History
Our Story
A Very Brief History of Disney II Magnet School
Walt Disney Magnet School
is a Chicago Public
School located on Chicago’s
lakefront. Its students reflect the City’s racial, ethnic and socio-economic
diversity. The school opened in 1974 and was the first magnet school in the
City of Chicago.
Disney is an open-spaced environment with a team-teaching format. The school
currently serves 1,449 students in preschool through 8th
grades. Disney is part of the Fine Arts Magnet School Cluster and
delivers arts and technology integrated instruction. As a magnet school, Disney
accepts students from across the City through the Chicago Public Schools
lottery system.
In 2007, due to its strong history of success,
Disney was invited by Chicago Public Schools to replicate. After a rigorous and comprehensive
application and review process, it was announced that Disney II would open as a
new Chicago Public
School and a “replication” of Walt Disney
Magnet School. It is our vision that, like
Disney, Disney II will establish a first-rate learning institution that
increases student achievement within underserved communities and attracts
families throughout Chicago. Every
neighborhood needs a high quality school to disseminate knowledge, provide
opportunity, focus goodwill, and fertilize the community’s investment in its
future. Disney II will serve this need
and like Disney, will realize true equity, bringing the best model for
schooling to families and communities throughout Chicago. Disney
II will celebrate the diversity of its community and will equitably serve all
student populations, regardless of disability, socio-economic status, and/or
cultural background.