Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School Principal Patricia Brekke and football
players (left) Peyton Hutchins, 16 and Esquipulas Santoyo, 16. (The Gate/Sonya Eldridge)
Two years have come and gone since the new Back of the Yards College Prep High School (BOYCP) opened its doors to its first class of freshmen students.
Today those students are juniors and 275 strong–working hard to hone their academic skills as they prepare for what lies ahead— whether it’s college or specialized training in the trades.
This year, the school welcomed 265 new students and 20 new staff members. And by this time next year, the school will reach full capacity with just over 1,000 students enrolled, Principal Patricia Brekke said.
The school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program was fully authorized for implementation earlier this year. The IB program now offers the middle years, diploma (for juniors and seniors) and a career program for the nearly 800 students in the school, Brekke explained.
“IB comes in and examines absolutely everything that we’re doing, they’re in our classrooms, they’re looking at our unit plans, things that we’re preparing a year or two in advance to make sure we’re on the right track,” she said.
This year’s career program, which is selected based on student interest– is graphic design and digital media. Students in the program enroll in a double period of courses on that subject area and can now take advantage of the school’s brand new digital media center, which is still a work in progress.
Recently, Back of the Yards College Prep held a town hall meeting to discuss all things related to college planning. They also began their annual round of college visits. Brekke said the goal this year is for students to visit at least four colleges.
Students visited the University of Iowa about two weeks ago and additional trips are scheduled for Illinois State University and Indiana University.
“We take the kids [to colleges] that are not only local, but also outside of Chicago,” Brekke said. “I really want the kids to see what it looks like to go to a [large] Big Ten campus and what it looks like to go to a smaller campus just outside of Chicago.”
Since their freshmen year, BOYCP students have received personalized coaching to help them prepare for the college application process.
Brekke said students get individual score cards so they are able to track their own progress on all standardized tests leading up to the ACT. This not only helps teachers identify subject areas that require additional instruction, but also makes students aware of how they should focus their energies as they prepare to make some major life decisions— what careers they want to pursue, and the universities and colleges that will hopefully equip them with the skills they need to compete in an increasingly competitive workforce.
“When we look at our scores, we try to do a match, like, ‘if I were to apply to school today, these are the schools that I would be eligible for,’” Brekke said. “‘Are any of these schools a part of the schools in your head that you dreamt about going to– and if not, what do they want, and what do we do to get you there?”’
Brekke estimates that about 30 percent of the student population are Dreamers and works with her staff to ensure they receive the guidance they need to aim high. Teachers and staff specifically look for scholarship opportunities and for schools that offer grant monies to undocumented students. The school also has a Dreamers Club that helps undocumented students navigate the limited financial resources available to them.
As the school gears up for full capacity next year, Brekke said she and her staff are busy making sure everything is in place for a smooth transition—which includes teacher recruitment.
Recruiting quality teachers is no easy task, Brekke explained, when asked what kinds of traits and skills she looks for when identifying candidates.
She said she looks for teachers who are not only passionate about their subject areas, but are equally passionate about teaching and engaging students.
“One of the things that you’ll see going in to my classrooms or going down the hallways, is that every adult in this building has a great relationship with kids, from security, custodians, teachers, the clerical team. That’s how kids are successful—when they know that everybody’s got their back, everybody is looking out for them, everybody wants to see them grow.”
Overall, Brekke said she is pleased with the progress her school has made as it continues to grow.
“I think we’re really in a great place. Our school is still meeting and exceeding our goals and we just want to be that premiere school on the Southwest Side.”