Spotlighting DePaul College Prep

Over the next few weeks leading up to the HSPT for Catholic high schools, Test Prep Chicago will be featuring some of the top Parochial schools in Chicago, laying out what makes them special. 

First up is DePaul College Prep! Located in Roscoe Village, DePaul College Prep has built its identity around rigorous academics, faith-rooted values, and a commitment to preparing students for college and life beyond high school. The school stands out among Chicago’s high schools for its ability to blend academic excellence with a strong sense of community and purpose.

Founded in 2014, DePaul College Prep emerged from a partnership between DePaul University and the former Gordon Tech High School. This collaboration combined the academic tradition of DePaul University with the long-standing Catholic heritage of Gordon Tech, producing a school that is both forward-thinking and grounded in faith. Like DePaul University, the school is sponsored by the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians). Its mission continues to be guided by the values of St. Vincent de Paul, particularly in service to others, pursuit of justice, and the question at the heart of Vincentian faith: “What must be done?” As such, DePaul College Prep’s foundation in faith and service sets it apart. The school’s Vincentian mission emphasizes leadership through compassion, social responsibility, and community engagement. Students participate in service projects throughout Chicago, reflecting on how their faith can be lived through action. This emphasis on service and justice connects directly to the broader mission of DePaul University and fosters a culture of empathy, reflection, and purpose among students.

Academically, DePaul College Prep offers a robust curriculum that challenges students while providing personalized support. The school provides college prep, honors, and Advanced Placement courses, as well as the opportunity for dual enrollment with DePaul University for upperclassmen. It is also an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Furthermore, small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio of about 13 to 1 allow teachers to build close relationships with students and tailor instruction to their strengths and goals. 

In addition to traditional coursework, students can explore liberal arts, STEAM, and design or engineering electives, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to find their personal niche or discover a new academic, athletic, or artistic interest. With more than 50 clubs and academic teams, there is something for everyone. whether a student is interested in robotics, theater, debate, or volunteering. DePaul College Prep’s athletic teams compete in the Chicago Catholic League (for boys) and the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference, and its new campus includes first-rate athletic facilities, turf fields, and modern practice spaces. The arts are equally supported, with a Black Box Theatre, visual arts studios, and performance spaces designed to nurture creativity and expression.

DePaul College Prep is an excellent fit for students who are academically motivated and eager to thrive in a college preparatory environment. It is especially well-suited for families seeking a co-educational Catholic high school that emphasizes faith, service, and community in equal measure. Students who are drawn to leadership, extracurricular involvement, and a close-knit campus culture will find themselves at home here. 

Admissions to DePaul College Prep can be very competitive. Students who desire to attend must have strong grades, and sometimes extracurriculars are considered as well. Students must also complete the High School Placement Test (HSPT) for Catholic schools on December 6th on location at DePaul College Prep in order to receive priority for admissions, financial aid, and scholarships. Test Prep Chicago can help students succeed on the HSPT. We offer workshops and private tutoring to help students strengthen their skills and build testing confidence for this exam. Starting in November, we will offer one-day workshops for students looking for extra practice with the HSPT (click here). Students can also sign up for individual tutoring on the HSPT anytime, which will give them access to thorough prep material targeting each section of the HSPT, practice tests, and step-by-step strategies aligned to the HSPT format (click here). We also support students preparing for other high school entrance exams like the ISEE and CPS HSAT!

An Overview of DePaul College Prep High School

Formerly known as Gordon Technical High School, DePaul College Prep High School first opened in 1952 as a Roman Catholic high school in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood on the north side. The school was originally named after Reverend Francis Gordon, but was renamed DePaul College Prep on the Father Gordon Campus in 2014, honoring both Reverend Gordon as well as their academic partner since 2012, DePaul University. DePaul College Prep has a student population of 550 with a student to teacher ratio of 11:1. They boast a graduation rate of 98%; in addition, 98% of students who graduate go on to attend a four-year college. It also ranks 18th most diverse private school in Illinois and 25th best Catholic school in Illinois.

DePaul College Prep offers impressive academic opportunities for their students. As they state on their website, “As a student at DePaul Prep, you will develop a strong foundation in liberal arts, science, technology, engineering and math. We offer various academic options--Advanced Placement (AP), Honors, College Prep and College Enrichment. We are proud to say the DePaul College Prep is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and we also offer the unique opportunity of Dual Enrollment courses at DePaul University.”

Another exciting component of DePaul College Prep’s curriculum is their STEAM initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). This program is comprised of courses in visual arts, media arts, theater, music, engineering, design and computer science. DePaul contends, “The Department adopts an interdisciplinary approach to learning that develops critical thinking and creativity using state of the art technology, fully equipped art and sculpture studio, engineering and fabrication lab, computer science lab and music studio.” Beginning their freshman year, students will take a full year of coursework in the STEAM program which can be followed up with electives of their favorite disciplines in their years as upperclassmen. In addition to STEAM, students take standard courses as well as theology classes and language classes in Spanish, French, or Chinese.

Tuition at DePaul College Prep is about $13,170 a year with payment plans and financial aid available. Approximately 40% of students use financial aid. To find out more information about DePaul College Prep’s tuition, academics, etc. visit their website at depaulprep.org.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of the High School Placement Test

Used by parochial and Catholic schools nationwide for 8th graders applying to high school, the High School Placement Test (HSPT) is the shortest in length of time of the three high school entrance exams but includes the most questions (298). Students have two hours and thirty minutes to complete the exam, and the exam includes the following five sections: mathematics (64 questions, 45 minutes); quantitative skills (52 questions, 30 minutes); reading (40 questions in reading comprehension, 22 questions in vocabulary, 25 minutes); verbal skills (60 questions, 16 minutes); and language (60 questions, 25 minutes). There is no essay or writing sample required with this test, and as with the other two high school entrance exams, a calculator is not permitted, and there is no guessing penalty.

This test, designed by Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. is administered by St. Ignatius, Loyola Academy, as well as other parochial schools on the first Saturday in December. However, since the test is so infrequent, there are sometimes make-up exams in the cases of illnesses or emergencies. Where a student sits for the HSPT is very important. If students want to be considered for St. Ignatius OR Loyola Academy, they MUST sit for the HSPT at the respective school. Additionally, if students would like the chance to earn a scholarship at their first-choice school, they must test at that school. Students will not be considered for scholarships at schools in which they don’t sit for the HSPT.

Lastly, similar to the ISEE but unlike with the selective enrollment high school process, the HSPT is viewed in conjunction with a student’s transcript. Thus, a student’s score on the HSPT isn’t the only thing considered for admission but is still of great importance. To learn more about how to prepare for the HSPT, visit testprepchicago.com.

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266