Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men - Bronzeville Campus

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.

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

📍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 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. 🖤❤️

🚨 BIG NEWS 🚨

Urban Prep students just made MOVES—literally! 🛗💡

In partnership with Otis Elevator Co, 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. 🌎🖤❤️