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Northridge Preparatory School

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Northridge Preparatory School
Address
8320 Ballard Road

Niles
,
Illinois
60714

United States
Information
TypePrivate
MottoJuvenes vestri visiones videbunt.
(Your young men shall see visions.)
Religious affiliation(s)Catholic (Opus Dei)
Established1976
DeanEmmett McGovern
HeadmasterNiall Fagan
ChaplainFr. Leo Agustina
Grades6–12
GenderBoys
Enrollment283 (105 middle, 178 high) (2021)
Color(s)Maroon and gold   
Song"We are the Northridge Knights"
MascotDwight The Knight
Team nameKnights
NewspaperHigh School - Prospectus; Middle School - De Scalibus
AffiliationOpus Dei[1]
Websitewww.northridgeprep.org

Northridge Preparatory School, or Northridge Prep, or NRP is an independent college preparatory school for young men, located in Niles, Illinois. The school offers a recognized[2] curriculum[3] and a strong athletics program.[4]

Northridge was established in 1976 by a group of parents who envisioned a college preparatory school that would challenge their sons academically, socially and spiritually. Realizing the importance of the middle school years, they sought to include grades 6 through 12 in the Northridge curriculum. The founding parents entrusted the spiritual dimension of Northridge to Opus Dei, a Personal prelature[5] of the Roman Catholic Church that was founded in 1928.

Northridge is the brother school of The Willows Academy, a girls college preparatory school in Des Plaines, Illinois; parents continue to foster a relationship with The Willows Academy by organizing dances and social events throughout the school year.

The School is a member of The Independent School League and Illinois High School Association.[6]

The Halls System

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Northridge students are divided into four halls: Cavalier, Riddervon, Paladin, and Vytis. The students in those halls then participate in annual competitions to accumulate points to their respective halls. The most recent hall that won was in the 2024-25 school year and the hall winner was the Paladin Hall.

Advisory Program

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A key element in the Northridge approach to education is the advisory system. Every student has a faculty mentor who meets with him regularly throughout the year for all seven years, and who is always "on call." These regular sessions are meant to help each student pinpoint his academic, personal, and social strengths and weaknesses. They help him get to know himself and to follow through on resolutions to improve. Through these sessions and the support of a faculty mentor, each student is better able to grow in faith & virtue, manage & improve his studies, and discuss his family & social life. Often the advisor's job is simply to listen, to understand and to encourage. In addition to this personal help, all upperclassmen receive intensive college and career counseling. The advisor is also the key link between parents and the school, so that helping each student mature properly is truly the joint effort it should be.

Relationship with The Archdiocese of Chicago

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Northridge was founded by parents as an independent school[7] that is guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church and therefore is not financially tied to the Archdiocese as are diocesan Catholic schools.[7] The school is not listed in the Archdiocese of Chicago school list,[8] and so does not require the Chicago Catholic Schools Placement exam. In 2008, Northridge Prep was awarded the Catholic Honor Roll, which distinguishes it as a "Top 50 Catholic High School in America"[9] under the three criteria of standardized test scores, Catholic Identity and academic curriculum.[10]

Athletics

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Northridge offers a number of athletic activities and plays in the Independent School League.[11]

Will Rey, former Head Basketball Coach at Loyola University, is Northridge 's Athletic Director and Head Varsity Basketball Coach.[12]

Other sports at Northridge are Soccer, Tennis, Cross Country, Track, and Baseball.

Recently in 2024 the Cross-Country team won the Class 1A State Finals. By far their best record and performance led by the head Cross-country coach, Coach Julian Murphy.

References

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  1. ^ James Martin, S.J. (February 25, 1995). "Opus Dei In the United States". America. America Press. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2007.
  2. ^ "NORTHRIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL - Chicago Sun-Times | HighBeam Research". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  3. ^ [1] Archived September 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ [2] Archived March 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Opus dei - PERSONAL PRELATURE". Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  6. ^ "Niles (Northridge Prep)". Illinois High School Association. November 8, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2007.
  7. ^ a b "Northridge Preparatory School". Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  8. ^ Find a High School - Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools Archived 2010-06-28 at the Wayback Machine and Find an Elementary School - Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools Archived 2010-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  9. ^ "Catholic ED Honor Roll". Chshonor.org. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  10. ^ "Catholic ED Honor Roll". Chshonor.org. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  11. ^ "Member Schools". Chicago Prep Athletic Conference website. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2007.
  12. ^ Chicago Sun Times, May 2, 1989, Dan Pompeii
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