Is EPIC Academy High School a good school?

EPIC Academy High School ranks in the bottom 14.2% of Illinois high schools.

How many students attend EPIC Academy High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 279 students attended EPIC Academy High School.

What is the racial makeup of EPIC Academy High School?

Students at EPIC Academy High School are 56% African American, 41% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% White.

EPIC Academy High School

Summary:

EPIC Academy High School is a public charter high school in Chicago, Illinois, serving 345 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299, which is ranked 688 out of 813 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

EPIC Academy High School consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Illinois high schools, with a statewide ranking between 549-672 out of 699 high schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state and district averages, with only 1.6% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in SAT Mathematics, compared to 26.1% at the state level and 18.6% in the Chicago Public Schools district. EPIC Academy High School has also had fluctuating four-year graduation rates, ranging from a low of 15.0% in 2020-2021 to a high of 85.1% in 2021-2022, and a consistently high rate of chronic absenteeism, reaching 66.9% in the 2022-2023 school year.

When comparing EPIC Academy High School to nearby schools within the same district, the data reveals a consistent pattern of underperformance. For example, Hirsch Metropolitan High School, YCCS Charter - Chatham, and YCCS-Sullivan House Alt High School all have lower academic performance, graduation rates, and higher chronic absenteeism rates than EPIC Academy High School. Despite increased funding, from $5,271 per student in 2019-2020 to $9,174 per student in 2022-2023, the school has not been able to significantly improve its performance, suggesting the need for a comprehensive review of its educational strategies and support systems.

Detail:

Public, Charter 9-12

8255 S Houston Ave
Chicago, IL 60617-2191

(773) 535-7930

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

SchoolDigger Rank:
598^th of 697 Illinois High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,464

Student/teacher ratio: 11.1

Number of students: 279

Racial breakdown:

African American:

55.6%

Hispanic:

40.9%

Two or more races:

2.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 92.1%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare EPIC Academy High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details EPIC Academy High School ranks worse than 85.8% of high schools in Illinois. It also ranks 68^th among 145 ranked high schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.02. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at EPIC Academy High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (55.6%), Hispanic (40.9%), two or more races (2.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 92.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at EPIC Academy High School is 11.1, which is the 37^th best among 145 high schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299. (See more...)

Compare EPIC Academy High School employs 25 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at EPIC Academy High School is $10,464. 136 high schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299 spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

EPIC Academy High School:

SchoolDigger ranks EPIC Academy High School 598^th of 697 Illinois public high schools. (See EPIC Academy High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Homeless students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

Chicago Public Schools District 299:

SchoolDigger ranks Chicago Public Schools District 299 688^th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for EPIC Academy High School

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Rank History for all students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2012	5.71	608^th	665	8.6%
2013	3.71	628^th	670	6.3%
2014	5.72	615^th	670	8.2%
2015	24.55	480^th	614	21.8%
2016	10.54	613^th	643	4.7%
2017	16.18	549^th	642	14.5%
2018	12.32	576^th	647	11.0%
2019	13.48	603^rd	701	14.0%
2021	13.69	600^th	688	12.8%
2022	8.15	669^th	699	4.3%
2023	8.42	672^nd	699	3.9%
2024	15.02	598^th	697	14.2%

See the entire list of Illinois High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	36.84	93^rd	151	38.4%
2019	60.81	31^st	183	83.1%
2021	32.79	86^th	189	54.5%
2022	23.51	190^th	205	7.3%
2023	23.07	201^st	217	7.4%
2024	28.56	158^th	248	36.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	27.23	248^th	374	33.7%
2019	36.07	248^th	473	47.6%
2021	40.27	206^th	453	54.5%
2022	31.21	286^th	493	42.0%
2023	21.07	375^th	476	21.2%
2024	20.75	377^th	482	21.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	23.00	485^th	585	17.1%
2019	23.54	512^th	639	19.9%
2021	22.32	499^th	611	18.3%
2022	12.29	598^th	626	4.5%
2023	11.62	613^th	644	4.8%
2024	21.08	520^th	639	18.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2022	39.63	43^rd	98	56.1%
2023	28.07	55^th	104	47.1%
2024	49.76	47^th	125	62.4%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	11.54	560^th	620	9.7%
2019	11.90	577^th	665	13.2%
2021	16.23	537^th	639	16.0%
2022	8.92	620^th	658	5.8%
2023	7.50	646^th	656	1.5%
2024	16.86	549^th	664	17.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	23.38	382^nd	428	10.7%
2024	27.00	261^st	429	39.2%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	13.54	542^nd	619	12.4%
2019	15.91	571^st	675	15.4%
2021	10.79	608^th	653	6.9%
2022	8.13	644^th	664	3.0%
2023	9.45	636^th	668	4.8%
2024	13.78	589^th	668	11.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	39.42	132^nd	253	47.8%
2019	33.17	181^st	299	39.5%
2021	34.22	168^th	281	40.2%
2022	22.66	261^st	294	11.2%
2023	21.31	276^th	301	8.3%
2024	35.75	168^th	299	43.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at EPIC Academy High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	15.19	267^th	291	8.2%
2019	22.88	250^th	317	21.1%
2021	20.06	274^th	317	13.6%
2022	11.92	323^rd	335	3.6%
2023	9.82	330^th	333	0.9%
2024	14.35	314^th	336	6.5%

See the entire list of Best Illinois High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Illinois State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for EPIC Academy High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	0	83	0	37	0	n/a	n/a	120
2011	26	168	0	211	2	0	9	416
2012	3	219	1	127	2	0	10	362
2013	3	291	0	177	2	0	8	481
2014	4	282	0	185	2	1	2	476
2015	1	237	0	179	0	1	4	422
2016	4	251	0	175	0	0	5	435
2017	2	316	0	178	0	1	2	499
2018	2	344	0	188	0	0	4	538
2019	4	343	0	194	0	0	4	545
2020	4	325	0	172	0	0	18	519
2021	5	305	0	187	0	0	24	521
2022	7	279	0	187	0	0	24	497
2023	3	194	0	135	1	0	12	345
2024	3	155	0	114	0	0	7	279

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at EPIC Academy High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	120	2.2	54.5	96.7
2011	416	15.0	27.7	n/a
2012	362	15.6	23.2	96.4
2013	481	43.8	10.9	96.9
2014	476	22.0	21.6	95.8
2015	422	31.0	13.6	96.2
2016	435	32.0	13.5	93.8
2017	499	10.5	47.5	95.6
2018	538	1.0	538.0	96.3
2019	545	0.0	n/a	96.3
2020	519	27.0	19.2	95
2021	521	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	497	n/a	n/a	93.6
2023	345	27.0	12.7	96.8
2024	279	25.0	11.1	92.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio EPIC Academy High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	120	2.2	54.5	96.7
2011	416	15.0	27.7	n/a
2012	362	15.6	23.2	96.4
2013	481	43.8	10.9	96.9
2014	476	22.0	21.6	95.8
2015	422	31.0	13.6	96.2
2016	435	32.0	13.5	93.8
2017	499	10.5	47.5	95.6
2018	538	1.0	538.0	96.3
2019	545	0.0	n/a	96.3
2020	519	27.0	19.2	95
2021	521	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	497	n/a	n/a	93.6
2023	345	27.0	12.7	96.8
2024	279	25.0	11.1	92.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for EPIC Academy High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$812 (5.8%)	$13,073 (94.1%)	$13,886
2020	$184 (3.5%)	$5,087 (96.5%)	$5,271
2021	$451 (7.7%)	$5,425 (92.3%)	$5,876
2022	$451 (7.7%)	$5,425 (92.3%)	$5,876
2023	$3,052 (33.3%)	$6,122 (66.7%)	$9,174
2024	$258 (2.5%)	$10,206 (97.5%)	$10,464

Data source: Illinois Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on EPIC Academy High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 603^rd of 701 High schools	Ranks 672^nd of 699 High schools	10.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Mathematics (EPIC Academy High School)	7.4	1.2	6.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (Chicago Public Schools District 299)	26.7	19.1	7.6%
11th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)	34.8	26.7	8.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (EPIC Academy High School)	11.1	1.2	9.9%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Chicago Public Schools District 299)	26.3	22.3	4%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)	36.7	31.6	5.1%
End of Course Science (EPIC Academy High School)	5.6	3.9	1.7%
End of Course Science (Chicago Public Schools District 299)	19.9	31.1	11.2%
End of Course Science (Illinois)	36.4	52.2	15.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	545	345	36.7%
African American	343	194	43.4%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	194	135	30.4%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	4	3	25%
Two or More Races	4	12	200%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	96.3%	96.8%	0.5%

Schools Near EPIC Academy High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISA Science (2024)	IAR English Language Arts (2024)		IAR Mathematics (2024)		SAT Mathematics (2024)	SAT English Language Arts (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science All Grades	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	SAT English Language Arts 11th Grade	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
EPIC Academy High School	Public, Charter	9-12	8255 S Houston Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(773) 535-7930	279	25	11.1	92.1%	3 (1.1%)	155 (55.6%)	114 (40.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	15	598^th of 697 public high schools	14.2%		8.4	672^nd of 699 public high schools	3.9%	74						1.6	7.8									$10,464	$258	$10,206
Camelot Safe Academy School	Public	6-12	7877 S Coles Ave	Chicago	60649	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	No	(773) 902-2487	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Noble St Charter-Baker Campus	Public, Charter	9-12	2710 E 89th St	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(773) 535-6460	246	19	12.9	94.3%	0 (0.0%)	199 (80.9%)	43 (17.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	16.6	582^nd of 697 public high schools	16.5%		12.5	613^th of 699 public high schools	12.3%	31						1.6	9.8									$33,460	$2,754	$30,706
Bowen High School	Public	9-12	2710 E 89th St	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(773) 535-7650	219	21	10.3	93.6%	1 (0.5%)	173 (79.0%)	45 (20.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9.7	680^th of 697 public high schools	2.4%		7.3	692^nd of 699 public high schools	1.0%	12						0.0	0.0	88.0	89.7	89.7	89.7	89.7	88.0	85.1	69.7	$35,764	$6,114	$29,650
Excel Academy - Woodlawn High School	Public	9-12	7530 S South Shore Dr	Chicago	60649	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(773) 902-7800	0	7	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)								85.1	88.6	88.6	88.6	86.3	86.3	86.3	58.3
Chicago Vocational Career Academy High School	Public	9-12	2100 E 87th St	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(773) 535-6100	660	56	11.7	84.8%	4 (0.6%)	621 (94.1%)	27 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.2%)	11.7	644^th of 697 public high schools	7.6%		9.4	651^st of 699 public high schools	6.9%	7						0.7	3.5	88.0	91.6	91.3	91.3	83.4	89.9	90.6	70.5	$27,879	$5,542	$22,337
YCCS-Sullivan House Alt High School	Public, Charter	9-12	8164 S South Chicago Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(773) 978-8680	340	10	34.0	99.7%	0 (0.0%)	306 (90.0%)	30 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.2%)	10.9	660^th of 697 public high schools	5.3%		11.1	624^th of 699 public high schools	10.7%	36						1.8	0.0									$20,780	$1,866	$18,914
South Shore International Col Prep High School	Public	9-12	1955 E 75th St	Chicago	60649	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(773) 535-8351	593	40	14.8	73.2%	1 (0.2%)	571 (96.3%)	19 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17.6	575^th of 697 public high schools	17.5%		27.6	510^th of 699 public high schools	27.0%	65	20.0					5.0	7.8	96.6	98.4	98.4	98.4	90.7	97.5	97.3	87.0	$22,068	$4,023	$18,045
Art in Motion Charter School	Public, Charter	7-12	7415 S East End Ave	Chicago	60649	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(773) 820-9426	544	24	22.4	97.4%	0 (0.0%)	523 (96.1%)	17 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	11.7	645^th of 697 public high schools	7.5%					(n/a)	16.1	11.1	22.6	0.0	3.2	0.0	4.3									$9,233	$248	$8,985
Hirsch Metropolitan High School	Public	9-12	7740 S Ingleside Ave	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	Yes	(773) 535-3100	173	19	9.3	86.7%	0 (0.0%)	163 (94.2%)	7 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	12.6	630^th of 697 public high schools	9.6%		7.9	682^nd of 699 public high schools	2.4%	52						2.6	2.6	91.6	93.5	93.5	93.5	94.4	92.5	91.6	83.2	$40,717	$6,244	$34,473

EPIC Academy High School

EPIC Academy High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Chicago Public Schools District 299:

Average Rating:

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Rank History for EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for all students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for Special Education students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for Homeless students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for Female students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for Disabled students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for Male students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for African American students at EPIC Academy High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at EPIC Academy High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for EPIC Academy High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at EPIC Academy High School

Student/Teacher Ratio EPIC Academy High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for EPIC Academy High School

Impact of COVID-19 on EPIC Academy High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near EPIC Academy High School

Frequently Asked Questions about EPIC Academy High School

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