What Is It Known For?
Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVCA), founded in 1940, is a prominent public high school located in the Calumet Heights neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Known for its focus on career and technical education, CVCA serves approximately 713 students annually.
The academy emphasizes preparing students for both college and career pathways through diverse programs in technical and vocational fields.
Degrees & Certifications
The Chicago Vocational Career Academy offers the following certifications and programs, preparing students for professional careers in various industries:
- Carpentry
- Cosmetology
- Culinary Arts
- Diesel Technology
- Horticulture
- Medical Technology
- Information Technology (IT)
Additionally, the academy features a STEM Program that encourages innovation and critical thinking in science, technology, engineering, and math. It also offers an Early College Program, allowing students to earn college credits while completing high school.
Class Schedules
CVCA operates a traditional high school schedule with classes held during regular school hours. Programs integrate hands-on learning opportunities through workshops and labs.
While details on externships or hybrid online classes are limited, the academy incorporates practical skills training in its curriculum to enhance student readiness for the workforce.
Is It Legit?
CVCA is recognized as a Level 2 “Creative Certified School” under Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) Creative Schools Certification. This distinction highlights the academy’s excellence in integrating arts and technical education into its programs.
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate for Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVCA) is not explicitly disclosed. However, as a public high school within the Chicago Public Schools system, CVCA accepts students based on district residency, making the acceptance rate non-competitive.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVCA) does not publicly disclose specific information about tuition or associated fees. For details regarding costs, please contact the school directly through their official website or by reaching out to their administration office.
Programs & Courses
Healthcare
- Medical Technology
- Physician
- Chiropractor
Professional Services
- Cosmetology
- Culinary Arts
Skilled Trades
- Carpentry
- Diesel Technology
Technology
- Information Technology
Campus Locations
Chicago 2100 East 87th Street Chicago, IL 60617
Reviews
Based on Google reviews provided, Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVCA) has a mixed reputation. While many students have a positive experience, citing supportive staff and valuable extracurriculars, a significant number of reviews highlight serious concerns about school safety and student behavior.
Overall Score: 3.7/5 Stars
Common Praises
Supportive and Caring Staff: A majority of the positive reviews praise the teachers and administration for being caring, supportive, and dedicated. Students feel that the staff genuinely wants them to succeed and goes the “extra mile” to help.
Strong Extracurricular and Career-Focused Programs: Reviewers highlight the value of the school’s career and technical education (CTE) focus, as well as programs like JROTC, which teach leadership and discipline. Students feel they have learned about “real-world problems” and have gained skills that will lead to future opportunities.
Preparation for Life After High School: Many students feel that CVCA prepared them for college and the workforce, with teachers helping them to be ready for the challenges ahead.
Welcoming Environment: A number of reviews mention that the school is a friendly and welcoming place, with students and staff building positive relationships.
Common Criticisms
Safety and Student Behavior: This is the most significant criticism. Several reviewers state that the school is not safe and that students fight and “jump people multiple times a week.” The environment is described as “chaotic” and a primary reason not to recommend the school.
Lack of School Activities: Some reviewers state that students lose opportunities for activities due to poor behavior from the student body.
Concerns about Academics: One reviewer from a few years ago states that the school passes students to “make their stats look good,” while another from the same time period feels that the school does not prepare students for college.
Momentum
The momentum for Chicago Vocational Career Academy is mixed and polarized. While there are recent, highly positive reviews praising the teachers and career-focused opportunities, there are also equally recent reviews that raise very serious and specific concerns about violence and a chaotic environment on campus. This suggests that while the school’s academic and extracurricular programs may be strong, the student experience is heavily dependent on the surrounding campus culture, which is seen as a significant negative by a notable portion of the student body.