Students have a choice between private and public
Students entering high school have two different paths they can choose: public or private. Attending a public high school in the United States generally comes with few outof-pocket costs because the running of the school is subsidized by local property taxes.
Private schools charge tuition because they likely do not receive any oversight or assistance from government agencies. As a result, private high schools may be able to set their own curricula, policies and costs of attendance. Tuitions to attend private high schools vary greatly. Secular schools may cost more than Catholic and other religious schools. Also, location can affect the cost of attendance. According to U.S. News & World Report, Connecticut is home to the most expensive private schools, with private high school there costing twice the national average. Wisconsin is the lowest for private high school, with that tuition being half the national average. As of March 2023, Education Data Initiative reported the average tuition at a private high school in the U.S. came in at $15,645 per year.
Factors to consider before enrolling in college prep courses
High school students, particularly juniors and seniors, spend a considerable amount of time contemplating their academic futures. Students typically feel pressure to set themselves apart from the millions of other teenagers who apply to college each year, and many look to college prep courses as a potential game-changer. College prep courses can improve students’ standing in the eyes of college admissions officers, but it’s imperative that high schoolers consider a host of factors before enrolling in such courses.
• Time: Today’s high school students are busier than ever. The 2019 American Time Use Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average high school student spends a little less than 90 minutes each day participating in an extracurricular activity like playing sports, working or volunteering. Coupled with their existing academic responsibilities, high schoolers’ time may already be stretched thin. That’s a significant factor to consider before enrolling in college prep or advanced placement courses, which tend to require more work outside of the classroom than standard classes. Students whose schedules are already full may need to choose between their extracurriculars and college prep courses to avoid being overextended.
• Ripple effect: Students who have the time to take on the extra work of AP or college prep courses must consider the potential ripple effects of such a decision. It’s true that many institutions view students who excel in AP classes more favorably than their peers who excel in conventional classes. However, students should be sure they can handle AP coursework without adversely affecting their performance in other classes. Students’ grade point averages will likely drop if a strong performance in an AP class comes at the expense of strong performances in other classes. That dip in GPA could negate the benefits of performing well in an advanced course.
• Graduation/admission requirements: A strong performance in an AP class will not negate the basic requirements students must meet in order to graduate high school or be accepted into the college of their choice. Students must confirm that including a college prep or AP course in their class schedules won’t prevent them from taking another course that will help them fulfill their requirements to graduate or enroll in college.
College prep and advanced placement courses can help students stand out during the college application process. But students must consider various factors prior to enrolling in such courses.
Vote for solid investment strategies
With the presidential election just a few weeks away, the public is naturally interested in not just the outcome but what the results will mean for issues of national importance. As a citizen, you likely share these concerns — but how about as an investor? After the votes are counted — or even before — should you make some moves in anticipation of possible changes in policy?
Let’s look at the big picture first, through the lens of history. The financial markets have performed well — and at times, not so well — under Democratic and Republican presidents alike. And the same is true about which party controlled Congress. While it might be an overstatement to say that decisions made in Washington have no effect on the markets, it’s not always so easy to draw a direct line between what happens there and how the markets perform. For one thing, political candidates often make promises that are not fulfilled, or, if they are, have different results than intended. Also, other institutions can have a significant impact on the markets. For example, the Federal Reserve, which controls short-term interest rates, can certainly affect many market sectors. And there will always be external events, such as
foreign conflicts and even natural disasters, that can make short-term impacts on the investment world.
So, rather than making changes to your portfolio in anticipation of what might happen if certain candidates get elected, or even in response to actual policy changes, look to other factors to drive your investment decisions.
These factors should include the following:
• Your goals – You probably have short- and long-term goals you’d like to achieve. For your short-term goals, such as a wedding, a down payment on a house or a long vacation, you may want to invest in instruments that provide stability of principal. For your long-term goals, most important of which may be a comfortable retirement, you’ll need to own a reasonable number of growth-oriented investments.
• Your risk tolerance – When you build and maintain your investment portfolio, you’ll need to accommodate your individual risk tolerance. All investments carry some type of risk, but you need to be comfortable with the overall risk level of your investments.
• Your time horizon – Where
you are in life is an important consideration when investing. When you are young and just starting out in your career, you may be able to focus more on growth, as you have time to overcome the inevitable short-term market downturns. But as you near retirement, you may want to consolidate any gains you may have achieved, and lower your risk level, by moving your portfolio toward a somewhat more conservative approach. Even in retirement, though, you will need some growth potential to stay ahead of inflation.
• Your needs for liquidity –As you invest, you’ll need to maintain an adequate amount of cash and cash equivalents in your holdings. Without this liquidity, you might be forced to sell long-term investments in case you have unexpected expenses.
In any case, when it comes to investing, you may want to pay less attention to what names are on the ballot — and instead “vote” for the longer-term strategies that reflect your needs and goals.
Parental involvment is a key factor in students’ performance
Success in school can carry over to successful experiences later in life.
That underscores the benefits of developing skills in the classroom. Students learn in their own way, and at times there may need to overcome various obstacles.
The job of education does not fully fall on educators and administrators. Education begins at home. Research has found that kids benefit significantly when parents and other caregivers are strongly involved in a child’s education. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community found that parental involvement in a child’s education is associated with improved academic performance. Specifically, children whose parents are more involved in their educations have higher levels of academic performance than children whose parents were not as involved.
A 2005 study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Center of School, Family and Community Partnerships showed that school practices that encourage families to support their students’ math learning at home led to higher percentages of students scoring at or above proficiency on standardized math tests. Additional research indicates the benefits also extend to other subjects and areas of learning, including lan-
guage comprehension and expressive language skills. With so much to gain from paren-
tal involvement in students’ educations, parents can embrace these strategies to get more involved.
up-to-date on what is going on in the classroom and learn early on where a student may need extra support. Then parents can offer extra guidance if it is feasible, or look into an experienced tutor.
• Be firm but supportive. Too much academic pressure may cause a child to pull back or even test boundaries, and that can lead to students falling behind in school. Parents must find the right level of involvement and guide their kids without sounding like good grades are “make or break” the relationship.
• Attend school functions. Parents can go to open houses, back-toschool nights, conferences, and other events held at school to show support and interest in their children’s education. Involved parents also build school-based networks this way, which can be called upon if their student needs additional support in the future.
• Establish a schedule at home. Students can benefit from a schedule, with regular bedtime, homework time and opportunities to relax. Knowing what to expect and when to expect it can take some of the stress out of learning and studying, according to Nemours health.
• Develop a partnership with the teacher. Open communication with the teacher(s) can help parents stay
Parents working in concert with schools and their children can lead to better academic outcomes.
Catholic schools are popular options for education
Education is a personal decision for every family. Families have many education options to choose from, and that includes private institutions.
When considering private education, families may consider Catholic schools. The family and parenting resource Verywell Family indicates that Catholic schools have the highest enrollments and the greatest number of schools in operation of all private schools in America.
The first Catholic parochial school opened in Philadelphia in 1783 and was called St. Mary’s School. Interest in Catholic education soon started to grow, especially during the mid-19th century, when the United States welcomed an influx of Catholic immigrants. By 1920, there were around 1,500 Catholic schools in the United States, reaching peak enrollment and total number of schools in the 1960s.
Catholic schools still present a viable education option for students in the 21st century. Each year during National Catholic Schools Week, which is the last week of January, the country celebrates Catholic education. It’s also a time when many Catholic institutions host open houses and sponsor recruitment campaigns for the upcoming school year. CSW is now entering its 48th year, and 2022 events will include special masses, assemblies and other activities for students, families and parishioners, according to the National
Catholic Educational Association.
With CSW on the horizon, consider these points of interest about Catholic education.
• The NCEA says academic excellence is a hallmark of Catholic education, but it is directed in a way to
foster the growth of the whole person — mind, body and spirit.
• Service is fundamental to Catholic education and is a core teaching of the Catholic faith. Students enrolled in a Catholic school can expect to participate in service projects.
• Many people are drawn to Catholic schools because of the smaller, more intimate campuses and class sizes. NCEA indicates the average student/teacher ratio in Catholic schools is 13:1.
• Statistics for the 2018-2019 school year indicated there were 6,289 Catholic schools operating across the country.
• Catholic schools enjoy diverse populations and have a history of welcoming and supporting lower-income students. The NCEA says the Hispanic/Latino population accounted for 20.7 percent of Catholic school populations in 2017.
• While many of the students enrolled in Catholic parochial schools are practicing Catholics, it is not necessary to be Catholic, or even Christian, to attend.
Catholic schools require a significant financial commitment. Niche, the school comparison and rating company, and the NCEA indicate the average cost of Catholic elementary schools in the U.S. is $4,400 per year, while Catholic high schools cost around $9,840 annually. However, many families feel the cost is well worth it because of the education students receive at Catholic schools.
unique academy and educational tracks in school
Schools continue to evolve and change their curriculum to meet the needs of modern students. Many schools now recognize the importance of helping students develop skills that will help them be competitive in the world and workforce. One way they are doing so is through the development of educational academies or specific academic tracks to give students an advantage later in their academic careers. Here’s a close look at such offerings, which tend to be primarily at the high school (secondary school) level.
Early
college academy
Early college academy, also known as early college high school, is a program that enables high school students to earn two-year associates degrees at the same time as they earn high school diplomas, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The Early College High School Initiative was established in part in 2002 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Early colleges have expanded over the last 20 years, and these programs may work in different ways. Some bring high schoolers to college campuses to take courses in-person, or there
may be remote course offerings. Others provide college courses in a high school setting. High schools develop complementary relationships with accredited colleges in the area, typically community colleges. Upon completion of the programs, students in the early college courses will receive associates degrees. Advantages to an ECA is that students already have completed two years of college, which saves time and money.
Dual enrollment/Advanced placement
High schools have been offering this option for some time now. Dual enrollment classes are essentially college courses that high schoolers take while in high school. Professors from nearby colleges may teach these courses right in a high school classroom. High school teachers also may be trained to instruct a college’s approved coursework. At the end of the course, the student will have received credits for that college course.
Advanced placement (AP) classes are classes with college-level curricula created by the College Board. AP students must pass AP exams at the end of the classes.
Certain colleges will accept AP classes as college credit depending on students’ scores on the tests. Both of these avenues may help students earn college credits, provided the school they attend will accept the credits.
Career tracks/pathways Students may choose to follow particular tracks in high school if they pick a college major or choose a trade school.
Sometimes these programs are called pathways. Nevertheless, they may be offered in Visual Arts, STEM, Business Management, Automotive Repair, Hospitality, or Mathematics. While students will still get an array of core classes, by enrolling in a track, their electives and certain other classes may be geared toward a particular
pathway. For example, an eligible math course for a business student may be accounting as opposed to calculus for a general education student. These pathways help develop passions and interests and enable high schoolers to grow accustomed to the customization of a degree.
High school has evolved to introduce students to higher education in novel ways.
Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase for the Village of Niles, Cook County, Illinois
I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for the Village of Niles for 2024 will be held on October 22, 2024 at 6:30 pm at the Village Hall, 1000 Civic Center Drive, Niles 60714.
Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may call (847) 588-8003 or email ContactNiles@vniles.com.
II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2023 were $13,035,401.00. The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $13,665,077.00. This represents a 4.83% increase over the previous year.
III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2023 were $971,249.00. The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2024 are $971,249.00. This represents a 0.00% increase over the previous year.
IV. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2023 were $14,006,650.00. The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $14,636,326.00. This represents a 4.50% increase over the previous year.
Any notice which includes any information not specified and required by this Article shall be an invalid notice.
All hearings shall be open to the public. The corporate authority of the taxing district shall explain the reasons for the proposed increase and shall permit persons desiring to be heard an opportunity to present testimony within reasonable time limits as it determines.
Published October 17, 2024
Notice is hereby given that Northern Will County Special Recreation Association (NWCSRA) will receive bids for a 15-passenger wheelchair accessible vehicle w/4 tie-downs. As indicated in the specifications, pre-qualification statements and sealed bids are due to NWCSRA, 10 Montrose Dr, Romeoville, IL 60446 no later than 10 am on October 23, 2024, at which time, bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. All bids must be enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly marked on the outside: BID-15 passenger wheelchair accessible vehicle w/4 tie-downs, NWCSRA, 10 Montrose Dr, Romeoville, IL 60446. Interested bidders must submit information to the NWCSRA Executive Director by the above stated date and time. Contact jmukushina@nwcsra.org for information. NWCSRA reserves the right to reject any or all bids as it may see fit. The successful bidder shall comply with all aspects of the Prevailing Wage Act.
Published October 10, 2024
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Village of Niles Planning and Zoning Board on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Niles Municipal Building, 1000 Civic Center Drive, Niles Illinois, to hear the following matter(s):
24-ZP-27
Cristian Minzatescu of 7551 N Harlem Ave, Niles, IL 60714 is requesting approval of a Variation from Village of Niles Ordinance Appendix B Section 10.3(C)(4)(e) to allow a driveway to extend in front of the house towards the interior lot line by 5’ at 7726 N Harlem Ave, Niles, IL 60714.
PIN #: 09-25-204-059-0000
24-ZP-28
Noah Properties LLC of 3901 25th Ave, Schiller Park, IL 60176 is requesting approval of a Major Modification to a Planned Unit Development per Village of Niles Ordinance Appendix B Section 12.7(C)(1)(d) to allow for the construction of six detached garages that exceed the total amount of accessory structure square footage allowed, and are setback 3.69’ from the rear property line where a setback of 5’ is required, for the previously approved multi-family apartment building at 6633 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL 60714. PIN #: 10-31-401-004-0000, 10-31-401-039-0000
All persons interested should attend and will be given an opportunity to be heard. For additional information regarding the above case(s) or should any individual need auxiliary aid or service, such as sign language interpreter or materials in alternative formats, please contact the Village of Niles Community Development Department at 847-588-8000.
Published October 17, 2024
LEGAL NOTICE
