One Student’s Day at an Elite Public High School
School Choice & Charters Photos

One Student’s Day at an Elite Public High School

By Education Week Photo Staff — May 07, 2019 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Copy URL

Chicago’s selective enrollment high schools come closer to reflecting the diversity of the community than elite, admissions-based high schools in other big cities. We followed one student through her day at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, one of Chicago’s most sought-after campuses.

Junior Rochelle Borden, 17, (right) walks with her boyfriend, Archie Grant, 17, (left) to her art class at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago. The pair have been dating for two years.
Junior Rochelle Borden, 17, (right) walks with her boyfriend, Archie Grant, 17, (left) to her art class at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago. The pair have been dating for two years.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week
Rochelle works in the main office of Whitney Young. Rochelle spends her lunch as well as a work-study period working in the main office, because she wants to work there next year for her senior experience. Some of her duties include collecting visitor passes and answering phones.
Rochelle works in the main office of Whitney Young. Rochelle spends her lunch as well as a work-study period working in the main office, because she wants to work there next year for her senior experience. Some of her duties include collecting visitor passes and answering phones.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week
Rochelle talks with the poetry slam team after school about what food they want to sell at an upcoming event. She is the co-captain and will be the captain her senior year.
Rochelle talks with the poetry slam team after school about what food they want to sell at an upcoming event. She is the co-captain and will be the captain her senior year.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week
Rochelle fills out a lab sheet during physics class.
Rochelle fills out a lab sheet during physics class.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week
Rochelle and her classmates in sculpture class at Whitney Young.
Rochelle and her classmates in sculpture class at Whitney Young.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week
Rochelle laughs at her partner, senior Janell Nocentelli, during sculpture class.
Rochelle laughs at her partner, senior Janell Nocentelli, during sculpture class.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week
Maria M. Cortez-Tafolla helps Rochelle with her resume.
Maria M. Cortez-Tafolla helps Rochelle with her resume.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week
Rochelle says goodbye to school counselor April Nicholson. They used to hug, but Nicholson has allergies and Rochelle now lives with several cats, so they touch fingers instead.
Rochelle says goodbye to school counselor April Nicholson. They used to hug, but Nicholson has allergies and Rochelle now lives with several cats, so they touch fingers instead.
Taylor Glascock for Education Week

Education Week Photo Staff
Work published under this byline was created, curated, or edited by Education Week’s Visual and Immersive Experiences team.
Related Tags:
Specialized Schools

A version of this article first appeared in the Full Frame blog.

Events

Wed., April 29, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar Unlocking Success for Struggling Adolescent Readers
The Science of Reading transformed K-3 literacy. Now it's time to extend that focus to students in grades 6 through 12.
Content provided by STARI
Register
Thu., May 14, 2026, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
Register
Wed., April 15, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar MTSS + AI in Action: Reimagining Student Support
See how one district is using AI to strengthen MTSS, reduce workload, and improve student support.
Content provided by Panorama Education
Register
See More Events

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs
Create Your Own Job Search

Read Next

School Choice & Charters Federal Program Will Bring Private School Choice to At Least 4 New States
More state decisions on opting into the first federal private school choice program are rolling in.
Matthew Stone
•
6 min read
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks during a news conference Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.. Lee presented the Education Freedom Scholarship Act of 2024, his administration's legislative proposal to establish statewide universal school choice.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks in favor of establishing a statewide, universal private school choice program on Nov. 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee lawmakers passed that proposal, and Lee is also opting Tennessee into the first federal tax-credit scholarship program that will make publicly funded private school scholarships available to families. Tennessee is one of 21 participating states and counting.
George Walker IV/AP
School Choice & Charters As School Choice Goes Universal, What New Research Is Showing
New analyses shed light on the students using state funds for private school and the schools they attend.
Matthew Stone & Caitlynn Peetz Stephens
•
9 min read
Image of students working at desks, wearing black and white school uniforms.
iStock/Getty
School Choice & Charters Opinion Should States Mandate Student Testing for Choice Programs?
There are pros and cons to forcing state tests on private schools receiving tax dollars.
Rick Hess
•
7 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
School Choice & Charters Opinion 'This Place Feels Like Me': Why My School District Needed a Microschool
A superintendent writes about adding a small, flexible learning site to his district's traditional schools.
George Philhower
•
4 min read
Illustration of scissors, glue, a ruler, and pencils used to create a cut paper collage forming a small school.
iStock/Getty
Load More ▼