Steinmetz College Prep: A Comprehensive Overview

Steinmetz College Prep, also known as Steinmetz High School or Steinmetz Academic Centre, stands as a public four-year high school in the Belmont Cragin community area on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Illinois. Named for the German-American mathematician and electrical engineer Charles Proteus Steinmetz, the school has a rich history and a diverse student body.

History and General Information

The school opened its doors in 1934, not 1919 as some sources might incorrectly state. Steinmetz is a part of the Chicago Public Schools district. The school is located in a four story building. In 1995, the school had 2,237 students, with around equal numbers of black, Hispanic and Latino, and white students, making it the sixth-largest high school in Chicago.

Academics and Performance

Steinmetz College Prep offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.

Recent academic data indicates that 4% of students achieve proficiency in math, and 7% are proficient in reading. The school has received a Niche grade of C and a GreatSchools Rating of 1 out of 10. The average GPA is 3.14, and the graduation rate is 65%. Standardized test scores include an average SAT score of 970 and an ACT score of 21.

Former Steinmetz College Prep High School assistant principal Dr. Anna Vilchez made her way back to 3030 N. Mobile Ave. The Steinmetz Local School Council voted to award Vilchez a principal contract in May over candidate Brad Gill. “I’m a proud product of CPS,” Vilchez said. “I went to both elementary and high school in CPS. I’m a first generation Latina in my family graduating college. “My first job was in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood that serves 1,300 students (Locke School) so right off the bat I was straight into middle school math,” Vilchez said.

Vilchez said that she would focus on academics because “when you look at the PSAT/SAT data on the Illinois School Report Card there was a big dip in terms of performance in both reading and math. Vilchez said that from her experience at other schools during the pandemic she can see the effect it has had on the students, especially younger ones in middle schools. “You are seeing that you have to show the students a lot of routines again.

Demographics and Challenges

According to the CPS Web site, the most recent enrollment figure available for Steinmetz is 1,106 students. The latest demographics show that the school is 74.1 percent Hispanic, 17.5 percent African-American, 5.1 percent White, 2 percent Asian, and 1.4 percent “other,” according to CPS. Other statistics say that 84.4 percent of the students are low income, 19.9 percent of students are diverse learners, 27.8 percent of students speak limited English, and 57.7 percent of students are chronically truant.

Activities and Programs

The school has an active Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). In 2016, 22 Steinmetz students participated in the Kakehashi Cultural Exchange Program trip to Japan.

Vilchez said that her experience at Steinmetz as assistant principal from 2018 to 2020 gave her a lot of practice working at the high school level. “I think first I’m going to get to know everyone so a big part is building relationships, scheduling one-on-ones to hear from each staff member, what’s working and what’s not working, what supports do they need moving into school year 2023,” Vilchez said. “Listening to our culture and climate will be a big part of it. “We are using restorative practices to communicate with students that everyone is on the same page about what we need to do to move forward and what is allowable and what’s not allowable.

Athletics

Steinmetz competes in the Chicago Public League and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Steinmetz sport teams are nicknamed the Silver Streaks. The boys' baseball team were Public League champions during the 1974 -75 season. The boys' cross country team were Public League champions in the 1949-50 and 1991-92 seasons.

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Personal Experiences and Perspectives

My experience at steinmetz was good, i'm in the IB program which had heavily influenced me in doing the right choices at steinmetz, with the people I surround myself with. The best part of my experience at steinmetz was the people in my class, were all close. There wasn't really a worst part at steinmetz. Steinmetz college prep is just different, it's kinda like you either fit in or you don't.

Vilchez said that from her experience at other schools during the pandemic she can see the effect it has had on the students, especially younger ones in middle schools. “I remember when I was there they didn’t hurt the community and the kids liked them a lot. Students really like them when I was there and they were really good with the students. “You hear students want to be doctors or go into the medical field, or teachers, there is a lot more who want to go into the trades, in terms of fixing stuff or construction or electrical, mechanics or some type of car field. Photography and digital media is a big one, making stuff on the computer or being a professional gamer, or coding.

Controversies and Recognition

The award-winning 2010 documentary Louder Than a Bomb (film) features the Steinmetz team competing in and winning the 2008 Louder Than a Bomb poetry slam. The 2000 television movie Cheaters is based on a 1995 Academic Decathlon scandal that involved the school. Parts of the movie were filmed (without permission) at Steinmetz.

Notable Alumni

Steinmetz has produced a number of notable alumni, including:

Justin Anderson, college football player
Lisa Boyle, photographer, model for Playboy
Hannibal Buress, stand-up comedian, actor and television writer
Tony Canadeo, NFL football player
Frank Cullotta, mobster
Ralph Frese, canoe maker and conservationist
Robert E.

Local Real Estate Context

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