Morton District 201 introduces the Morton West Freshman Academy. Construction will be completed Fall 2019.  

According to the Morton West web page, construction already began this spring (April) the Morton West freshman academy in Berwyn. When completed in summer 2019, the academy will have more than 30 classrooms, a cafeteria, several activity rooms and a large meeting space. Morton East High School in Cicero has a freshman campus that was built in the mid 2000’s, and it’s time for Morton West to have a dedicated building for freshmen, so, the space that gets freed up in the main building will make a big difference in terms of overcrowding in the hallways. In a random survey of 105 Morton east/west students, 78 students reported that its fair to separate freshman from sophomores, juniors, and seniors. 

“At Morton West, freshmen currently are exposed to older peers. Once the new freshmen building is built it will be less intimidating environment for them and they can learn in their own environment with the transition to high school,” Morton East high school, principal Jose Gamboa said.  

Mr. Ramirez strongly feels the same and has something else to say.  

“There has been an increase in graduation rates since freshmen have been separated from older students,” Morton East high school, dean of students Eric Ramirez.  

Mr. Frankfother agrees with Eric Ramirez but has a different opinion.  

“During construction many faulty teaches are teaching in trailers that came in,” journalism teacher Kent Frankfother said.  

A fellow freshman disagrees with everybody and has her own opinion.  

“Either way we’re going to get bullied even if they separate freshman from all the other grades,” freshman Desire Flores said.  

Another fellow student doesn’t feel the same way.  

“It’s better that we are separate, so we can prepare ourselves for 3 more years of a bigger high school high school,” freshman Emeli Paz.