Frequently Asked Questions

We are a public school.

As a public school, we do not charge tuition, but instead charge fees like all other public schools. In addition, costs for fees, textbooks and extracurriculars are waived or reduced for those families that qualify.

U-High does not offer transportation, but there is public transportation near U-High. Students can ride free using their ID provided by Illinois State University. Transportation between the school and extracurricular contests is provided.

Bus Route for students who live near Hilltop mobile homes in S. Bloomington:

1. Book a ride via the "Connect Transit App" to the Walmart on the west side of Bloomington (closest bus stop to U-High that is in the Connect Flex service area). This should take about 8-12 minutes.

2. Get on the Lime Route bus (runs every 30 minutes) headed to Uptown Normal.
3. Get off at Cardinal Court. This should take about 12 minutes.
4. Walk one block to U-High. This should take about 2-3 minutes.

It means students are free to read, complete homework or grab lunch nearby (or in our cafeteria) when they don’t have a scheduled class.

The lab schools have a limited capacity, which normally translates into around 625 spaces at U-High. Thus, as much as we would like to, we cannot accept every student who wants to attend.

The Admissions Committee is comprised of teachers, counselors and administrators who sort candidates by district, review each application without identifying factors, and select a diverse student population who best match the available openings. Our goal is to admit a well-rounded class of students each year.

No. We accept students with varying ability levels and we strive to admit students with a wide variety of interests. U-High attempts to maintain a balance of students as diverse as the Bloomington-Normal and surrounding areas. We expect every student to work up to their potential.

No. Students are admitted to U-High without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, order of protection, gender, identity and expression, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, veteran/military status. Names and other identity markers are removed from application materials prior to the committee’s review. The admissions committee view applicants based on their experiences as individuals.

Grades: We are looking for students with a variety of academic abilities. If you do not think your performance in this area is what you are capable of, you are highly encouraged to share those thoughts in your prompt.

Test Scores: We understand that standardized tests are a snapshot of that day and accept students with a variety of test scores.

Extracurriculars: We look to see which extracurriculars you want to participate in and those that you have experience in (especially athletics).

Discipline Report: We know you are human and make mistakes. This report is only viewed by administrators. We use this report to find ways, if admitted, to better support you.

Prompts: You will choose one of two prompts. This response is the only opportunity we have to get to know you. Make sure it is only written by you so that it is authentic. Share whatever you want to share so we can get to know your lived experience better.

Yes. You can do so if you choose. The Supreme Court notes in the recent decision, Students for Fair Admission Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and University of North Carolina (143 S. Ct. 2141), that an applicant can discuss "how race affects his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise."

As a laboratory school, we have hundreds of ISU students studying to be teachers in our classrooms each year, bringing the student to teacher ratio down in each of those classrooms. Students have access to ISU facilities and equipment. In addition, the lab schools are constantly studying and implementing best practices in education, which benefits everyone.

Find more information about all of our athletics and activities. We also have many other clubs that vary by year.

The lab schools offer a wide curriculum including AP courses and dual credit courses with Heartland Community College.

You do not. All incoming students are issued a new laptop along with account access to our Google domain, Office 365 and the Google Workspace course system. U-High has been a state leader at integrating technology into learning activities, and our students learn quickly to operate in an on-line learning environment.