Whitney M. Young Magnet High School: A Leader Among Chicago’s Selective Enrollment High Schools
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School stands as one of Chicago’s most esteemed and consistently top-ranked selective enrollment high schools. Named after civil rights leader Whitney Young, it opened in the 1970s and was Chicago’s first public magnet high school. Since then, it has remained one of the city’s most competitive schools for admissions.
Academically, Whitney Young offers a rigorous, college-preparatory oriented curriculum that includes a broad selection of Advanced Placement courses (approximately 31 to 33 options). Students achieve both a high SAT average (around 1350) and a solid average ACT score (about 31). These metrics reflect strong college readiness among its student body. Student performance in-class is equally impressive. The school achieves a graduation rate near 99%, and its students score in the top percentile on state proficiency exams. In math, about 91% of students reach proficiency, and in reading, about 89%.
Whitney Young also offers a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. The school boasts a large number of student clubs, strong performing arts programs, and a competitive athletics department that regularly achieves success in district and regional competitions, specifically in boys' basketball. Most notably, Whitney Young has a nationally recognized debate team and STEM-related/academic programs, meaning it is the perfect place for a student gravitating toward a career in politics or law. They also have a decorated speech program and theatre program, making it a magnet for artistic students!
Admissions to Whitney Young remain highly competitive. Students must perform strongly on the CPS selective enrollment test, and acceptance is considered difficult to attain. If you have a student hoping to attend Whitney Young, Test Prep Chicago can help. 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.