Get to Know DePaul College Prep: A Spotlight on One of the Top Chicago Catholic High Schools
Leading up to the HSPT on December 5th, Test Prep Chicago is spotlighting some of Chicago's top Catholic high schools on our blog. This week, we're taking a closer look at DePaul College Prep.
DePaul College Prep stands out for its strong academics, its partnership with one of the largest Catholic universities in the country, and a recent run of athletic success few schools can match. The school traces its history to Gordon Technical High School, which opened in 1952 and served as an all-boys Catholic school for five decades before welcoming girls in 2002. In 2012, at the request of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Congregation of the Resurrection, DePaul University stepped in as an academic partner, and in 2014 the school officially became DePaul College Prep. Today, it is a Vincentian Catholic high school sponsored by the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians), the same order that sponsors DePaul University. Resultingly, service is central to the school's Vincentian mission as well. Guided by the question "What must be done?", DePaul College Prep students contribute thousands of hours of service each year to nonprofit organizations in Chicago and beyond.
Academically, DePaul Prep offers students a wide range of College Prep, Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. The school was authorized as an IB Diploma Programme school in 2015, giving students access to a globally recognized curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking and, like its AP program, offers the potential for college credit. It is also one of the only co-ed Catholic high schools in Chicago that offers the IB Diploma Programme. Additionally, thanks to the academic partnership with DePaul University, students can also take dual enrollment classes at DePaul, earning real college credit before they finish high school.
Outside the classroom, DePaul Prep offers more than 50 co-curriculars, clubs, and academic teams, and many students take part in co-curricular activities, athletics, or both. On the athletic side, the DePaul Prep Rams have been on a remarkable run. The boys' basketball team, led by head coach Tom Kleinschmidt (a Gordon Tech alum and former DePaul University All-American), won three consecutive Illinois state championships from 2023 to 2025. In 2024, the football team captured the IHSA Class 4A state championship with a 40–6 win over Mt. Zion, the school's first football state title since 1980, back when it was still Gordon Tech. Students also have access to athletic fields right on the new riverside campus, which Cardinal Cupich blessed when the campus was dedicated in 2020.
Overall, DePaul College Prep offers students a well-rounded Catholic high school experience: rigorous academics with genuine college connections, a strong service mission, and a thriving athletic and extracurricular scene on one of Chicago's newest campuses. It tends to be a great fit for students who want a challenging college-prep curriculum, including AP, IB, and college-level coursework, within a faith-based, service-minded, and driven community.
Admission to DePaul College Prep is based in part on the High School Placement Test (HSPT), the entrance exam used by Catholic high schools across the Archdiocese of Chicago, which will be given on Saturday, December 5th. A short, timed personal essay is also required after completing the HSPT at DePaul College Prep. Additionally, the school strongly encourages students to take the HSPT on its own campus, as students who test there are given preference for admission, and only students who take the HSPT at DePaul Prep are eligible for its academic scholarships and financial aid. Because Catholic high schools also use HSPT scores for scholarships and class placement, a strong score can make a real difference.
If your student is interested in attending DePaul College Prep or another Catholic high school, Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for the HSPT, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed on all five sections of the exam. Students can now enroll in our online HSPT prep courses (sign up here), one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here), or individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), which all include HSPT content and test-taking strategies. With the December 5th test date just a little less than eight weeks away, sign up now to help your student prepare!