Located in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, Immaculate Conception School provides high-quality, Catholic-based education in an urban environment. Today, ICS serves nearly 200 students from a variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds in preschool through third grades (a new grade will be added each year through 8th grade). In the three years since it re-opened, the school has established itself as a highly respected and best-in-class academic program as well as a model of contemporary, urban, Catholic education.
 
ADMINISTRATION
Fr. Patrick Lee, Pastor
Katie Sullivan, Principal
Sarah Ketchie, Administrative Assistant
Margaret Hemma Anderson, Business Manager
 
PHILOSOPHY
Immaculate Conception School is a constant reminder to its neighboring communities that Catholic education instills in the student values and ideals that are essential for Christian living in a contemporary society. While educating the whole child, Immaculate Conception School will also nurture each student as a unique individual with special talents and needs. Rooted in Catholic traditions, we provide a diverse and inclusive environment and an exemplary academic curriculum. Thus enabling the student to become an educated and vital member of the Christian and secular community.

Immaculate Conception School strives to stimulate the intellectual, spiritual, physical and cultural development of each student. In achieving our goals, talented and committed faculty integrate Catholic teachings into the curriculum while embracing parents as vital participants in their child's education. We support an engaging curriculum that is designed to enhance individual development while fostering participation in the faith community through prayer, worship and action.
 
HISTORY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL
After nearly 20 years, Immaculate Conception School (ICS) re-opened its doors on September 9, 2002 to 19 smiling pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children eager to learn and explore. With the recent revival of the neighborhood, Father Pat Lee recognized the growing needs of the urban community. "I was interested in reestablishing Immaculate Conception School for two main reasons: to provide high quality education for our children that was rooted in cooperation rather than fierce competition, and to pass on our Catholic faith and tradition to the young people of the area."

Fr. Lee decided to start small with only pre-kindergarteners and kindergarteners enrolling in the inaugural year. In subsequent years, a new grade will be added annually until grade eight, giving children the opportunity to be a leader in this growing and elite educational endeavor. ICS and its students will grow together in the years to come.

Additions and renovations to the school were completed in spring 2003. The parish and school now boast four new state-of-the-art preschool classrooms, a beautiful parish hall, an inviting playground, library and more. The new classrooms are complete with child friendly bathrooms, drinking fountains and computers. Each new elementary and middle school grade will be phased into the original building in addition to accommodating the library, computer and science labs and more.

"The opening of Immaculate Conception School is a sign of growth for both the Archdiocese of Chicago and the near north community. Now in our fourth year, we are proud to have nearly 200 children benefiting from our exemplary academic curriculum," says Principal Katie Sullivan. "We are excited that not only have neighborhood families taken an interest in this unique educational opportunity but also those from 24 Chicago zip codes. This includes the south and west Loop, Bucktown, Pilsen, Old Irving, Wicker Park, Lakeview and Lincoln Park."
 
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO

• The Archdiocese of Chicago sponsors the largest non-public school system in the world.
• Elementary school students in the Archdiocese who take the Terra Nova II tests consistently score above the national norm (i.e., the 50th percentile) in reading, language and mathematics.
• Attendance rate at Archdiocese elementary schools is 97%.
• 99% of students who attend Archdiocese secondary schools graduate.
• 94% of students who attend Archdiocese high schools attend college; by comparison, 1 in 10 Chicago Public School students dropped out during the 2004-2005 school year.
• For more information, visit www.archdiocese-chgo.org