On this page you will find some basic facts about New Trier along with links to our historical archives; the Student Profile, which includes student test scores and information about our courses; the Program of Studies, our curriculum guide; and our State Report Cards for the last several years. We are proud of our reputation for academic excellence, our commitment to serving the needs of every student, and our extraordinary extracurricular program. If you are looking for information about a visit to New Trier, please go to our Visiting New Trier page.

NEW TRIER DISTRICT 203 OVERVIEW

Founded in 1901, New Trier Township High School District 203 is a comprehensive four-year high school in Northfield and Winnetka, Illinois, along the Lake Michigan shore and approximately 16 miles north of Chicago.

New Trier serves about 4,000 students from Chicago's North Shore suburban communities of Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield, Wilmette, Winnetka, and portions of Glenview and Northbrook - communities that reflect a tradition of support for academic and cultural achievement. Freshmen are housed on the Northfield Campus. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are housed on the Winnetka Campus.

Governed by its own Board of Education, the district serves six sender public school districts (kindergarten through eighth grade), each with its own governing board. Local private and parochial schools also graduate students who advance to New Trier High School.

New Trier offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and routinely ranks among Illinois' very top schools for academic achievement. For the Class of 2023, New Trier's mean composite score on the ACT was 27.1, one of the highest in Illinois for an open-enrollment public school. Approximately 96 percent of the Class of 2023 enrolled in college.

As evidence of the New Trier motto, "to commit minds to inquiry, hearts to compassion, and lives to the service of humanity," New Trier offers numerous opportunities for learning and involvement outside of the classroom in activities, athletics, fine/performing arts, and social service. Its 35+ interscholastic athletic teams have won more athletic state championships than any high school in Illinois interscholastic history, and finished the 2023-24 Fall sports season with the most wins in the State. New Trier also offers more than 150 student clubs, many with a service component. A comprehensive Student Services program serves students' social and emotional growth in a variety of ways, from social work and special education services to student support groups and tutoring. Service Learning is also an important part of the New Trier experience, and students are asked to participate in service projects throughout their four years at the school.

New Trier has a longstanding commitment to promoting the Fine and Performing Arts, dating back almost to the school's opening in 1901. The school's arts program has been recognized as among the top 25 in the nation by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2007, the GRAMMY Foundation recognized New Trier's Music Department by naming New Trier its National GRAMMY Signature School, and in 2014, New Trier was selected as one of only six schools across the country to receive the National Band Association's inaugural Blue Ribbon Award for Programs of Excellence.

• Getting to Know New Trier High School
• New Trier Township High School District 203 2023 Annual Report
• New Trier Township High School District 203 map
• New Trier Founders

SMALL SCHOOL FEEL, BIG SCHOOL RESOURCES

One of the biggest concerns we hear from families before they enter New Trier is about the size of our student body. We're proud to say that once the vast majority of our students experience life at our school, those fears disappear. We strive to make our big school feel small, a place where every student has a chance to find their unique space to grow and thrive.

So how can such a large high school provide an individual experience for every student? That is New Trier's goal, and one that is achieved in many ways. They include:

• The adviser program: New Trier's nationally recognized student advisement system provides a small-school atmosphere within a large school of outstanding opportunities. The same group of about 25 students meets daily throughout high school. Faculty advisers provide academic and personal guidance for students.
• The level system: New Trier offers a rigorous curriculum for all students. Different levels of coursework allow students to work at the pace most appropriate for them. New Trier students who take all levels of coursework generally outperform their peers across the country and attend competitive colleges of their choosing.
• Peer and faculty tutoring: Students who need extra help in some subjects but do not require special education services can take advantage of peer or faculty tutoring on each campus. Teachers also have office hours and encourage students to visit.
• Post-High School Counseling: From sophomore through senior year, post-high school counselors work to help students identify, plan for, and pursue their passions after graduation. Individual counseling sessions begin in the junior year.
• Student clubs: One of the advantages of attending a big school is that students can find groups of like-minded friends who share an interest in everything from service activities to video games to poetry. With more than 150 clubs, New Trier makes sure every student has a place to fit in.
• Extracurricular opportunities: New Trier offers intramural teams, performing arts opportunities, and 35 interscholastic sports throughout the school year. No-cut sports are offered each season, and many sports carry multiple team levels. Performing Arts also offers no-cut theatre opportunities, and theatre productions that require auditions are double-cast.
• New Trier Memorial Garden: The New Trier Memorial Garden was first created and dedicated on August 23, 1993, in memory of five staff members: Ben Almaguer, Rick Sussen, Eugene Kroschel, James Borden, Katy Walsh. 

NEW TRIER ARCHIVES

New Trier maintains archives that include more 100 years of New Trier High School history. Innumerable documents and memorabilia pertinent to the beginning, growth, and continued development of the school through the years are stored in the archives. For more information about the archives and a visual history of New Trier through the decades, VISIT OUR ARCHIVES PAGE

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

• Program of Studies: a curriculum and planning guide with a complete listing and descriptions of New Trier course offerings. The Program of Studies also includes information about graduation requirements, credits, course levels, weighted grades, career guidance, Advanced Placement courses, and special programs.
• School Profile: fast facts about New Trier, including information about the community the District serves, student opportunities, enrollment, college attendance rate, graduation requirements, AP courses, grade weighting, National Merit scholars, Illinois State Scholars, ACT/SAT data, and course offerings.
• School Report Card: information the State of Illinois provides about every school in accordance with state and federal laws; includes demographic, standardized test score, and teacher data.
• Student Profile Report: an in-depth report of the course-taking patterns, chosen colleges, academic awards, leadership activities, and service work of New Trier students.
• Student Guidebook: a description of the services, policies, and procedures of the District.
• Annual Report: read about the value of a New Trier education in the Annual Report to the community.
• Deconstructing High School Rankings - information about how New Trier’s deliberate approach to Advanced Placement (AP) courses affects its standing among some popular ranking sites, and why those sites are an inaccurate representation of high school quality. 

MISSION AND STRATEGIC PLAN

The mission of New Trier High School is to inspire students "to commit minds to inquiry, hearts to compassion, and lives to the service of humanity" by working in partnership with the community to provide innovative programs for all students, nurture their unique abilities, and encourage them to pursue excellence in their endeavors (adopted by the Board of Education at the December 13, 2004 Regular Meeting).

• New Trier 2030: Strategic Planning