School Overview

Ida B. Wells Preparatory Academy Elementary School is a (PreK-8) International Baccalaureate World School and an Apple Distinguished School of approximately 300 students. Wells Prep promotes global citizenship through international mindedness, international travels, service learning, cultural exchange programs, and culturally relevant curriculum. We have partnerships with Apple, University of Chicago Stem Education, Ada S McKinley, Chicago Youth Centers, HELP (Healing Education Learning Professionals), and CHI&SE. Wells Prep has a record and reputation of excellent student achievement and an appealing school culture and climate. As a twenty-first century IB (International Baccalaureate) world school, we offer a rigorous and student- centered curriculum that educates the whole child while promoting problem solving skills needed to navigate today’s complex problems. In partnership with CYC (Chicago Youth Centers) we offer robust academic and extracurricular programs (robotics, keyboarding, sewing, cooking, choir, theatre, ballet, African dance, band, bowling, chess, etc.) after school. Our student population is slowly becoming diverse as well. Due to continued changes in the community in recent years, we have seen a growing population of immigrant, Hispanic, and Caucasian families here at Wells Prep. We appreciate diversity and promote intercultural experiences – both of which have become the bedrock of culturally relevant and responsive curriculum in our classrooms. Cognitive student engagement and student discourse at Wells Prep is enriched and grounded in the diverse cultural perspectives and backgrounds of our students and staff. Every classroom selected a country upon which to ground its inquiry and discourse.