Back of The Yards IB HS

Back of The Yards IB HS is a senior high of average-sized scale in Chicago, Illinois, operated by Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, hosting 1,039 students in grades 9 through 12. That puts it 25% above the typical public school in Illinois, which averages around 834 students.

Across the 622 schools in Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 (324,396 students total), Back of The Yards IB HS accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On demographics, Back of The Yards IB HS logs that the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic (97%). That is considerably more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 27%.

In terms of school funding signals, The school currently runs with 82 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 12.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.8:1, putting Back of The Yards IB HS tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 93% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. By comparison, Cook County runs at roughly 66%, so the school's eligibility rate is higher than the surrounding baseline.

With demographic context factored in, Back of The Yards IB HS tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 17.8% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 31.6%.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for Cook County put the typical household earns roughly $83,498 per year, 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 10%. Across Cook County's 1406 public schools (combined enrollment of about 697,934 students), Back of The Yards IB HS is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Hedges Elem School, around 0.3 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Back of The Yards IB HS ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 23.1%.

The school occupies a city-core site.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Back of The Yards IB HS has held roughly steady, going from 1,064 students in 2018 to 1,039 in 2025. The Hispanic share of enrollment expanded from 90% to 97% over that span. Class-load math has tightened: from 16.3:1 in 2018 to 12.8:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, members of the Back of The Yards IB HS community share and discuss classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.