Opened in 1998, Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy stands as a testament to the power of education and the legacy of its namesake. This isn’t just any school. Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory Academy is a selective enrollment magnet high school and middle school. It serves students from 7th to 12th grade. The school is located in the Roseland neighborhood, near the historic Pullman District. Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory Academy is part of the Chicago Public Schools system.
The school’s name honors Gwendolyn Brooks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Chicago native. Brooks was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. She received this prestigious award in 1950 for her book “Annie Allen.” Later, she served as the Poet Laureate of Illinois and the U.S. Poet Laureate. The academy’s motto, “Be Brooks!”, encourages students to embody her spirit of excellence and social consciousness.
Interestingly, the site Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory Academy occupies has a long and layered history. Prior to 1998, this very land housed several other schools. Starting in 1915, it was the Pullman Free School of Manual Training. This school stemmed from a bequest by George Pullman, the railroad car magnate. The school offered vocational training alongside core academic subjects. However, by the late 1940s, rising costs forced its closure in 1950.
The Augustinians then established Mendel Catholic High School on the site. It operated from 1951 to 1988. Following Mendel’s closure, the Archdiocese of Chicago opened St. Martin de Porres High School. This school also struggled with declining enrollment and closed in 1997. Then in 1998, the Chicago Public Schools system acquired the property. Initially called Southside College Preparatory Academy, the school was renamed Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy in 2001. This renaming solidified the connection to Brooks’ literary legacy and her commitment to education.
Today, Gwendolyn Brooks Preparatory Academy provides a rigorous academic environment. GreatSchools.org gives the school a rating of 8 out of 10. It also offers a variety of extracurricular activities. These range from sports like basketball and track and field to a chess team. Located near the Pullman Historic District, the school is surrounded by significant landmarks. These include the Hotel Florence and the remnants of the Pullman factory complex. The academy’s 40-acre urban campus provides a space for students to learn and grow, inspired by the legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks. As you stand before this institution, consider the weight of history and the bright futures being shaped within its walls.