St. Ignatius College Prep

St. Ignatius College Prep is a Catholic secondary school run by Jesuits for boys and girls on a large campus west of downtown Chicago. The site combines brick buildings from the 19th century with newer classroom structures and includes sports facilities and gathering spaces alongside teaching rooms.

A Dutch priest established the institution in 1869, shortly before the great fire swept through Chicago. The main building in Second Empire style survived the flames and stands among the few remaining witnesses of that era.

Classes follow the principles of the Society of Jesus, where students learn to think critically and serve others. These values appear in daily life through group projects and respectful exchanges among all members of the school community.

The campus sits near the state university and can be reached by public transport. Visitors can view the older sections of the buildings from outside, though access to interior spaces is usually limited to students and their families.

A room dating from 1887 preserves wooden cabinets and display cases that once housed a natural history collection. The furnishings came from a well-known company of that period and still show craft details from the late 19th century.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1870

Founders: Arnold Damen

Operator: Archdiocese of Chicago

Website: http://ignatius.org

GPS coordinates: 41.86750,-87.65417

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:43