YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership: Top Public High School in Chicago IL (2026 List)

About YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership

YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership is a public charter high school located in Chicago, Illinois that serves students in grades 9-12. One of the top schools in the Youth Connection Charter School network, it educates roughly 145 students and maintains an encouraging student-teacher ratio of approximately 15:1. The school is a premier school for its alternative education model that focuses on leadership development, personalized instruction and academic credit recovery to ensure that students successfully achieve graduation. The student body is culturally rich with 98% of the total enrollment being minorities. YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership is reporting 5% in Math and 10% in Reading. The school is also offering opportunities for students to take necessary tests like the SAT. The school spends about $16,500 per student and offers its economically disadvantaged students important resources. In the end, the school has a reputation for being one of the best schools for developing academic resilience and for offering a professional, stable environment that prepares scholars for success after secondary school., and it is one of the best high schools in Illinois.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 5%

Reading 10%

State average proficiency is 5% in Math and 10% in Reading.

7

Full-time Teachers

14 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

96

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 2.08%

Asian 0%

Hispanic 4.17%

Black 93.75%

Two+ Races 0%

Native Am. 0%

White

2.08%

Asian

0%

Hispanic

4.17%

Black

93.75%

Two+ Races

0%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 96

60.42%

58 Female

39.58%

38 Male

Student Population

96 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 14 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

155 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership Contact Information

Address

2920 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL, 60616

View on Map

Phone

(312) 949-5010

Call Now

Website

http://yccs.us/

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: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:45 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

The YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership Academy offers individual credit recovery pathways and leadership development for scholars in the Bronzeville community. Students at the Wabash Avenue campus have access to SAT prep, dual credit options via City Colleges of Chicago, and career exploration that connects students to college, apprenticeships and workforce training. Principal Irma Plaxico guides staff in mentoring, restorative practices and college counseling that is individualized to each student’s goals. The school collaborates with local organizations to provide job-readiness workshops, internships and wrap-around supports that help graduates transition to university, skilled trades and employment.

FAQ

Q1. Do students have lockers in YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership?

Ans. Yes, students are given lockers in the hallways at the start of the school year.

Q2. Do students get help with standardized tests?

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

Q3. Are there ways to get better at school?

Ans. Yes, advanced classes and projects make students work hard in school and think for themselves.

Q4. What kinds of programs for careers are there?

Ans. Programs include skilled trades, healthcare, IT, culinary arts, and other paths that lead to jobs.

Q5. Are there chances to be a leader at YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership?

Ans. Yes, student council and team-based activities help students learn how to be leaders.

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