Support New Trier Board of Education to Study a Classical Track Option
Support New Trier Board of Education to Study a Classical Track Option
The Issue
We support the New Trier Board of Education establishing a committee to study a Classical Track as an option for fall 2027.
Background:
New Trier High School has a unique opportunity to strengthen its legacy as a leader in education excellence by creating the New Trier Classical Track. This option would be a “school within a school” four-year track for New Trier students who want to focus on classical texts and education methods in a screen-free learning environment.
The Classical School movement has gained popularity over the past 20 years, and a Classical Learning Test developed in 2015 is now widely accepted by colleges as an adjunct to the ACT and SAT. While New Trier offers aspects of a classical focused education, a dedicated 4 year track concentrates these tenets in a new immersive experience that has a track record for academic rigor and improved student mental health especially when coupled with screen free learning.
New Trier has a proven record for innovation in education for over a century with a legacy of educating some of the country’s notable scientists, politicians, artists, and business leaders. New Trier has created a “school within a school” for unique learners with the IGGS program and their innovation continues with the new initiative creating project-based experiential internships.
New Trier was also the first high school in the country to pass a “Critical Thinking and Civil Discourse Statement” in collaboration with New Trier Neighbors, showing their commitment to respond to changing social challenges and working with community groups. With a commitment to inclusivity and respect for differences, the New Trier School Board’s support of the Classical Track can provide an alternative for diverse township families who seek an immersive classical experience for their student.
As AFT President Randi Weingarten said “... we also must do better to address the learning loss and disconnection we are seeing in our young people. We can make every public school a school where parents want to send their kids, educators want to work and all students thrive.”
We support the New Trier School Board establishing a committee to study a Classical Track as an option for fall 2027.
6
The Issue
We support the New Trier Board of Education establishing a committee to study a Classical Track as an option for fall 2027.
Background:
New Trier High School has a unique opportunity to strengthen its legacy as a leader in education excellence by creating the New Trier Classical Track. This option would be a “school within a school” four-year track for New Trier students who want to focus on classical texts and education methods in a screen-free learning environment.
The Classical School movement has gained popularity over the past 20 years, and a Classical Learning Test developed in 2015 is now widely accepted by colleges as an adjunct to the ACT and SAT. While New Trier offers aspects of a classical focused education, a dedicated 4 year track concentrates these tenets in a new immersive experience that has a track record for academic rigor and improved student mental health especially when coupled with screen free learning.
New Trier has a proven record for innovation in education for over a century with a legacy of educating some of the country’s notable scientists, politicians, artists, and business leaders. New Trier has created a “school within a school” for unique learners with the IGGS program and their innovation continues with the new initiative creating project-based experiential internships.
New Trier was also the first high school in the country to pass a “Critical Thinking and Civil Discourse Statement” in collaboration with New Trier Neighbors, showing their commitment to respond to changing social challenges and working with community groups. With a commitment to inclusivity and respect for differences, the New Trier School Board’s support of the Classical Track can provide an alternative for diverse township families who seek an immersive classical experience for their student.
As AFT President Randi Weingarten said “... we also must do better to address the learning loss and disconnection we are seeing in our young people. We can make every public school a school where parents want to send their kids, educators want to work and all students thrive.”
We support the New Trier School Board establishing a committee to study a Classical Track as an option for fall 2027.
6
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Petition created on June 25, 2025