NORTHLAKE/ELMWOD PARK

West Leyden, Elmwood Park high schools get national ranking

West Leyden and Elmwood Park high schools have made U.S. News and World Report’s latest ranking of “Best High Schools” in the state and nation.

West Leyden finished 52nd within Illinois, and Elmwood Park ranked right behind at 53rd, in the ranking system’s list of the top high schools of Illinois.

Nationally, West Leyden is ranked No. 2,003 in the ranking of 20,548 public high schools throughout the country, and Elmwood Park landed in the top 10 percent list at No. 2005.

Ridgewood High School, located in Norridge, was unranked in the national rankings after making the list last year.

The U.S. News ranking methodology focused on student performance on state-mandated math and reading tests during the 2015-16 school year. U.S. News then factored in the percentages of economically disadvantaged students, who tend to score lower, to identify schools performing much better than statistical expectations.

Graduation rates and a college readiness index are also used in the ranking system.

MOUNT PROSPECT

Village, schools in effort to help students find careers

Mount Prospect high school students will get a chance to explore careers through internships with local businesses, thanks to a new partnership between the village and Northwest Suburban High School District 214.

The village board will contribute $300,000-$100,000 annually over three years – to the Workforce Innovation Partnership, part of the district’s Center for Career Discovery and Career Pathways program.

The village board agreed to help the school district achieve its goal of ensuring that every graduate leaves with work experience.

CHICAGO

Hospital gets $45 million to expand PTSD treatment

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago is getting $45 million from the Wounded Warrior Project to dramatically expand a program that provides mental health services to veterans and their families.

The grant – the largest single donation Rush has ever received – will expand the hospital’s Road Home Program. The program treated more than 1,000 veterans and their family members since it was launched in 2014, and now will be able to treat another 5,000.

In the program, veterans are treated at no cost for post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, anxiety and other conditions. The funding will allow more veterans whose PTSD isn’t responding to standard treatment to receive such treatment as behavioral therapy, acupuncture and yoga. It will also allow counseling and other services to veterans and their families.

Petition efforts support term limit for Chicago mayor

Gov. Pat Quinn is helping a grassroots effort supporting a referendum that would limit the number of terms to two that a Chicago mayor could serve. Petitions are being circulated to place a binding referendum on the November ballot.

If the referendum passes on Nov. 6, Mayor Rahm Emanuel – who is seeking a third term in office next Feb. 26 – would not be eligible for re-election.

New York and Los Angles have two-term limits for their mayors.

The deadline to file the petition is Aug. 6.

This artist’s rendering shows some of the 113 rowhomes that Ryan Homes has proposed to build in Rolling Meadows on the site of a former Dominick’s. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to review the plans later this summer. The project would then go to the council for final approval.

ROLLING MEADOWS

Former Dominick’s site closer to becoming rowhomes

The Rolling Meadows Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to review plans for 113 rowhomes on most of the site of a former Dominick’s as early as July 18, or August. The project would then go to the council for final approval.

Ryan Homes received preliminary approval to develop the rear 9.5-acre portion of the site at 2819-2915 Kirchoff Road through a 5-2 vote of the city council in February. But two more council votes are needed since only a preliminary application was submitted.

Aldermen already approved a rezoning of most of the site, from commercial to residential.

EVANSTON

Free meals offered to students during summer

Free cold breakfasts and lunches are being served to youth ages 1 to 18 years old on a first-come, first-served basis at locations throughout Evanston, starting this week. Breakfast and lunch will be available daily, Monday through Friday, through Aug. 17. (No service on July 4).

There are no residency or income-based restrictions to participate in the program. Free meals are available to all youth, but meals must be eaten on site and parents must accompany young children.

Meal sites are:

• Chute Middle School, 1400 Oakton St., cafeteria
• Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., park grounds
• Mason Park, Church Street at Florence Avenu
• Robert Crown Community Center, 1701 Main St., park grounds
• King Arts School, 2424 Lake St., gymnasium
• McGaw YMCA, 1000 Grove St., basement
• Oakton School, 436 Ridge Ave., cafeteria
• Salvation Army, 1403 Sherman Ave., cafeteria

Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Chute Middle School, Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, Robert Crown Center, King Arts School, Oakton School and the Salvation Army.

Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, King Arts School, Mason Park and the Salvation Army, and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Robert Crown Center, McGaw YMCA, Oakton School and Chute Middle School.

A grant from the Illinois State Board of Education pays for the meals. 

–Cook County News Briefs–