Lake County Gazette

The Knights Café at Grayslake North High School has reopened with a new theme, focusing on student involvement and practical learning. This year, the café adopted a Neon & Rock ’n’ Roll motif, with students taking charge of decorations, drinks, and music selections.

The café operates as part of the school’s Work-Study program, offering students real-world job training in areas such as customer service, teamwork, money management, and inventory control. Student barista Evie Barra shared her experience: “I feel happy working at the Knights Café. I like making drinks and making friends with customers.”

In a shift from previous years where staff chose the theme, students led the creative direction this time. Their inspiration came from neon colors associated with Trolls and classic rock music.

Open to the school community during regular hours and at special events, the café plans to introduce seasonal “Wicked Drinks” in October.

Grayslake North High School is part of Grayslake Community High School District 127, which includes both Grayslake Central and Grayslake North High Schools in Lake County (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district employs 195 teachers with an average salary of $79,647; about 60 percent are women (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The student population is diverse: 58.5 percent White, 25 percent Hispanic, 7.2 percent Asian, and 4.3 percent Black (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In 2020, per-student spending was $31,874 for a total expenditure of over $88 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

The Knights Café continues to serve as both a social space and an educational resource for students at Grayslake North.