[3] The Laboratory Schools were founded by American educator John Dewey in 1896 in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

The Historic Campus, located at 1362 East 59th Street, fills two full city blocks and is known for its Modern Gothic style architecture.

In September 2013, Lab opened Earl Shapiro Hall on its new Early Childhood Campus located at 5800 S. Stony Island Avenue.

This new building, designed by Valerio Dewalt Train and FGM Architects, is home to approximately 625 children in nursery through second grade.

[11] High school students may also qualify to take classes at the University of Chicago at no extra charge, and about 20 do so each year.

The high school math, science, and Model UN teams are regular contenders for – and winners of – state titles.

The school's newspaper/website, The U-High Midway,[14] and the yearbook, U-Highlights, regularly win state and national awards, as does its arts magazine, Renaissance.

Other popular activities include theater, identity and affinity clubs, Student Council, policy debate, and Model UN.

Organized by the Office of Alumni Relations Development, members of the student body at U-High are nominated by faculty to serve in the Maroon Key Society.