Chicago Public Schools (CPS), officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, in Chicago, Illinois, is the fourth-largest school district in the United States, after New York, Los Angeles, and Miami-Dade County. For the 2023–24 school year, CPS reported overseeing 634 schools, including 477 elementary schools and 157 high schools; of which 514 were district-run, 111 were charter schools, 7 were contract schools and 2 were SAFE schools. The district serves 323,251 students. Chicago Public School students attend a particular school based on their area of residence, except for charter, magnet, and selective enrollment schools.
Noble Schools is an open enrollment, public charter network of high schools and middle schools serving students throughout Chicago. Noble was co-founded in 1999 by Michael Milkie and Tonya Hernandez through a partnership between Ron Manderschied, President of Northwestern University Settlement House. Noble's first expansions, Rauner College Prep and Pritzker College Prep, opened in 2006. There are currently 18 schools in the charter school network: 1 middle school and 17 high schools. Noble schools are public and open to all students in Chicago and there is no testing required for admission.
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, United States. Founded in 1999, it was the first new CPS high school to be built in 20 years. It is a selective enrollment school, and teaches only at the Honors and AP levels. Northside has earned a reputation for academic excellence, and has been consistently ranked as the #1 high school in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report.
Walter Payton College Preparatory High School (WPCP) is a public four-year magnet high school located in the Old Town neighborhood on the near–north side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 2000, Payton is operated by the Chicago Public Schools district. The school is named for Walter Payton, African-American football player for the Chicago Bears and humanitarian. Since 2019, Payton has been ranked the No. 1 public high school in the State of Illinois, and No. 4 in the United States, by U.S. News & World Report.
Urban Prep Academies is a nonprofit organization that operated three free open-enrollment public all-male college-preparatory high schools in Chicago. Founded in 2002, and receiving its first charter approval from Chicago Public Schools in 2005, it operates the first all-male public charter high school in the United States. The network opened a second campus in 2009 and a third in August 2010. From 2010 to 2019, 100% of the seniors in the school's graduating classes were admitted to four-year colleges or universities. In 2023 its charter was revoked over misconduct allegations and Chicago Public Schools moved to take over its campuses. The decision is controversial and is being contested in court.
Rauner College Prep is a public four-year charter high school located in the West Town in Chicago, Illinois. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. Rauner College Prep is named in honor of donors Diana and Bruce Rauner. It opened in 2006 and serves students in grades nine through twelve.
Golder College Prep is a public four-year charter high school located in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. It is named after the Joan Golder family. The school opened in 2007, and serves grades nine through twelve. Golder College Prep is a level 1+ school based on CPS rankings.
ACE Amandla Charter High School, is a public four-year charter high school located in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened for the 2004–2005 school year, the school is operated by Amandla Charter Schools. The name ACE stands for Architecture, Construction, and Engineering.
Butler College Prep is a public four-year charter high school located in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. It shares its campus with Corliss High School. It is named after John and Alice Butler, who provided the funding necessary to open the school. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. Butler College Prep is a Level 1 school, based on CPS school quality rankings. Butler College Prep opened in 2013.
Johnson College Prep is a public 4–year charter high school located in the Englewood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Johnson is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools and Chicago Public Schools. Opening in 2010, The school is named for John H. Johnson and his wife Eunice Johnson.
UIC College Prep is a public four-year charter high school located in Chicago, Illinois. It is operated by the Noble Network of Charter Schools. The school has a partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago.
Muchin College Prep is a public four-year charter high school located in the Chicago Loop in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. It is named for Allan and Elaine Muchin. Muchin College Prep was founded in 2009 by Kimberly Neal-Brannum. The Founding Principal, Kimberly Neal-Brannum led the school until 2015.
DRW College Prep is a public 4-year charter high school located in the Homan Square in Chicago, Illinois. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. DRW College Prep is set to grow to a campus that will serve 800 students grades nine through twelve.
Gary Comer College Prep is a Level 1 public grade nine through twelve charter high school located in Chicago, Illinois' Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. It is named after the Gary Comer, the founder of Lands' End and philanthropic entrepreneur. Gary Comer founded the Comer Youth Center in 2006, with Gary Comer College Prep opening its doors in 2008, serving grades nine through twelve. In 2011, the Gary Comer College Prep Middle School opened creating two campuses under one school, serving grades six through twelve. Prior to becoming the principal of GCCP, Ms. Kelly founded Gary Comer College Prep Middle School in 2011 and served as the principal there for four years. Before joining Noble, Ms. Kelly served as the Principal of KIPP Indianapolis College Prep, a 5-8 middle school located in the inner-city of Indianapolis, IN.
Hansberry College Prep, formerly known as "Noble Auburn Gresham College Prep", is a public four-year charter high school located in the Auburn Gresham in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. Hansberry College Prep opened in 2012 as Noble Auburn Gresham College Prep in recognition of the neighborhood in which the school resides. In July 2013, the campus changed its name to Hansberry College Prep in honor of Lorraine Hansberry. The school currently serves grades nine through twelve and graduated its first class in 2016. In 2014, HCP was officially authorized as an IB World school.
Noble Street College Prep of the Noble Network of Charter Schools, is a Level +1 public four-year charter high school located in the West Town neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. Noble Street College Prep was founded by Michael and Tonya Milkie with the support of the Northwestern University Settlement Association in 1999 and is the original campus of Noble Network of Charter Schools. Noble Street College Prep serves grades nine through twelve.
Pritzker College Prep is a public four-year charter high school located in the Hermosa neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. It opened its doors in 2006 and serves over 986 students in grades nine through twelve, as of the 2017-2018 school year.
Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy is a public 4–year charter high school located in the Humboldt Park Area neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Rowe-Clark opened in August 2007 and is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. Rowe-Clark serves grades 9 through 12.
The Noble Academy is a public charter high school located in the Near North Side neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is a collaboration between the Noble Network of Charter Schools and Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. The Noble Academy is a Level 1+ school, according to Chicago Public School rankings.
Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School, commonly known as Back of the Yards College Prep or BOYCP, is a public four-year international baccalaureate high school located in the New City community area on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Back of the Yards is operated by the Chicago Public Schools district and has a general education program in addition to an International Baccalaureate program. Back of the Yards College Prep was named after the neighborhood it is located in, Back of the Yards. Back of the Yards College Prep is accessible via the Chicago L's nearby Western Orange Line station.
