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The Willows Academy

1012 E Thacker St, Des Plaines, IL, 60016-0600 -

School Notes Overview:

The Willows Academy is an independent college preparatory school that empowers young women to strive for academic and moral excellence and a lifelong commitment to service based on the teachings of the Catholic Church and the spirituality of Opus Dei. ...

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School Overview:

	The Willows Academy
School Membership(s)	The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
Religious Affiliation	Nonsectarian
Grades Offered	Grades 6 - 12
Year Founded	1974
County	Cook County, IL
Student Body
Total Students	248 students
Student Body Type	All-girls
	This School	(IL) School Avg.
% Students of Color	16%	30%
Students by Grade
	Grade 6 - 25 students
	Grade 7 - 26 students
	Grade 8 - 27 students
	Grade 9 - 30 students
	Grade 10 - 40 students
	Grade 11 - 50 students
	Grade 12 - 50 students
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers	26 teachers
% Faculty with Advance Degree	60%
Average Class Size	22
Number of AP Courses	6
	Advanced Courses
	U.S. History	Spanish Language
	French Language	European History
	Calculus AB	Biology
Average ACT score	26
Classroom dress code	Formal (Plaid Skirt/Uniform)
	This School	(IL) School Avg.
Teacher : Student Ratio	1:8	* Ntl. Public School Avg. » 1:16
School Days in Calendar Year	176 days	178 days
Hours in School Day for Students	7 hours	6 hours
Finances and Admission
Admission Deadline	None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost	$11,500
Tuition Notes	Financial aid/scholarships available.
% on Financial Aid	25%
Average Financial Aid Grant	$5,500
Head of School	Mary J. Keenley
Admissions Director	Dorothy Bolad
Sport
Total Sports Offered	7
	Sports
	Basketball	Cross Country
	Golf	Soccer
	Softball	Swimming
	Volley Ball
Extracurricular
Total Extracurricular Organizations	11
	Extracurriculars
	Art Club	Chamber Choir
	Environmental Club	Fall Play
	Handbell Choir	International Club
	Model UN *new for '08-09!	Newspaper
	Pro-Life Club	Spring Musical
	Yearbook

School Notes:

The Willows is an all girl school with an all female faculty.
All courses at The Willows are taught at an honors level or above.
Each student has an advisor who serves as her mentor throughout the seven years of the program.
This year's graduating class earned over $2.6 million in merit scholarships for college!
Profile last updated: 03/10/2008

In the News:

For the week of Oct. 16 (The Record Gazette)
posted on November 4, 2009 at 06:42:59 am
Mary Jean Helsel, known familiarly as “Jean,” died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, in Westwood from brain cancer. Born in 1941 in Los Angeles, Jean received a B.A. in history from University of California, Davis. Later, she earned an MA in Spanish from CSU/Universidad Complutense Madrid.
School Digest (Park Ridge Herald-Advocate)
posted on May 7, 2009 at 09:07:17 am
DISTRICT 207
Choirs preparing for Wilmette District 39 fest (Wilmette Life)
posted on March 12, 2009 at 10:08:22 am
Wilmette School District 39's annual Choral Fest concert is just about here. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Regina Dominican High School. Students have been rehearsing since last September and typically practice two days a week, said Paulette Boddy, the director for choirs at both Highcrest Middle School and Wilmette Junior High.

View all past news stories

School Zip Statistics:

About This Zipcode (60016)	School Zip (60016)	(IL) State Average
Population (Approximate)	58,611 people	12,415,876 people
% (age 25+) w/College Degree	37%	24%
Population Average Age	38 years old	34 years old
Average Household size	2.5 persons	2.6 persons
Median Household Income	$51,192	$48,019
Avg. # of Rooms in Household	4.9 rooms	5.3 rooms
Median Age of Housing Structure	42 years old	50 years old
	View housing listings in 60016
Median Value of Housing Unit Zipcode (60016) What's a Zindex? Subject to Zillow Terms of Use
% Owning / % Renting	69% / 31%	61% / 39%