The demand for admission at Lab continues to grow. In addition to ensuring our facilities match the quality of our programs, the Lab+ campus master plan will increase space at the Schools, helping us preserve the racial, ethnic, geographic, and income diversity of Lab’s population by increasing the amount of spots available to incoming students.
Why do we need to grow?
Maintaining a balance between University and non-affiliated families is important to both groups, and it helps create the rich community we value at Lab. Growing the school will allow Lab to satisfy the needs of the University and to admit children of alumni and others who represent the racial, socio-economic, and geographic diversity of Chicago.
How will we grow?
Enrollment will increase by approximately 300 students. An additional division (Primary School) will be added in order to keep each division small and intimate. Fifth grade will be moved back in to Lower School, which is a better fit academically and socially.
While we grow, we'll continue to maintain a small school feel while benefiting from the scale of a larger school.
| Division |
Current Enrollment
|
Projected Enrollment
|
Difference |
Rationale |
| N/K |
340 |
396 (Gr. N-K)
|
+56 |
New facilities will promote play and the integration of indoor and outdoor space.
|
| Primary |
n/a |
264 (Gr. 1-2)
|
+264 |
The learning environment will be designed to develop reading skills and the mastery of content most appropriate for 5–7 year olds.
|
| Lower |
466 |
396 (Gr. 3-5)
|
-70 |
The fifth grade will return to the Lower School and will offer a more appropriate developmental and educational fit for those students.
|
| Middle |
474 |
396 (Gr. 6-8)
|
-78 |
The smaller Middle School will allow our faculty to better meet the needs of our students as they experience the physical, intellectual, and emotional changes of adolescence.
|
High
|
496 |
600 (Gr. 9-12)
|
+104 |
A larger high school will allow a broader array of electives and more scheduling flexibility.
|
| Total |
1776 |
2060 |
+284 |
Lab accommodates increased demand for enrollment while continuing to admit children of alumni and others who represent the diversity of Chicago.
|
*Enrollment projected for 2022.