Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School Home

Be bold. Be brave. Be a Bobcat.

News

Apply to Become a Local School Council Candidate Featured Photo

Apply to Become a Local School Council Candidate

2026 is an election year for Chicago Public Schools. CPS is holding District-wide Local School Council (LSC) elections, and we want to encourage you to run as a candidate for your school’s LSC!

Upcoming Events

Meet our principal! Mrs. Manjarrez! Image

Meet our principal! Mrs. Manjarrez!

For the past twelve years, Back of the Yards College Prep has been both my professional and personal home. I have had the privilege of serving in many roles—founding Mathematics teacher, Department Chair, ILT Lead, IB MYP Coordinator, and Assistant Principal—working alongside dedicated students, staff, families, alumni, and community partners to build a school that is a true neighborhood school of choice on Chicago’s southwest side. My 20 years in education, including 15 in leadership, have been shaped by a deep commitment to equity, high expectations, and collaborative growth. The accomplishments we have achieved together—record-setting graduation rates, strong college enrollment and persistence, and consistently high freshman-on-track rates—are a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff, and partners. As principal, I am committed to building on this strong foundation, fostering innovation, and continuing to strengthen the relationships that make our school thrive. This work is personal to me—not only as an educator but as a mother of two Latino children—and I am honored to serve a community that has become a part of my identity.
BOBCAT STAFF MEMBER OF THE MONTH- MS. RICHARDS Image

BOBCAT STAFF MEMBER OF THE MONTH- MS. RICHARDS

Congratulations to our school case manager, Ms.Richards, for being recognized as our Bobcat Staff Member of the Month for December!  Her colleagues shared the following praise:

Ms.Richards is a really excellent leader. She is deeply empathetic, thoughtful, equitable, and engaged. I have seen her consistently advocate for her team and our students despite complicated logistics and budgetary constraints. She is supportive, strengths-oriented, reflective, and wise.  
 
Ms.Richards holds the fort down! She helps ensure students have access to our school, manages countless meetings, and always has an open door to help both students and staff. Even not as a teacher in the classroom anymore, she still has such great relationships with the students she works with.

Ms.Richards is amazing! She has supported the special education team for the last 3 years now. She is a coach, a mentor, and an awesome case manager. Although she is out of the classroom now, she still manages to have close relationships with many students in the building. 
 
Once again, Congratulations Ms. Richards!

At a Glance

  • 100% Freshmen on Track
  • IB 33 IB/AP Courses Offered
  • 1050 Students
  • 96% Graduation Rate
  • 85% IB DP/CP Pass Rate
  • 84% of Graduates
    Enroll in College
  • 22 JV and Varsity
    Athletic Teams
  • 21 Clubs and
    Student Organizations
  • $ 16 Million in Earned Scholarship
  • 63% of Graduates
    Earn Early College Credit
It's a Great Day to Be a Bobcat.