Urban Prep Academies

Urban Prep is facing a financial emergency that threatens our ability to continue this critical work. Please take a moment to read this letter (bit.ly/BeatTheFreezeUP) from our CAO & Interim CEO Dr. Dennis Lacewell and consider making a donation today during this critical time.

The life-changing impact our schools have had on thousands of Black and Brown young men in Chicago is undeniable. You’ve seen the results: 100% of our graduates admitted to four-year colleges and universities for 16 consecutive years, despite overwhelming challenges.

Urban Prep is facing a financial emergency that threatens our ability to continue this critical work. Please take a moment to read this letter (bit.ly/BeatTheFreezeUP) from our CAO & Interim CEO Dr. Dennis Lacewell and consider making a donation today during this critical time.

Whether it’s $100, $1,000, $10,000 or more anything will help to ensure that Urban Prep continues to UPlift, educate and empower Black and Brown boys in our city.

The Lions are playoff bound! 🦁💥 Urban Prep Football has punched their ticket to the 2025 IHSA State Playoffs! 📍 Montini Catholic 📅 Saturday, Nov 1 | ⏰ 1PM #UPStrong #UPFootball #IHSAPlayoffs #TicketPunched

Recruitment season is here! 🎒 Our Urban Prep Ambassadors are connecting with future Lions — building the future with the Class of 2030! 💪🏾 ✅ New students: Be sure to select Urban Prep Academies on your GoCPS application! #WeBelieve #UrbanPrep #GoCPS

From the classroom to CBS News! 📺💻
Urban Prep students are shining in the Hidden Genius Project, learning to code and lead the future of tech. Proud of our young geniuses! 👏 #UrbanPrep #HiddenGeniusProject

🧘‍♂️ Wellness Mondays at Urban Prep! Our Freshmen & Sophomore young men practice yoga each week with @livehappii_project during Health/PE — building strength, focus & balance 🙌✨ #UrbanPrep #LiveHappy #Wellness

🎓✨ College Fair at Navy Pier! ✨🎓 Our young men had the chance to explore colleges from all over—from Big Ten schools to international universities. 🌍🏫 Proud to see our students dreaming big and preparing for the future. 🚀📚 #UrbanPrep #CollegeFair #DreamBig

✨ The 19th Annual Urban Prep Convocation was a moment to remember! 🙌🏾 For the first time, the Class of 2029 put on their iconic blazers 👔— a powerful symbol of pride, brotherhood, and excellence. #WeBelieve #urbanprep #excellence

Urban Prep Senior Prom 2025 🦁 One night. All the memories. We danced like there was no tomorrow! #UrbanPrepProm #SeniorProm2025 #WeBelieve

100% Not Like Us. For the 16th year in a row, every Urban Prep senior has been accepted into a four-year college or university. On May 6, our Englewood and Bronzeville students took over Daley Plaza for our Annual College Signing Day—one of the most powerful celebrations of the year. Unlike traditional Signing Days, we don’t center sports—we center scholarship. Each senior placed a cap on their head, announcing where they’re headed next. This year’s theme, “100% Not Like Us,” isn’t just a slogan. It’s a statement. A reminder that our young Black men defy the odds, crush stereotypes, and write their own futures. They are not like the statistics—they are rewriting them. Congratulations to the Class of 2025. You are scholars. You are leaders. You are Urban Prep. We Believe. #UrbanPrep #CollegeSigningDay #NotLikeUs #WeBelieve

100% Not Like Us: Urban Prep Celebrates 16 Years of 100% College Acceptance For the 16th consecutive year, 100% of Urban Prep’s seniors have been accepted into four-year colleges and universities—an extraordinary milestone that showcases the relentless determination, academic excellence, and unmatched character of these young Black men. On May 6, 2025, students from Urban Prep’s Englewood and Bronzeville Campuses took over Daley Plaza for our Annual College Signing Day—a signature celebration and one of the most anticipated events in the Urban Prep calendar. While National Signing Day typically highlights athletic commitments, Urban Prep has redefined the tradition—centering it around academic achievement and the transformative power of higher education. Our seniors proudly announced their college decisions, each placing a cap on their head representing the institution they will attend. The plaza erupted with applause—classmates, families, alumni, faculty, and city leaders united in a moment of joy, pride, and triumph. Each graduating class selects a theme that embodies its collective spirit. The Class of 2025 chose: “100% Not Like Us” A bold declaration of identity and excellence. "100% Not Like Us" reflects who these young men are—unapologetically confident, uniquely driven, and fiercely prepared. They shatter expectations, challenge stereotypes, and rewrite the narrative. They are not defined by statistics—they redefine them. With every cap placed, every school announced, and every cheer from the crowd, these graduates reminded the world: They are scholars. They are leaders. They are Urban Prep. These young men have faced challenges with strength, walked with pride, and never lost sight of their goals. They’ve embodied Urban Prep’s core values and now step into the future—bold, ready, and unstoppable. Congratulations to the Class of 2025. You’ve shown the world you are 100% Not Like Us—and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We Believe. #WeBelieve #UrbanPrep

For the 16th year in a row, 100% of Urban Prep graduates have been admitted to college. They said it couldn’t be done—again and again, we proved them wrong. Join us for our 16th Annual College Signing Day as we celebrate excellence, resilience, and brotherhood. 📍 Daley Plaza, May 6, 12 PM | 50 W. Washington #UrbanPrep #CollegeSigningDay #WeBelieve

Bronzeville, They’re Just Getting Started! 🎓 Onto The Next One! Our young men rise with purpose—ready for what’s next, built for what’s beyond. #UrbanPrep #NextChapter #WeBelieve

📍Civic Leadership in Action 🗨️🏛️ Mr. Ray took learning beyond the classroom by connecting our students directly with city leaders! 🙌 Students sat down with Vice Mayor Walter Burnett and @aldermandavidmoore to discuss real legislation up for a city vote—getting a firsthand look at how government works and how their voices matter. 💼🗳️ Opportunities like this empower our young men to lead, serve, and shape the future of their communities. 🖤❤️ #UrbanPrep #CivicLeadership #StudentVoices #BeyondTheClassroom #ChicagoYouth #FutureLeaders #BlackExcellence

🚨 BIG NEWS 🚨 Urban Prep students just made MOVES—literally! 🛗💡 In partnership with @otiselevatorco, our scholars tackled the Made to Move Communities global challenge—engineering real-world solutions using AI to improve transportation access for people with disabilities. 🗣👁 Their design? A cutting-edge system combining barcode scanning and voice recognition to help visually and hearing-impaired travelers navigate Chicago’s transit system—plus a tracking feature so loved ones can follow their journey. 🌍 Competing against teams from 5 U.S. states and 2 countries, our students—all freshmen and sophomores—were the youngest in the entire competition… and still brought home 3rd place! 🥉 We couldn’t be more proud of their brilliance, empathy, and drive to make a real impact. 🌎🖤❤️ #UrbanPrep #MadeToMove #OTIS #AIForGood #Innovation #StudentSuccess #DisabilityInclusion #BlackExcellence #ChicagoYouth #STEMleaders

Urban Prep’s creed is a way of life. Rooted in history, it reflects the values of integrity and community. At Urban Prep we’re living our heritage. #UrbanPrep #WeBelieve

We were honored to host Collaborative Support for Education: Shaping Equity and Justice in Chicago’s Greater Ecosystem at Urban Prep Academies. Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared insights, and helped spark powerful dialogue around equity, education, and community. Special thanks to @khari4progress for the warm welcome, and to our incredible panelists: @drhenfield, Dr. Aidé Acosta, @calebmherod, @mrsmichelehoward, @dennislacewell, and @mckoywithak. Grateful to @derrickthegent and TGEL Enterprises for your generous support. #UrbanPrep #WeBelieve #NPEAChicago