy – McKinley Park, a state-managed K-12 charter recently lauded by Chicago Magazine for its top-ten city high school program, presented its 500-student high school expansion into the Bridgeport neighborhood at a town hall held at the proposed site: the Lourdes Hall Campus of the De La Salle Institute at 1040 W. 32nd Place, Chicago.
Principal Seat Vedziovski outlined the advantages that the expansion would bring to area students, families and communities, noting the school’s achievements, including high performance relative to its peers in Chicago Public Schools and ranking into U.S. News & World Report’s Best Elementary Schools, Best Middle Schools and Best High Schools.
“We are one of the best schools out there,” Vedziovski said at the October 2, 2024, town hall.
The event was part of community outreach required for expansion approval from the Illinois State Board of Education and its Superintendent Tony Sanders: the single individual ultimately responsible for approving the expansion or not, Vedziovski said.
Non-Selective High School
Founded in 2013, Horizon Science Academy – McKinley Park received approval to open and run under oversight from the Illinois State Board of Education’s charter school department. The non-profit Concept Schools manages Horizon alongside dozens of other science-focused charters across several Midwest states.
The non-selective public school accepts all comers to its K-12 curriculum, but currently is full and has students on a waiting list, Vedziovski said.
Elected Officials Support
“I could not be more excited to support the application,” said 11th Ward Alderwoman Nicole Lee. “We’ve needed a good public high school option for a long time.”
Illinois 24th District State Representative Theresa Mah also lent her support to the school’s expansion, she said.
Lease from Archdiocese
“We’d love to have this option close by,” Mah said.
Horizon’s plans call for moving its 9th through 12th grade students to the new Bridgeport campus: a De La Salle Institute property currently vacant and on sublease from the Archdiocese of Chicago, Vedziovski said.
In the 2025-26 school year, around 316 students would attend the proposed high school, moving from Horizon’s McKinley Park neighborhood campus. By the 2029-2030 school year, up to 500 students would attend at Lourdes Hall, while nearly 700 Kindergarten through 8th graders learn at the current McKinley Park neighborhood campus.
Student Advantages
Vedziovski highlighted the advantages the expansion would bring to all grades, including decreasing enrollment in McKinley Park to enable better access to science labs and bring 1st through 3rd graders back to the main building from their currently modular classrooms outside.
Meanwhile, the new Bridgeport high school campus would enable more academic, vocational and extracurricular programming, a growth in school culture, and better college guidance, Vedziovski said.
Home Away From Home
“The possibilities are endless,” he said.
Dozens of parents, students and residents attended the town hall, many speaking in favor of the expansion and sharing their positive experiences at Horizon Science Academy – McKinley Park.
“It’s my children’s home away from home,” said Horizon Parent-Teacher Organization President Tiffany Martinez.
January 2025 Decision
Following extensive community outreach and Horizon’s October 2024 submission of its expansion proposal, the Illinois State Board of Education would provide a decision by January 2025, Vedziovski said. If approved, the new high school would open in August 2025.
“This is a great opportunity for all students in the neighborhood,” Lee said.
You can find the original link to the story here.