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Excellent

#72 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 2% in state

Northside College Preparatory HS

High School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

5501 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Enrollment

1,032

Student-Teacher

14.5:1

Score

9.1

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Chicago

#6 of 629

public schools

Illinois high schools

#3 of 703

In district

#6 of 621

Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

Academic performance

10.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Northside College Preparatory HS

Northside College Preparatory High School is a regular public high school serving grades 9–12 in Chicago, Illinois, with 1,032 students enrolled. It earns a composite score of 9.1/10 — rated Exceptional — built on a perfect academic score of 10.0 and a strong growth score of 8.7. The numbers place Northside in rare company.

It ranks 3rd among all 703 public high schools in Illinois and 6th out of 629 schools across Chicago — outperforming 98% of Illinois public schools overall. In a state with more than 3,800 public schools, that puts Northside at #72 statewide, a position few schools reach. A 14.5-to-1 student-teacher ratio keeps instruction personal for a school of this size.

The 10.0 academic score reflects near-perfect performance on standardized achievement measures — a ceiling almost no Illinois school reaches. A growth score of 8.7 shows that students don't just arrive prepared; they continue advancing at an exceptional rate. For families evaluating Chicago's public school options, Northside's combination of top-tier academic achievement and sustained student growth puts it in a category nearly every other school in the state falls short of matching.

What's said publicly about Northside College Preparatory HS

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Northside College Preparatory High School is a public, four-year selective enrollment high school located in the North Park neighborhood on the north side of Chicago, Illinois 1 . Founded in 1999, it was the first new Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school constructed in two decades 1 . The school operates as a selective enrollment institution that teaches exclusively at the Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) levels 1 . Northside has been consistently ranked as the number one high school in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.11 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics10.0Exceptional25%
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 Readiness9.9Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation62.6%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,089

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

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: 8.7/10.

How Northside College Preparatory HS Compares

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

Overall Score
9.1/10
98th percentile in IL
Academic
10.0/10
10.0/10
Growth
8.7/10
Above average
Environment
7.5/10
Above 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 Alternatives

Families considering Northside College Preparatory HS may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Von Steuben Metro Science HS (rated 7.6/10, 0.6 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is LUBAVITCH GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 1.1 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, TELSHE HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 0.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Chicago, see our Chicago schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Peterson Elem School Chicago 0.3 mi 4.9
Jamieson Elem School Chicago 0.4 mi 6.6
Mather High School Chicago 0.6 mi 6.7
Von Steuben Metro Science HS Chicago 0.6 mi 7.6
NORTHSHORE ADVENTIST ACADEMY Chicago 0.6 mi 7.2
JOAN DACHS BAIS YAAKOV ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Chicago 0.7 mi 5.5
ICC FULL TIME SCHOOL Chicago 0.7 mi 6.7
ICC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Chicago 0.7 mi 8.4
Edison Elem Regional Gifted Cntr Chicago 0.7 mi 8.3
Albany Park Multicultural Elem Chicago 0.7 mi 7.1
Hibbard Elem School Chicago 0.7 mi 5.0
TELSHE HIGH SCHOOL Chicago 0.7 mi 7.2
Budlong Elem School Chicago 0.7 mi 6.2
LAWRENCE HALL SCHOOL Chicago 0.9 mi 6.4
Clinton Elem School Chicago 0.9 mi 5.4
ST PHILIP LUTHERAN SCHOOL Chicago 0.8 mi 7.2
HANNA SACKS BAIS YAAKOV HIGH SCHOOL Chicago 1.1 mi 7.2
LUBAVITCH GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL Chicago 1.1 mi 7.5
YESHIVAS TIFERES TZVI Chicago 1.1 mi 5.9
Roosevelt High School Chicago 1.2 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60625 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$85,299

Median Home Value

$396,700

Median Rent

$1,455/mo

Population

78,467

College Educated

53.8%

Homeownership

40.3%

Avg Commute

35.3 min

Poverty Rate

13.1%

Median Age

36

Community Profile

The community surrounding Northside College Preparatory HS has a median household income of $85,299. It is a well-educated community where 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $396,700, with a median rent of $1,455/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.1%. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Payton College Preparatory HS Chicago, IL 9.2
Deerfield High School Deerfield, IL 8.9
Glenbard South High School Glen Ellyn, IL 8.7
Brooks College Prep Academy HS Chicago, IL 8.6
Hinsdale South High School Darien, IL 8.6
Lindblom Math & Science Acad HS Chicago, IL 8.5

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 #72 out of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Northside College Preparatory HS's MySchoolScout rating?

Northside College Preparatory HS has a composite rating of 9.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
75 Very Walkable
Transit Score
52 Good Transit
Bike Score
87 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,030/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Chicago). Data >1 year old.

Compare This School

How does Northside College Preparatory HS stack up?

Payton College Preparatory HS
9.2
Bronzeville Scholastic HS
9.1
Compare Selected →

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

District

Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
District Enrollment
322,809
Schools in District
643
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,699
District Rank
#6 of 621

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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