Johnson College Prep


Johnson College Prep is a public 4–year charter high school located in the Englewood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Johnson is a part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools and Chicago Public Schools. Opening in 2010, The school is named for African-American businessman and founder of the Chicago–based Johnson Publishing Company John H. Johnson and his wife Eunice Johnson.

Background

Academic Offerings & Results

Johnson College Prep offers JRTOC, 4 Advanced Placement class options, and partners with to offer an engineering pathway. Students also have access to ACT/SAT prep courses and college visits. In 2018, Johnson College Prep's 5 year graduation rate is 75%, which is on par with Chicago Public Schools. 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 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 on 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. At Johnson College Prep, a campus of Noble, 77% of graduates enrolled in college in 2018, and 60% of Johnson graduates are persisting in college in 2018, which accounts for the first four graduating classes.

Programs, Clubs, and Sports

Elective courses offered: choir/chorus, drawing, film and video, painting, photography, piano/keyboard, sewing, step dance

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.
Laura McKelvey, a Science teacher, was chosen to be a 2018-2019 Distinguished Teacher at Johnson College Prep.