They were not there to just see the school. They were standing in line for one of the best high school educations in the country.

Jones College Prep, located at 606 S. State St., is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best high schools in the country. Jones graduates 99 percent of its senior class, compared to just 50 percent of Chicago Public Schools as a whole.

Jones has a  diverse student body: 30 percent Hispanic, 25 percent white, 25 percent black, and 14 percent Asian-American and the  highest percentage of low income (free/reduced lunch) students among the top performing schools according to Principal Powers. Jones would rank second to Lane Tech when it comes to low income students who are top-performers academically. (See links regarding Jones relative to other CPS high schools at the end of the article.)

“We help to make sure our kids really appreciate diversity,” said Jones College Prep Principal Dr. Paul Powers. “We provide a safe, secure environment where kids from many backgrounds can come together and succeed.”

Powers said one of his biggest initiatives at Jones is building relationships. Jones has a summer program, Freshman Connection, for incoming students to help them prepare for their first day of classes.

Jones also has a program to take students to visit colleges campuses. Some of the schools recent graduates have attended are the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Hampton, a historically black university in Virginia.

Jones has a student body enrollment of 850, and incoming freshman students occupy approximately 200 of these spots. With the long line to get inside, many students will have to look elsewhere to get their high school education.

“I believe our school is particularly attractive due to the size and its location in the South Loop,” said Powers. “We have students coming from all over Chicago to attend Jones.”

The school also actively recruits students to attend Jones. Staff visits more than 150 elementary schools each year.

“I was sold when I talked to the staff and was told that they want every child to succeed and they are there to help make that happen,” said Local School Council member and parent Pamela Holtzman. “We wanted a diverse environment for our daughter’s high school experience. Her grade school was that way, Chicago is that way, the world is that way.”

However, Jones College Prep wasn’t always the school it is known today. It started out as a school for business.

“The transition actually went from Jones Commercial, to Jones Metropolitan (1982), to Jones Academic Magnet (1997) and finally Jones College Prep in 2001,” said English teacher Christine Malebranche. “It was a very exciting time: Teachers were re-interviewed for their positions, those who were chosen to work with the new program received extensive professional development, curricula were developed, and an atmosphere of collegiality existed that was unique to the situation.”

According to the Jones website, this evolution represents changes in educational trends and demographics in Chicago’s South Loop.

Malebranche said every day at Jones is a unique experience. She attributed this to the students and programs available at Jones.

“Classes start as early as 7 a.m. and it is not unusual for students to be in after-school activities until 6 p.m. that evening,” said Malebranche.

Although Jones is still a high school, Malebranche acknowledged it isn’t like anywhere else.

“Those of us who have been at Jones in its many incarnations have a saying: ‘We are Jones,’” said Malebranche. “We’ve always been a different kind of school, have always had our own style, and have always been able to be proud of being a part of a school with a long and proud history.”

Related research on Jones’ standing:

http://www.jonescollegeprep.org/ourpages/auto/2010/11/5/52988043/10-29-10.htm

http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/1854961,top-100-high-schools-1009.article

But Wanjiru wasn’t the only winner this weekend. So was the city of Chicago.

Due to its national and international draw, the marathon helped raise $10 million for various charities and gave a $150 million boost to the economy of its host city, according to a report by the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign’s Regional Economics Applications Laboratory.

Approximately 10,000 of the 45,000 marathon participants are raising money for more than 150 nonprofit organizations. These organizations include local, national and global causes.

At the opening press conference Thursday, Bank of America announced a $500,000 contribution to the Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative, a fitness program located throughout the city aimed at keeping kids safe and active after school.

The bank also announced The Mayor Richard M. Daley and Maggie Daley Award, given annually to the marathon participant who raises the most funds for charity through the marathon.

“Bank of America is pleased to build upon Mayor Daley’s and his wife Maggie’s commitment to Chicago’s youth, and we thank them for their partnership in this and so many activities,” said Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Brian T. Moynihan.  “Through our everyday lending, investing and giving, we are helping set opportunity in motion across this great city.”

This contribution adds to the $324,000 donation Bank of America made to the initiative in March.

“I particularly appreciate what Bank of America has built with the Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “This program provides innovative and constructive ways to improve the quality of life for our city’s young people and future leaders.”

Daley added, “In my two decades in office, I have watched the marathon continue to contribute in a positive way to this city — both in economic growth and support for the nonprofit sector.”

This year’s event drew participants from all 50 states and over 120 countries. The 45,000 participant capacity was filled in a record 51 days.

In addition to those running for charity and other causes, the marathon also attracted some of the best runners in the world.

“The depth of talent in the marathon was at an all-time high at the national and international levels,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “These athletes were hungry to compete against one another and this year’s field brought a new level of excitement to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.”

However, this doesn’t mean the strenuous course didn’t have a negative effect on the world’s elite.

“I’m not sure if I’ll compete next month at the New York City Marathon,” said men’s second place finisher Tsegaye Kebede. “I’m a little tired.”

A new home for Greektown and its visitors will open less than 100 feet from where this fire took place: the National Hellenic Museum.

After nearly a decade of preparation, the Greektown community plans to see the doors open to the state-of-the art museum in fall 2011.

“Our goal is connecting generations through Greek history, culture and art,” said the director of education and programs for the museum, Vivian Haritos. “The experience people will get here is a very in-depth view into the Greek culture.”

The announcement for the museum’s completion comes during a troubling year for the Greektown community. In February, a fire destroyed Costa’s Greek Dining along with Greektown Gift and Music Shop, Athens Grocery and the Pan Hellenic Pastry Shop — one of which was in the neighborhood for over 30 years.

“I live right outside of Greektown and a lot of people were really upset about the fire earlier this year,” said University of Illinois-Chicago student Marcus Marshall. “I think the museum is definitely something Greektown can be positive about and look forward to.”

Marshall, 25, believed the new museum would attract both locals and visitors to the area. He also said the added publicity of the museum could bring more life to the neighborhood.

“Greektown is already a fun place to visit with plenty of great restaurants and shops,” said Marshall. “Adding a new museum should only make it an even greater tourist attraction.”

Curator of the National Hellenic Museum, Bethany Fleming, believes the project will not only interest those of Greek descent but the entire community as well.

“This isn’t a history museum or an arts museum but rather a cultural museum,” said Fleming. “We want people to feel like it’s a museum for everyone.”

The $15 million building, located at 333 S. Halsted St, will contain thousands of artifacts ranging from 1400 B.C. to the present. The new space occupies 40,000 square feet, compared to 7,000 at its current location on the fourth floor of 801 W. Adams Street.

Exhibits will rotate throughout the year with the exception of one mainstay: Homer’s Odyssey. This exhibit hopes to document Homer’s art of storytelling and its influence on different cultures.

“Our goal with Homer’s exhibit is to tell how one element of Greek culture has influenced western civilization,” said Fleming. “It will explore how The Odyssey has influenced modern storytelling from [The Coen Brothers] O’ Brother Where Art Thou to Tupac Shakur.”

The project was established with both private and public funding. The city of Chicago committed $3.5 million in tax increment financing money for the museum.

Free street and valet parking will be available for visits to the museum. Those wishing to stay for the day can park in public lots for $6.