Gary ComerCollege Prep is a Level 1 publicgrade nine through twelve charterhigh school located in Chicago, Illinois' Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. It is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. It is named after the Gary Comer, the founder of Lands' End and philanthropic entrepreneur. Gary Comer founded the in 2006, with Gary Comer College Prep opening its doors in 2008, serving grades nine through twelve. In 2011, the Gary Comer College Prep Middle School opened creating two campuses under one school, serving grades six through twelve. Prior to becoming the principal of GCCP, Ms. Kelly founded Gary Comer College Prep Middle School in 2011 and served as the principal there for four years. Before joining Noble, Ms. Kelly served as the Principal of KIPP Indianapolis College Prep, a 5-8 middle school located in the inner-city of Indianapolis, IN.
Academic Offerings & Results
According to Chicago Public Schools, in 2018, Gary Comer College Prep's 10th grade reading results on the PSAT 10 were in the 98th percentile and student growth across all grade-levels was above average. The school has an 85% 5-year high school graduation rate. Additionally, in 2017, a comprehensive was released by Stanford University's Center for Education Outcomes, which shows that students at the Noble Network of Charter Schools, of which Gary Comer College Prep is part, receive the equivalent of nearly two additional years of math education during just one normal school year.
College Readiness & College Graduation Rate
In an effort to incorporate college readiness into the school before 12th grade, students participate in the Summer of a Lifetime program. Through Summer of a Lifetime, scholars are provided funding and support to participate in life-changing, summer academic enrichment programs college campuses nationwide. The Noble class of 2018 included 2,300 scholars, and 98% of them were accepted to at least one college, this accumulated to over 14,700 college acceptances. Noble seniors earned a record-breaking $486 million in scholarships, including 71 recipients of the Pritzker Access Scholarship for undocumented students. Gary Comer College Prep partners with the Gary Comer Youth Center's Comer to College initiative, a supplemental program that provides extensive resources for college access and success. Gary Comer College Prep partners with , which offers a culturally sensitive approach to developing the mindsets of African American and Latino young men.
Distinguished Teacher Program
In May 2019, The Noble Network of Charter Schools announced the first 20 recipients of its newly created Distinguished Teacher program. The purpose of the Distinguished Teacher program is to identify, recognize, and reward a select group of Noble teachers who have achieved exceptional results for students at Noble for at least three years and during that time have exemplified the five key questions laid out in the Distinguished Teacher framework. Prior to being selected, candidates participated in a rigorous application process that began in January 2019, where they first submitted their written narratives along with a portfolio that included comprehensive data. Finalists then participated in classroom observations and debriefs, student surveys, a panel interview, and reference checks. Among other benefits, those who are selected to be a Distinguished Teacher receive an annual bonus of $10,000, will help facilitate professional development experiences across the Noble Network as well as participate in the selection of future Distinguished Teachers. Kristin Parry, an English teacher, was chosen to be a 2018-2019 Distinguished Teacher at Gary Comer College Prep.
