I am writing this because parents deserve to know what kind of "Christian" high school Chicago Hope Academy really is. As a child of God, I stand firm on my faith; I also believe that right is right and wrong is wrong and no matter what entity. This educational establishment is not above reproach and due to their lack of integrity where their actions have been inconsistent and disreputable, leads one to believe that the people leading this school is not suitable for ANY trust or leadership and must be held accountable. What happened to my child -- and to our family -- was not just disappointing. It was shocking, heartbreaking, and completely at odds with the values this school claims to represent. My child was expelled without a single real explanation. No meeting. No conversation. No attempt to understand what was going on. As parents, we were left standing there, stunned, trying to make sense of a decision that the school refused to justify. For an institution that talks endlessly about integrity and transparency, the silence was deafening. And let me be clear: this wasn't just a disciplinary issue. My child, like so many teens after COVID, has been carrying real trauma. Anxiety. Emotional exhaustion. The kind of struggles that any school -- especially a Christian one -- should be prepared to meet with compassion, patience, and support. Instead, they responded with the coldest, most dismissive approach imaginable. The counselor, who should have been a lifeline, was nowhere to be found in any meaningful way. No advocacy. No guidance. No effort to understand the emotional reality of a teenager trying to navigate a world that has been anything but stable. Their role felt symbolic at best, nonexistent at worst. And the disciplinary dean -- the person who should model wisdom, empathy, and discernment -- acted with a level of rigidity and detachment that was honestly disturbing. There was no trauma informed lens, no attempt at restoration, no recognition that teenagers make mistakes and need adults who can help them grow. Instead, the response was swift, punitive, and utterly devoid of grace. This school had a chance to live out the Christian values it advertises: redemption, forgiveness, compassion, partnership with families. Instead, it chose the path of least effort -- remove the "problem," avoid the conversation, and pretend that's leadership. It's not. It's cowardice dressed up as discipline. It's easier to expel a hurting teenager than to actually support them. It's easier to shut parents out than to admit that maybe the school mishandled something. It's easier to hide behind vague statements than to practice the honesty and accountability they demand from students. There's a name for this type of action - HYPROCRISY!!! By definition, the practice of professing beliefs, virtues, or feelings that one does not actually hold, often engaging in the same behaviors one criticizes in others. If you are a parent considering Chicago Hope Academy, especially if your child has any emotional needs, any trauma, any challenges at all -- please think twice. A school that cannot extend compassion to a struggling teenager is not a school prepared to guide them. A school that refuses to communicate with parents is not a school that values partnership. And a school that expels a child without explanation is not a school that understands the responsibility it carries. We expected a community rooted in faith and humanity. What we encountered was a system more interested in protecting itself than supporting the young people entrusted to its care. This experience was devastating for our family, and no parent should have to go through it. read more

Chicago Hope Academy has been a great choice for our son. Prior to attending Chicago Hope our son was not involved in any organized sports. Chicago Hope encourages every student to participate in a sport or extra curricular activity. Our son began running cross country in the fall, wrestling in the winter, and track in the spring. He has since dropped wrestling to participate in indoor track during the winter season. This has been a great experience for him as it has provided a place where he can feel part of a team, understand the work it takes to be an athlete, and the benefits of working hard to achieve progress toward a goal. The administration and staff at Chicago Hope have been fantastic. They are very receptive to parent involvement, and are willing to work with each student to make their high school experience a success regardless of the students future goals regarding college, trade school, or whatever choice is made. We have been very satisfied with our experience. read more

Having my kids attending to Chicago Hope is the best decision!!!! So happy and proud being part of the Hope family for more than 4 years now 100 % recommended read more

My nephew came here and I have to say its a really nice academy. I love the fact that it still kept some of its vintage Charm. A turning point came in 1983, when the National Register accepted the application of neighborhood residents to designate Tri-Taylor with historic district status. This was something that was duly noted in the archives of the City. Chicago Hope Academy is a private high school in what was once (and still is in my eyes) Little Italy and now Tri-Taylor, which is the heart of Chicago. It is coed and Christian affiliated, serving 150 students in grades 9-12. On any given day you will see the students running around outside just playing and having a good time before entering class. If you go around back (through the Ogden Avenue side) , look up and you will see the 8 foot tall clock that gives you the correct time above all the cars that it oversees. It is a nice look to an other wise vintage building. All in all, the inside is very pristine with its shiny floors that seem to get cleaned every minute of the day. Shining the way it did maybe back in the beginning. Its architecture and attention to detail really amazes me, I wish I knew who was the architect but alas, that would be a little going too far back. If you are ever in the area, come back and ask to get a tour, I'm sure the principal would not mind at all. It is located in a hidden section of Bowler street and Oakley. The front of the school seems to be a park with benches, but the private school can boast amazing detail. read more

Do your research before sending your child to school here. Also there was a rat in the lunch room when I attended. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kathryn-vail-wesley-picture-chicago-teacher-sentenced-for-molesting-football-player/ read more

My son will be attending this school this coming school year. From the begining they have been very helpful and kind. I like the fact that the school has smaller classes.I myself attended a small private school and feel there is more "one to one" attiention paid to the student. I also like the fact that Christian ideals are part of the curriculum, being brought of Catholic myself. So far, he has nothing but good things to say about the school or at least the football team he has joined. I am so glad we found this school. The tuition is very reasonable ($8000 a yr), with financial assistance available. The other private/Catholic schools were way to expensive. Thankfully, Chicago Hope has allowed me to send my son to a Christian based school without having to stress out to much about next months tuition payment! read more

If you an international student thinking to apply to this school then don't. You pay overpriced tuition for nothing. They try lie to you saying that the whole year living expense in the dorm is $3,000. So, most of us did not live in the dorm and it was only minus 3,000 which does not make sense because rent per month in Chicago is about $2,000. I paid $17,000 per year, and I was treated like nothing. They don't care about international students, they view us as money bags that they can suck all of the money out. When I came to this school they didn't show me the tour of the school nothing, they didn't help at all. The only good thing about this school it is teachers who are amazing. And only two members of the staff throughout my years studying there were kind to me and actually cared about me. You know you would think when you pay so much money it is for something but at the end this amount of money was for nothing. You paid a lot only because you were an international student. School's staff members and principal favorites particular students, and dose not care about others. They put those students fist in the line and the first ones to help. Once I was needed to talk to principal about important thing (about school credit) and I was waiting because his favorites were talking about their club. Also, schools's president and people up there most probably support Trump, soooooo. In conclusion, if you are an international student do not come here; there are way more stories of how badly they treated us there, but i think the most important issue is that they see and treat international students as money bags full of money that they can suck money off. read more