South Shore International College Prep: Discover What Makes This Selective Enrollment High School Special

Leading up to the PreACT 9, Test Prep Chicago will feature all eleven CPS selective enrollment high schools and some top AP, IB, and Honors high school programs in Chicago, breaking down each program and what makes them unique on our blog. This week, we're spotlighting South Shore International College Prep High School.

South Shore International College Prep High School is one of Chicago's selective enrollment high schools. Located in the South Shore neighborhood, South Shore is recognized for its rigorous academics, internationally focused curriculum, and commitment to preparing students for success in college and beyond. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, South Shore provides a challenging learning environment where students are encouraged to become critical thinkers, effective communicators, and engaged global citizens. 

Students at South Shore participate in a rigorous college prep curriculum built around the IB framework. During their freshman and sophomore years, students complete the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), which emphasizes inquiry-based learning, interdisciplinary thinking, and the development of strong research and communication skills. As juniors and seniors, students have the opportunity to pursue either the IB Diploma Programme or the IB Career-related Programme, both of which are internationally recognized for their academic rigor and emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and real-world application. Additionally, students in the IB Middle Years Programme complete the Personal Project, an independent research project, allowing them to explore a topic of personal interest. Students pursuing the full IB Diploma also complete the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) requirements. 

Beyond the classroom, students can participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including academic clubs, student organizations, performing arts groups, community service opportunities, and athletics. As a result of its diverse extracurricular opportunities and rigorous academic and IB programs, South Shore attracts motivated students with diverse interests and aspirations. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves academically while developing the skills needed to succeed after graduation.

Admission to South Shore is competitive and based on seventh-grade core grades and the new PreACT 9. If your student is interested in attending South Shore or another selective enrollment high school, Test Prep Chicago can help your student prepare for the new PreACT 9, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to succeed. As a licensed participant in the NTPA ACT Affiliate Tutor Program, we had been aware of the change from the CPS HSAT to the PreACT 9, and our team had already begun creating new PreACT 9 Secure curriculum. As such, students enrolled or looking to enroll in any courses or one-day workshops, or students beginning individual tutoring, can be assured that the content and test-taking strategies they are being taught will reflect the content seen on the new exam. All of our scheduled courses (sign up here) and one-day Palooza workshops (sign up here) will continue to run as planned, as will our individual tutoring sessions (sign up here), with the new PreACT 9 Secure content and test-taking strategies instead of the old CPS HSAT curriculum. Sign up now to help your student prepare!

An Overview of South Shore International College Preparatory High School

Founded in 1940 as South Shore High School and then converted into a selective enrollment high school, South Shore International College Preparatory High School (also known as South Shore) is located in the South Shore neighborhood in the southeast side of Chicago. South Shore is ranked as the 195th best school in the state of Illinois. Total enrollment at South Shore is 591 students with a student to teacher ratio of 16:1. Of their total enrollment, 100% of students are people of color and 85% of students receive free or reduced-price lunch. South Shore also boasts a fantastic graduation rate: 99%.

South Shore is unique in that it is an International Baccalaureate (IB) school. This means that the school will not only follow the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) but they’ll also follow IB standards. Therefore, they’ll be a part of a program which reaches 1.3 million IB students worldwide, 4,527 IB World Schools, and 156 countries. The mission of IB states that it “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. It further contends that it “works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment.” Additionally, students enrolled in the IB program have the opportunity to take up to seven college-level courses.

Courses offered at South Shore consist of standard courses as well as more specialized courses of study. More specialized courses that are unique to the school include classes in African American history, law, entrepreneurship, medical health professions, forensic science, solar energy, computer science, and journalism. South Shore also offers aquatic classes as well JROTC in addition to more conventional PE courses. Fine arts offered incorporate visual art, band, and choir while languages offered include Chinese and Spanish. South Shore also has a wide array of sports to choose from if students are interested in athletics. These encompass but are not limited to baseball, basketball, football, bowling, track and field, cheerleading, soccer, swimming, and volleyball among others.

For more information about classes or athletics at South Shore, visit their website at https://www.southshoreinternational.org/index.jsp.

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