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Very Good

#264 of 3,546 schools in IL

Top 7% in state

Northside College Preparatory HS

High School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

5501 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

1,032
Students
14.5:1
Student-Teacher
9th – 12th
Grades Served
Top 7%
in IL

About Northside College Preparatory HS

Northside College Preparatory High School stands out as one of Illinois's top-performing public high schools, serving 1,032 students in grades 9-12 in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood. With a strong 8.1 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking #185 out of 3,819 schools statewide, placing it in the 95th percentile, this college preparatory school delivers exceptional academic results. The school's academic excellence is evident in its perfect 10.0 academic score and impressive 90% proficiency rate in English Language Arts and Reading across all grade levels.

Students benefit from personalized attention with a favorable 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio, supported by 71 full-time equivalent teachers who are committed to preparing students for post-secondary success. Located on North Kedzie Avenue in the vibrant 60625 ZIP code area, the school serves a diverse community where 53% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood reflects middle-class stability with a median household income of $83,527 and median home values around $395,000, while maintaining accessibility with a 12.5% poverty rate among its 80,296 residents.

Northside College Preparatory High School offers students a rigorous academic environment within Chicago's dynamic urban landscape, combining the resources of a large city with a focused college preparatory mission.

Score Breakdown

Partial Profile · 3/4 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent36%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.11 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics10.0Exceptional36%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency94%
Reading/ELA Proficiency90%
Overall Proficiency92%
Expected (poverty-adj.)32%
vs. Expected+59.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile100th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment4.1Below Average29%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.5:1

Northside College Preparatory HS — Students at Northside College Preparatory HS score 92% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

36.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Component weights adjusted due to data availability.

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 94.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 94.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 5 test records from IL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

📉 Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
94%
ELA
97%
2021*
Math
94%
ELA
95%
2022
ELA
90%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.2/10.

How Northside College Preparatory HS Compares

See how Northside College Preparatory HS performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
93th percentile in IL
Academic
10.0/10
10.0/10
Growth
8.2/10
Above average
Environment
4.1/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
37%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
71 teachers

Location

5501 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Peterson Elem School Chicago 0.3 mi 3.3
Jamieson Elem School Chicago 0.4 mi 5.3
Mather High School Chicago 0.6 mi 4.2
Von Steuben Metro Science HS Chicago 0.6 mi 5.2
Edison Elem Regional Gifted Cntr Chicago 0.7 mi 7.1
Albany Park Multicultural Elem Chicago 0.7 mi 5.6
Hibbard Elem School Chicago 0.7 mi 3.7
Budlong Elem School Chicago 0.7 mi 5.4
Clinton Elem School Chicago 0.9 mi 4.0
Roosevelt High School Chicago 1.2 mi 4.9
North River Elem School Chicago 1.4 mi 5.4
Volta Elem School Chicago 1.1 mi 4.8
ASPIRA Charter - Haugan Campus Chicago 1.3 mi 3.4
Solomon Elem School Chicago 1.2 mi 6.2
West Ridge Elem School Chicago 1.5 mi 4.5
CICS - Northtown Campus Chicago 1.2 mi 5.4
Waters Elem School Chicago 1.4 mi 6.1
Haugan Elem School Chicago 1.5 mi 4.6
Bateman Elem School Chicago 1.6 mi 5.1
Henry Elem School Chicago 1.6 mi 5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2018-2022)

Census data for ZIP 60625 (ACS 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$83,527

Median Home Value

$395,000

Median Rent

$1,415/mo

Population

80,296

College Educated

52.8%

Homeownership

39.9%

Avg Commute

35 min

Poverty Rate

12.5%

Median Age

35.6

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Deerfield High School Deerfield, IL 7.9
Payton College Preparatory HS Chicago, IL 7.9
Lindblom Math & Science Acad HS Chicago, IL 7.2
Urbana High School Urbana, IL 7.1
Brooks College Prep Academy HS Chicago, IL 6.9
Geneseo High School Geneseo, IL 6.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Northside College Preparatory HS

What grades does Northside College Preparatory HS serve?

Northside College Preparatory HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Northside College Preparatory HS?

Northside College Preparatory HS has an enrollment of approximately 1,032 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northside College Preparatory HS?

The student-teacher ratio at Northside College Preparatory HS is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northside College Preparatory HS rank in IL?

Northside College Preparatory HS is ranked #264 out of 3,546 schools in IL.

What is Northside College Preparatory HS's MySchoolScout rating?

Northside College Preparatory HS has a composite rating of 7.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, equity, and school environment into a single score.

What are the test scores at Northside College Preparatory HS?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Northside College Preparatory HS has 94.0% math proficiency and 94.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Northside College Preparatory HS a charter school?

No, Northside College Preparatory HS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Northside College Preparatory HS a Title I school?

No, Northside College Preparatory HS is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northside College Preparatory HS?

36.9% of students at Northside College Preparatory HS qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,032
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
71
Free/Reduced Lunch
36.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Cook County
Data Year
2023–2024

How We Rate Schools

Our ratings combine academic performance, growth, equity, and school environment into a single 1-10 score using publicly available data.

Read our methodology
Data Sources: School Info: NCES CCD (SY 2022-23) Test Scores: IL EDFACTS (2021-22) Neighborhood: Census ACS (2018-2022) Ratings: MySchoolScout (2024) Full data source details