Spotlighting Lane Tech College Prep: What Makes this Selective Enrollment High School Stand Out

Lane Tech College Prep is one of Chicago’s most prominent and competitive selective enrollment high schools. Founded in 1908, it was renamed to its current title to highlight its college-preparatory emphasis. It remains one of the oldest and largest high schools in Illinois, serving over 4,500 students.

Academically, Lane Tech offers a rigorous curriculum, built to prepare students for success in college. The school's curriculum features over 100 electives and course options. Lane Tech also offers a robust Advanced Placement (AP) program featuring over 32 options, where every student is expected to take at least one AP course. This diversity of subjects, from STEM to languages to the arts, is ideal for students seeking depth, specificity, and variety in their academic programming.

Lane Tech students consistently perform at high academic levels. The graduation rate is approximately 96%, and students average an SAT score of 1290 and an ACT score of 29, indicating that students begin their senior year at Lane Tech prepared for college applications, and finish it ready for the college experience.

In addition to academics, Lane Tech is well-known for its vibrant extracurricular offerings, including a wide array of clubs, fine arts, STEM programs, and sports teams that contribute to a dynamic student experience. Notably, Lane Tech has a long-standing reputation as one of the most athletically competitive high schools in CPS, consistently performing well in city competitions and qualifying for state-level events. For students looking for a wide array of extracurriculars, athletic opportunities, and academic rigor, Lane Tech is a strong option. 

For students aiming to attend Lane Tech, Test Prep Chicago offers targeted CPS HSAT preparation to help build confidence and performance on test day. Through group courses (click here), 1-day workshops (click here), or personalized one-on-one tutoring (click here), our programs help to prepare students for the CPS HSAT through full-length practice exams, targeted homework assignments, and expert test-taking strategies. We continually update our materials based on student feedback and evolving exam trends.

Stay tuned — over the next few weeks, we’ll be spotlighting more of Chicago’s top selective enrollment schools to help families make informed choices about CPS high school options.