Northside College Preparatory High School
North Park
Northside College Preparatory High School is a public four-year selective enrollment high school located in the North Park neighborhood on the northside of Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Address: 5501 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
District: Chicago Public Schools
Color: Silver
Phone: (773) 534-3954
Mascot: Mustang horse
Founded: 1999
Rankings / Awards
Medal Awarded: Gold
National Rank #33
State Rank #1
Student Body
Enrollment: 1086
Percentage Low Income: 34.8
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 60%
White Enrollment (% of total)40%
Asian Enrollment (% of total)27%
Hispanic Enrollment (% of total)23%
Performance Metrics
- Spending Per Pupil: $7,946*
- Graduation Rate: 100
- Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
- ACT ( Average composite score on the ACT college entrance exam ) : 29.2
- PSAE ( Percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards on the Prairie State Achievement Examination ) : 100
Testimonials:
Positive:
- Phenomenal Facilities
The school is like, 8 years old what doesnt it have? it has a lunchroom, which one side is all glass leading to the outdoor patio(btw you can usually have a snowball fight outside during lunchtime in the winter)…. a huge pool that goes up to 12ft deep, nice classrooms, a really nice stadium-seating auditorium, a gym with rock climbing walls, fully equiped science labs, a 2-story library, 2 computer labs(not including the one in the library and about 5 comps per classroom)… i mean the school has its own weather meter and solar panels… (Maria R., Alumnus, Yelp Review)
- Valuing the Arts
As for the overall environment, this school has always been extremely progressive in it’s approach to the arts and it’s dedication to pursuing them. The open mics used to be something of legendary quality for Chicago high school students, and that tradition has been carried on by the annual arts festival the school presents. (Gene W, Alumnus, Yelp Review)
Negative(s):
- Unconventional… to a fault?
The math program is a negative in my opinion; its not that you don’t learn, but you learn so thoroughly unconventionally that it often leaves students unprepared for the structure and format of math and engineering courses that await in college …like writing papers (yes, papers) for math, kinda like a lab report for science but worse since you have to show your math work on these papers as well as explain problems along the way and what you learned…. (Maria R., Alumnus, Yelp Review)
- Cutthroat academic vibe?
When it comes to college and academics, though, many of the students are pretty freakin cutthroat. Being in college has helped me realize that life isn’t just about school, and frankly, I feel like I missed out on a lot by choosing Northside. I wish the school wasn’t so academically focused and that it didn’t place such a high emphasis on ACTs, getting into a good school, and holding as many leadership positions as you can in as many clubs as possible. Obviously, a part of this is self-inflicted, but being at Northside, you definitely feel the pressure. (Matt G., Alumnus, Yelp Review)
Gifted & Talented
- Accelerated credit learning
- Gifted / high performing
- Honors track
All classes are honors and AP and the curriculum is meant to challenge. The math classes are taught (or at least were) using a different theology of teaching that is similar to programs taught in some European countries. It was challenging, but not in line with the curriculum used by most U.S. universities… so I knew many people that had to re-learn how to study math before taking courses in college. (Elizabeth H., Alumnus, Yelp Review)
Language Learning
- Chinese (Cantonese)
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- French
- German
- Japanese
- Korean
- Latin
- Spanish
Arts & Music
Visual Arts:
- Ceramics
- Design
- Drawing / sketching
- Painting
- Photography
- Sculpture
Music
- Band
- Choir / Chorus
- Jazz band
- Orchestra
Performing and written arts
- Dance
- Drama
Media Arts
Video / Film production
