HPA Background
Hyde Park Career Academy
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1863 as a single room housed in a local grammar school, Hyde Park High School underwent several reincarnations before finally relocating into its current building in 1914. In 1938, 1965, & 1972, the building underwent significant reconstruction, as evidenced in the infrastructure of the building today. In 1976, Hyde Park became a magnet school and a Career Academy. Since 1996, the school has been known as Hyde Park Academy with its focus on college readiness and career preparation. In 2001, Hyde Park became an authorized International Baccalaureate World School, offering the world's most rigorous college preparatory curriculum through its Middle Years (as of 2004) and Diploma programs. The IB class of 2005 boasted our first 2 full diplomas, as well as 84 individual subject certificate awards. Subsequent IB graduating classes have garnered more than 300 individual subject certificate awards.
In addition to IB, Hyde Park houses several learning communities: CTE (Career & Technical Education) and SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) have been added to further support needs of our diverse student body. In 2006, Hyde Park Academy proudly presented three Gates Millennium Scholarships worth $100,000 each. This past year, 4 of our Network Telecommunications students earned Industry Certification. Our orchestra, band and chorus students consistently rate “superior” in annual city and state competitions, and one of our drama students earned a silver medal in all-city competition at the American Theater Company.
STUDENT BODY COMPOSITION
As of September 2023, there are approximately 700 students registered at Hyde Park. Approximately 65% are female, 45% are male. While the enrollment is largely African-American; Hispanic, and African students are also represented. Our students come from many diverse cultural & economic backgrounds.
As of September 2023, there are approximately 700 students registered at Hyde Park. Approximately 65% are female, 45% are male. While the enrollment is largely African-American; Hispanic, and African students are also represented. Our students come from many diverse cultural & economic backgrounds.
FACULTY & STAFF
The faculty consists of approximately 140 teachers with a professional staff that includes a nurse, social worker, psychologist & speech pathologist. Seventy-five percent of the Instructional staff holds Masters and Doctorate degrees. At least twenty five percent of the staff has an average of 20+ years of teaching experience.
The faculty consists of approximately 140 teachers with a professional staff that includes a nurse, social worker, psychologist & speech pathologist. Seventy-five percent of the Instructional staff holds Masters and Doctorate degrees. At least twenty five percent of the staff has an average of 20+ years of teaching experience.
TEACHING AWARDS INCLUDE
- 19 Blum-Kovler Foundation Awards 6 Golden-Apple Finalists Horatio Alger Award
- Illinois Distinguished Educator Award
- Frye Foundation Fellowships
- Argonne Community Teacher Award
- Burger King Educator of the Year Award
- Milken Family Foundation Festival for Youth Award Green Corps Grant
- Kate Marmount Award
- 4 Jordan Fundamentals Grants
- CISCO Training Certificates
- 2 Sun-Times Teacher of the Week Awards
- Those Who Excel Principal's Award
- National Technology Award
- Coca Cola Educator of the Month Award
- National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships
- Milken Educator Award
- 10 Oppenheimer Community Awards
- US News & World Report - Top 25 High Schools
- CATALYST Magazine recognition
- 6 Suave Teacher Awards
- 3 CPSIChicago Tribune DRIVE Award Finalists
CLASS SIZE
Average class size is 30 students. Each counselor serves an average of 350 students.
Average class size is 30 students. Each counselor serves an average of 350 students.
FACILITIES
Include 348,478 square feet of space housing: 87 classrooms, 11 science labs, ,7 Technology labs, technical labs, teleconference lab,, two radio/TV studios, computer recycling center, 2 gymnasiums, media resource center, fitness room, health/dance room, full service cafeteria; and access to: a baseball diamond, track, football/soccer fields, Most classrooms are wired for network/internet access.
Include 348,478 square feet of space housing: 87 classrooms, 11 science labs, ,7 Technology labs, technical labs, teleconference lab,, two radio/TV studios, computer recycling center, 2 gymnasiums, media resource center, fitness room, health/dance room, full service cafeteria; and access to: a baseball diamond, track, football/soccer fields, Most classrooms are wired for network/internet access.
ADMISSIONS
Hyde Park offers open enrollment to students living within the attendance boundaries. Our boundaries are defined by CPS (see the CPS website for an updated map and guide). Students may enter the MYP/IB program with a required minimum stanine of 6 in both reading and math on the 7th grade EXPLORE, regular school attendance & exemplary grammar school records. Further requirements for admission to the IB program include: EXPLORE stanine 6 in vocabulary, residence within region 5 (55th to 83rd Streets, Lake Michigan to Harlem Avenue), excellent grades and (2) teacher recommendations, a creative writing sample, and student/parent interviews.
Hyde Park offers open enrollment to students living within the attendance boundaries. Our boundaries are defined by CPS (see the CPS website for an updated map and guide). Students may enter the MYP/IB program with a required minimum stanine of 6 in both reading and math on the 7th grade EXPLORE, regular school attendance & exemplary grammar school records. Further requirements for admission to the IB program include: EXPLORE stanine 6 in vocabulary, residence within region 5 (55th to 83rd Streets, Lake Michigan to Harlem Avenue), excellent grades and (2) teacher recommendations, a creative writing sample, and student/parent interviews.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
* The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program offers 9th & 10th graders a challenging curriculum emphasizing mathematics, science, history, English, world languages, computer technology, art, music, and physical education, culminating in the production of a personal project.
* The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a highly rigorous program (recognized by colleges as a high predictor of college
success) that prepares 11th & 12th graders to successfully complete assessments leading to the internationally recognized IB diploma, a mark of outstanding academic achievement.
* The Integrated Technology Curriculum makes effective use of internet access to provide a variety of informative management strategies in the core subjects of English, mathematics, social studies and science,
* The Career & Technical Education program encourages students to explore a wide range of career possibilities while participating in a curriculum focused on college preparation coupled with internships, entrepreneurship & mentoring. ETC provides classes in Digital Media and Radio/TV Production.
* SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) focuses on educating the "whole child', particularly in the affective realm of emotions and relationships.
* Freshman Academy, with a specially selected staff, is dedicated to the successful transition & retention of incoming freshmen & continuing sophomores. * Project Excel, a cooperative effort between CPS & the Chicago City Colleges, enables students to earn simultaneous college & high school credit.
* Advanced Placement classes are offered in English language, English literature, U.S. History, Government & Politics, and Biology.
* Academic subjects with test-prep components & tutorials.
* Ninety percent of our graduates enroll in post-secondary education programs. Ninety-eight percent of IB graduates & 75% of graduating Advanced Placement and AVID students attend a 4-year college or university. Another 15% attend community colleges.
* An aggressive college counseling program yields scholarships and financial aid awards approaching $2 million dollars.
RECENT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INCLUDE:
Universities: Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Ashford, Bradley, Central State, Clark/Atlanta, Chicago, Chicago State, Dennison, DePaul, Dominican, Eastern Illinois, Fisk, Florida A & M, Grambling, Grand Valley State, Hampton, Howard, Illinois State, Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, Jackson State, Loyola, Marquette, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Philander Smith, Purdue, Southern IL--Edwardsville, St. Xavier, Tennessee State, Wisconsin-Madison, Western Illinois, & Xavier
Colleges: Bethune-Cookman, Carleton, Harold Washington, Kennedy-King, Knox Morehouse, Robert Morris, St. Joseph, & Tougaloo
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES offered at Hyde Park Academy include the following clubs, teams, and activities:
Academic Decathlon Aitchpe Yearbook Allíance Française Baseball Basketball Bowling
Business Professionals of America Cheerleading CPS Book Club Culture Club Dancing Dolls Dancing Dudes
Fishing Football Gallery 37 Gear Up Scholars Glee Club Golf
JROTC Know Your Heritage Les Sages Los Sabios Marching Band National Honor Society Newspaper Orchestra Senior Boys/Girls Councils Soccer Softball
Student Council S.W.A.N.S. (Sisters Working Against Negative Stereotypes) Track & Field Wrestling
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDE: The Universities of Chicago (Court Theater; Medical Center, Office of Special Programs) and IL-Chicago (Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies), Roosevelt University (Gear Up), Michigan State University (Quarknet High Energy Physics), After School Matters, Youth Technology Corps, Microsoft’s MAR Americas Program, US Army Leadership Camp (Ft. McCoy, WI), USN Staff Camp (Great Lakes Naval Training Center), Congo Square Theater, IL Restaurant Association (Prostart), C-CAP (Careers Through the Culinary Arts Program), Chartwells Thompson (Food Service internships & scholarships), CAPE (Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education), Hostelling International, Little Black Pearl (Arts=Smarts Program), Chicago Public Health Dept., Walgreens Corp., CAPS, Cook County Stroger Hospital, Friends Against HIV/AIDS, Health Occupational Students of America (HOSA), Core Center, PUSH Coalition, Peer Advocates, DuSable Museum, Gallery 37 Advanced Arts Program, Hyde Park Art Center, Goodman Theater, Museum of Contemporary Art, CPS Artists in Residence Program
FOR MORE INFORMATON, CONTACT:
Hyde Park Guidance Dept. 773-535-0908
Hyde Park Academy (fax) 773-535-0633
