Spotlight on Brooks College Prep: What Makes this CPS Selective Enrollment High School Unique?

Leading up to the PreACT 9, Test Prep Chicago will be featuring 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 Brooks College Prep.

Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy is one of Chicago's selective enrollment high schools. The school is known for its strong academics, diverse student body, and commitment to preparing students for success in college and beyond. Located on the south side of Chicago in the West Roseland neighborhood, Brooks offers a challenging curriculum in a supportive environment where students are encouraged to grow as students, leaders, and members of their community.

Students have access to a wide variety of Honors and AP courses, as well as extracurricular activities that include athletics, fine arts, student organizations, and academic competitions. Brooks emphasizes both academic achievement and personal development, giving students opportunities to explore their interests while building the skills needed for college-level work. This makes Brooks an excellent choice for students seeking a rigorous education within a collaborative and welcoming school culture.

Brooks attracts motivated students with a wide range of interests, including future STEM majors, aspiring writers, artists, musicians, athletes, and community leaders. The school's diverse offerings allow students to pursue their passions while benefiting from the high expectations and academic rigor that define Chicago's selective enrollment programs. The school’s strong emphasis on leadership, service, and civic engagement set it apart from other selective enrollment high schools, encouraging students to make an impact both inside and outside the classroom.

Admission to Brooks is competitive and based on seventh-grade core grades and the new PreACT 9. If your student is interested in attending Brooks 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!

Five CPS Schools Ranked Among the Best Schools in the US

The latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report have once again placed Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in the national spotlight, with five of its schools securing spots among the top 100 in the country. Walter Payton College Prep, which ranked number 5, increased its ranking by five spots from last year. Renowned for its consistent excellence, Payton has long been hailed as Illinois's premier educational institution and has frequently garnered recognition among the nation's top schools.

Joining Walter Payton are Northside College Prep (No. 35), Whitney Young Magnet High School (No. 52), Jones College Prep (No. 53) and Lane Tech (No. 60). U.S. News & World Report's methodology, which considers various indicators of school quality, including college readiness, state assessment proficiency, and graduation rates, seeks to provide a comprehensive assessment of each institution's performance. These rankings underscore the dedication and hard work of students, educators, parents, and community members.

Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

Proposed Bill Aims to Freeze Changes in Chicago Public Schools

Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill aimed at halting Chicago Public Schools (CPS) officials from closing schools or altering selective-enrollment programs until a fully elected school board assumes control in 2027. This legislative move follows a decision by Mayor Brandon Johnson's Board of Education in December to focus on providing resources to neighborhood schools, which have suffered from years of funding cuts, rather than prioritizing selective enrollment schools. Johnson's administration has provided reassurance that selective schools won't face severe cuts or closure, since these represent some of the best schools in the country; its goal is rather to expand some of the programming available at selective schools to neighborhood schools.

The proposed bill, sponsored by state Rep. Margaret Croke, would prevent CPS from changing the “standards for admission” to selective enrollment schools. It also seeks to ensure that major decisions about school closures or program changes await the establishment of a fully elected school board. However, critics argue that the bill might hinder efforts to diversify selective programs and address demographic disparities.

Supporters emphasize the need for democratic decision-making and transparency, but concerns remain about the potential consequences of delaying significant educational reforms. The bill's passage would signify a significant shift in governance structure for CPS, impacting everything from admission policies to budget allocations. As debates continue, the bill's fate holds implications not only for Chicago's educational landscape but also for broader discussions surrounding equity, resource allocation, and democratic governance in public education.

Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

An Overview of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. College Preparatory High School

With a school motto of “Dare to dream, strive to achieve,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. College Preparatory High School (also known as “King”) was founded in 1971. Located in the Kenwood neighborhood of the south side of Chicago, King is one of eleven selective enrollment high schools in Chicago and ranked as the 48th best public school in Illinois. The school has an enrollment of 638 with a student to teacher ratio of 17:1. Of their total enrollment, 99% of students are people of color and 80% of students receive free or reduced-price lunch. King has a graduation rate of 98%.

Courses offered at King encompass a rigorous course load with honors and AP classes offered in every subject. Unlike many other selective enrollment schools, King has a wealth of arts programming including advanced coursework in band, dance, drama, graphic design, photography, studio art, and choir. They also, uniquely, have courses in architecture, engineering, and computer science. Their engineering program, in particular, “utilizes a nationally recognized curriculum developed by Project Lead the Way.” Languages offered at King include French, Spanish, and American Sign Language.

Students interested in sports have many options from which to try-out: baseball, basketball, volleyball, football, cross country, soccer, swimming, wrestling, and softball to name a few. The school also houses a marching band, drama club, book club, chess club, and video-gaming club as well as many other extracurricular activities.

To learn more about King’s academics, athletics, or extracurricular activities, visit their website at https://newkcp.org.

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

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