William Howard Taft High School

William Howard Taft High School

Public High School | Grade 7-12
6530 W Bryn Mawr Ave,  Chicago, IL
Chicago Public Schools
3.7
3.7
4,289 Students
A-
Niche Grade

School Details

Head of School
Mary Kay Cappitelli
Student Teacher Ratio
16:1
Average SAT Score
1100
Average ACT Score
24
Math Proficiency
25%
Reading Proficiency
32%
Average GPA
3.5
Graduation Rate
89%

Niche Grade

B
Academics
A-
Teachers
B+
College Prep
B-
Administration
B-
Resources/Facilities
A-
Clubs and Activities
A-
Sports
C
Food
Source: Niche
Niche Grades

Niche grades and rankings are calculated using dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews. Niche data scientists and user researchers rigorously analyze data and user opinions to assess the key aspects of K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Places to Live. Every month, millions of students and families use the Niche grades and report cards to find the right school or neighborhood.

Niche Grade Details

Academics
Average GPA
3.5
Reading Proficiency
32%
Math Proficiency
25%
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
16:1
Teachers
270
Full Time Teachers
270
Part Time Teachers
0
Teachers in First or Second Year
7.8%
College Prep
Average SAT
1100
Math
550
Verbal
560
Average ACT
24
Math
23
English
25
Reading
25
Science
23
Number of AP Courses
16
AP Pass Rate
23.2%
AP Math Enrollment
Low
AP Science Enrollment
Average
Other AP Enrollment
Very High
Clubs and Activities
Girls Athletic Participation
Average
Boys Athletic Participation
Average

GreatSchools Rating

Source: GreatSchools
GreatSchools Rating
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

GreatSchools Rating Details

Teachers and Staff

Students Per Counselor
396:1

Student Diversity

Male
51.6%
Female
48.3%
Hispanic
43.5%
White
42.3%
Asian or Pacific Islander
6.7%
Two or more races
3.4%
Black
3%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
<1%
Native American
<1%

School Rankings

#10 Best Magnet HS in Illinois
Source: Niche

Specialty School Programs

AP Programs Offered
IB Programs Offered
Free/Reduced Lunch Offered
Athletics Program

Colleges Students are Considering

Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
University of Illinois Chicago 1,022 Students
Loyola University Chicago 714 Students
DePaul University 700 Students
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 644 Students
Northwestern University 433 Students
Illinois State University 389 Students
Northeastern Illinois University 372 Students
Dominican University 368 Students
Michigan State University 345 Students
Northern Illinois University 311 Students

What Students Want to Study

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Nursing 273 Students
Business 266 Students
Psychology 254 Students
Biology 246 Students
Pre-Medicine Studies 163 Students
Computer Science 140 Students
Marketing 88 Students
Engineering 86 Students
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration 84 Students
Criminology 81 Students

This School’s Reviews

Niche Reviews
3.7 566 Reviews
3.0 Senior
5/6/2025
I really enjoyed going here for the past 4 years although there were many ups and downs. My freshman year I was at the freshman campus and didn't feel like I was in Highschool it was more so feeling like middle school but overall it was very fun and exciting. Now that I am in my senior year, I am so ready to be out this school and graduate. I want to start my pathway to my career.
4.0 Senior
3/15/2025
William Howard Taft High School is quite honestly nothing special. A lot of the kids at Taft think it is cool to do bad things such as fight, smoke, drink, etc. and I believe it is not okay to do those things. Although when it comes to academics, Taft has amazing classes and courses you can take such as IB classes which raise your GPA and help you prepare for college because of the level of education you receive. Overall my high school experience was amazing because of the people I met, experiences I had, all the fun events, etc.
3.0 Senior
1/20/2025
William Howard Taft was an experience that I both cherish and despise. I transferred during my junior year and I was instantly greeted with the crowded hallways and regulated bathrooms yet teachers were welcoming and students (if you chose them right) were nice. You can find your group here and you can also find the group you'll despise.
GreatSchools Reviews
3.7 32 Reviews
2.0 student
10/30/2024
I’m currently a student attending at Taft and so far my experience has been nothing but terrible mostly due to the fact that bullying is still considered a normal thing and not looked at enough by teacher/staff also security is very lazy and would rather talk to each other in the halls instead of go...
5.0 parent
10/6/2024
My son is attending AC at Taft HS, and his experience has been positive overall. Teachers are responsive and supportive to students' needs. Many clubs to choose from and students are encouraged to be creative and share their interests with others.
5.0 other
7/1/2024
Great school that consistently prioritizes the well-being of the children by providing a wide range of extracurricular activities and sports.
5.0 parent
1/23/2023
Great School, Great Principal, and Great Awesome Teachers.

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William Howard Taft High School is a public school for students in grades 7-12 in Chicago, IL and is served by the Chicago Public Schools in Illinois. The school has a total enrollment of 4,289 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. Academic records show that 25% of students achieve proficiency in math, and 32% are proficient in reading. William Howard Taft High School has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of A- and a GreatSchools Rating of 5 out of 10. The average GPA is 3.5, the graduation rate is 89%, and average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 1100 and an ACT score of 24. The average home value in this area is $467,801. Discover additional schools in the area, like Ridgewood Community High School, Rickover Naval Academy High School, Schurz High School, and more. Learn more about what Chicago has to offer, and browse homes for sale and for rent near William Howard Taft High School.

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