Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

I’m a member of the first four year class that graduated from WY (1979). When I run into students who currently attend there, they give me the impression that nothing has changed. Students still have to apply to attend there, and it is not easy to get in. The teachers and administrators still expect the students to achieve excellence and to go as far as they can. There are many resources to help students succeed. The diversity that existed among the student body is still intact, too. I enjoyed my years at the school, and if I had kids, I would steer them there.

I am a PROUD graduate of Whitney Young. they pushed us hard, but I was very well prepared for college.

I went to Whitney Young and it was fun. I learned a lot. Best teachers, by far Mrs. Brusek-​Kaczmarek (English & Polish Club), Mr. Pasowicz (Psych), Mr. Jay Rehak (English & Writers Club), Mrs. K. Rehak (Chemistry– not related to the English teacher), and finally Mr. Bruner (Art class & Art Club), who is no longer there, but who has changed my life forever. I think we all have a teacher that really touched us. Who knew that from freshman art, I’d be going to art school instead of journalism school like I first imagined for college. It was all because of Mr. Bruner. He got me my first job working for the city painting a mural, and I’ve been doing art ever since. So even though I am more in the fashion thing right now, hats are very artistic and sculptural.
This is not your typical high school. Academics are very valued here. There are no cliches, at least there really weren’t when I went there. I got along with everyone. I was really into art and writing, so I did that, and I had outlets for that through the after-​school clubs.
The minus was that the kids here were way too focused on learning and partying was sometimes out of the question with some people. Luckily, I had a group of friends from grade school that I let loose with. When you’re doing Honors and AP classes, you need to balance that with a healthy dose of partying.