Payton College Preparatory HS: Best High School in Chicago (2026 List)

About Payton College Preparatory HS

Walter Payton College Preparatory High School is a premier public selective enrollment magnet school in Chicago, Illinois, serving grades 9 through 12. It is one of the top schools in the Chicago Public Schools system and has an enrollment of about 1,200 students and a supportive student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 16:1. The school is known for a challenging curriculum and emphasizes honors and Advanced Placement classes in math, science and the humanities. Payton College Preparatory HS students enrich their education with unique seminars and international exchange programs in countries like France and South Africa. The student body is culturally diverse with 65% minority enrollment. Is it one of the top schools in the state with 86% proficiency in Mathematics and 88% in Reading. The SAT prep is very dedicated and is very good at prepping students for college. The school provides high quality resources to its economically disadvantaged students. Funding is estimated at $15,500 per pupil. Ultimately, it’s known as one of the best schools for fostering academic excellence and intellectual curiosity, and it is one of the best high schools in Illinois.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 86%

Reading 88%

State average proficiency is 86% in Math and 88% in Reading.

86

Full-time Teachers

15 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

2

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

1265

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 34.62%

Asian 25.93%

Hispanic 25.61%

Black 9.17%

Two+ Races 4.19%

Native Am. 0.32%

White

34.62%

Asian

25.93%

Hispanic

25.61%

Black

9.17%

Two+ Races

4.19%

Native Am.

0.32%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 1265

48.85%

618 Female

51.15%

647 Male

Student Population

1265 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 15 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

253 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Payton College Preparatory HS Contact Information

Address

1034 N Wells St, Chicago, IL, 60610

View on Map

Phone

(773) 534-0034

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 3:30 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

Walter Payton College Preparatory HS continues to offer an international model for teaching and learning with advanced academic programs, International Baccalaureate coursework, and extensive SAT preparation supporting its college-going culture. The Old Town campus runs The Paw Print student newspaper, where editors like Will Foster have covered teacher contract negotiations and citywide education policy to keep the community informed. Payton’s Grizzlies compete across CPS athletics, including football and basketball, while students engage in arts, debate, and service programs that build leadership.

FAQ

Q1. Are there advanced classes available?

Ans. Students at Payton College Preparatory HS are pushed to think critically and do their best work in honors and AP classes.

Q2. Does Payton College Preparatory HS encourage people to get involved in their community?

Ans. Yes, students can learn about civic duty by helping out with community programs and volunteer projects.

Q3. Can students look into STEM options?

Ans. Absolutely! Students can learn by doing things in science, technology, engineering, and math classes.

Q4. Is it possible for students to take the SAT and ACT?

Ans. Yes, the school lets students who want to go to college take the SAT and the ACT.

Q5. Does the school make it easy for students to learn?

Ans. Yes, the school puts a lot of emphasis on including everyone, helping staff, and learning together so that all students can 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