HIGHLY ANTICIPATED STEM HIGH SCHOOL FINALLY OPENS ON THE SOUTH SIDE

Principal Conrad Timbers-Ausar (right) recently welcomed the first freshman class to attend Englewood STEM High School on their first day of school. Photo Credit: Katherine Newman
Principal Conrad Timbers-Ausar (right) recently welcomed the first freshman class to attend Englewood STEM High School on their first day of school. Photo Credit: Katherine Newman

Highly Anticipated STEM High School Finally Opens On The South Side

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Chicago Public School (CPS) students have been back in their classrooms for almost a month now and that includes the first freshman class ever to attend the brand new Englewood STEM High School, 6835 S. Normal Blvd., on the south side of Chicago.

“When I first heard about this school I was excited because it brings something fresh to the neighborhood. A lot of times people are really negative about Englewood, so I feel like this gave it something positive,” said Kyla, a freshman at Englewood STEM High School.

The $85 million high school was constructed to replace four other neighborhood high schools, including Robeson, Hope, Harper, and TEAM Englewood high schools, which CPS deemed to be underperforming and under-enrolled in 2017 when the closures were announced.

“This has been in the works for a few years and getting out into the community over that one year incubation period, there was still that thought that this couldn’t be true and this couldn’t possibly be happening in Englewood,” said Conrad Timbers-Ausar, principal of Englewood STEM High School. “Now, for this to have happened, I’ve seen community members who have literally shed tears and others who were in opposition or on the fence have realized that this really is for the students in Englewood.”

Englewood STEM High School opened on schedule to welcome its first freshman class for the 2019-2020 school year.

“It means everything to have this new high school because now I have everything that some kids wish they could have and I’m just so humbled and grateful that I get to have these opportunities,” said Sherrod, a freshman at Englewood STEM High School. “I like all the opportunities that they are giving us and allowing kids in the Englewood community to have a better education.”

Englewood STEM High School is full of state-of-the-art technology for students to utilize during the school day along with having its own baseball and football fields and a gymnasium to host basketball games, school rallies, and stage performances.

“Starting this school year was like starting any other school year, there is always a lot of anticipation. The difference this year is that we have a state-of-the-art building and we have top talent from within the city all coming together to provide opportunities that are really unique for students and that’s exciting,” said Timbers-Ausar.

Another unique opportunity that students at Englewood STEM High School will be able to utilize is the chance to earn college credit through a partnership with Kennedy-King College. Because of this partnership, students can graduate with a high school diploma and an associates degree, an advanced certificate, or a basic certificate if they chose to participate.

“This partnership gives students the opportunity to have a leg up on their peers because they are taking classes for high school and college at the same time and what that translates to and what CPS has done for students in Englewood is amazing,” said Timbers-Ausar.

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