Kennedy High School: Top Public School in Chicago (2026 List)

About Kennedy High School

Kennedy High School is a public school located in Chicago, IL, which serves grades 9-12. It is one of the top schools in the Chicago Public Schools district. It has an enrollment of about 1,600 students and a supportive student-teacher ratio of about 18 to 1. The school is ranked as a top school for its wide variety of academic pathways, including the opportunity to participate in Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and exams, with a 24% AP participation rate. Culturally rich student body with an 88% total minority enrollment. Academically, Kennedy High School has 8% of students proficient in Math, and 14% in Reading. The school provides stable support for college entrance exams, including SAT. The school provides critical resources for its economically disadvantaged students with an estimated $16,500 per pupil in funding. Ultimately, the school is known as one of the best schools due to its commitment to college readiness and a professional setting that promotes both academic and personal growth, and it is one of the best high schools in Illinois.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 8%

Reading 14%

State average proficiency is 8% in Math and 14% in Reading.

109

Full-time Teachers

16 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

3

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

1695

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 12.45%

Asian 0.77%

Hispanic 81.95%

Black 4.25%

Two+ Races 0.41%

Native Am. 0.12%

White

12.45%

Asian

0.77%

Hispanic

81.95%

Black

4.25%

Two+ Races

0.41%

Native Am.

0.12%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 1695

48.14%

816 Female

51.86%

879 Male

Student Population

1695 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 16 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

423 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Kennedy High School Contact Information

Address

6325 W 56th St, Chicago, IL, 60638

View on Map

Phone

(773) 535-2325

Call Now

Website

http://www.cps.edu

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:00 AM to 3:18 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:45 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Kennedy High School Crusaders launched a Summer of Pre-Algebra program, offering incoming freshmen some extra math support in a fun environment before they start high school. The school offers Advanced Placement courses, dual credit and SAT/ACT preparation, and counseling to help students meet graduation and postsecondary goals. Kennedy hosts college fairs, financial aid workshops, and community events that link families to resources for college and career planning. The Crusaders also have great athletics and clubs, like basketball, soccer and honor societies that foster leadership and school pride.

FAQ

Q1. What can students do to get help with their homework?

Ans. Tutoring, advice, and counseling help students figure things out and do well in school.

Q2. What is the goal of Kennedy High School?

Ans. Kennedy High School wants to give students a challenging academic program while also encouraging them to be responsible, involved, and lifelong learners.

Q3. Do students get help with standardized tests?

Ans. Yes. The school has resources to help students get ready for the SAT and ACT tests.

Q4. Are there any activities at the school that don't happen during school hours?

Ans. Students can have more fun at school if they play sports, do arts and crafts, join clubs, or do things that get them involved in the community.

Q5. Does Kennedy High School make it easy for students to learn?

Ans. Yes, Kennedy High School stresses inclusion, staff support, and learning together to help all students do well.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say