Clubs

Making the most of a Lab education means taking full advantage of all the extracurricular activities

Students at U-High choose from a wide variety of activities, clubs, special interest groups, and service/civic engagement organizations. We encourage them to become involved, explore their interests, and develop social and leadership skills. At the same time, we advise students to be selective; a genuine commitment to one or two activities is more rewarding than passive membership in several.

Interscholastic Athletics

U-High’s 30 interscholastic athletic teams are part of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and compete in the Independent Schools League (ISL), achieving great success. They do so with a “no-cut” policy that encourages student participation—nearly 65% of U-High students play on at least one team.

Club Sports

  • Ice Hockey – co-op with Latin School

Journalism

U-High’s newspaper and yearbook programs are among the top in the nation and have sent many students into the world armed with impeccable communication skills whether they work in journalism or not. U-High’s photojournalism program contributes to both publications.

Theater and Music

The High School Fine Arts Department mounts three theater productions each year, including student-written plays, and the Music Department includes, among other offerings, orchestra, choir, band, and digital music composition. Students may also participate in the elite Jazz Ensemble or sing in Lab’s a cappella choir (Bel Canto). There are also opportunities to perform regularly in musical events and competitions.

Clubs and Co-curricular activities

Academic Teams/Interests

  • AI and Machine Learning Club
  • American Computer Science League Club
  • Biology Club
  • Chemistry Club
  • Chicago Youth Science Journal
  • Classics Club
  • Code@Lab
  • Debate
  • Economics Club
  • Entrepreneurship Team
  • Ethics Bowl
  • F1 in Schools
  • InFlame History & Economics Magazine 
  • Junior State of America
  • Lab Podcast Club
  • Ouroboros Literary Translation Club
  • Math Team
  • Mediclub
  • Mock Trial Team
  • Model United Nations (MUN) 
  • National Youth Science Journal
  • Physics Club 
  • Robotics Team
  • Science Fair & Research
  • Science Olympiad
  • Women in STEM (WiSTEM)

Artistic Groups

  • ArtsFest
  • Beatmaking Club
  • Renaissance Art Board (Art magazine)
  • Renaissance Lit Board (Literature magazine)
  • U-High Theater Production Crew

Cultural Clubs/Affinity Groups

  • Active Minds
  • Asian Students’ Association (ASA)
  • Being Racially Aware & Valuing Ethnicity (BRAVE)
  • Black Students’ Association (BSA)
  • Eye to Eye (Students w/learning differences)
  • HSC (Hindu Student Club)
  • Intersectional Feminism
  • Jewish Students’ Association (JSA)
  • Kids Allergy Network Club
  • Latinos Unidos
  • Multi-Ethnic Student Association (M.E.S.A.)
  • Muslim Students’ Association (MSA)
  • SCAN (Save the Children Action Network)
  • Social Justice Committee
  • Spectrum (LGBTQ)
  • STAC: Save the Animal Club
  • Students with Disabilities Association
  • Young Life (Christian)
  • Young Men of Color
  • Young Women of Color

General Interest Clubs

  • American Rocketry Challenge
  • Anime and Miyazaki 
  • Badminton Club
  • Book Club
  • Center for Economic and Human Development (CEHD) Club
  • Careers Club
  • Chess Club
  • Diplomacy Club
  • Dungeons & Dragons
  • E-Sports
  • Finance Club
  • Foreign Film Club
  • Global Foods Club
  • Grand Strategy
  • Grid Puzzles Club
  • HLAB - Library Advisory Board
  • Ping Pong Club
  • Political Discourse Club
  • Powerlifting Club
  • Power Words
  • U-High Film Society
  • U-High Finance Club
  • U-High Health and Fitness Club
  • WhyFI Matter$ U-High Club

Service/Civic Engagement Clubs

  • Conservation Club
  • ENGin
  • Girl Up
  • Global Issues Club
  • Heartbeat
  • Green Team
  • PINKRR
  • Save the Children Action Network (SCAN)
  • U-High Progressives

Student Governance/Leadership

  • 10th Grade Mentors (via application process)
  • DEI Peer Facilitators (via application process)
  • Student Council (via election)
  • Peer Leaders (via application process)