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Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School

Public Grades 9-12

664^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 698 Illinois High Schools

Better than 5% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School is a public high school in Chicago, Illinois, serving 397 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299, which is ranked 698 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of Illinois high schools over the past 10 years, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating very poor performance compared to other schools in the state. The school struggles across multiple areas, including extremely low proficiency rates in core academic subjects, a slightly below-average graduation rate, and a higher-than-average dropout rate. Chronic absenteeism is also a significant issue, with rates ranging from 25.4% to 73.4% in recent years.

Interestingly, nearby schools such as King College Prep High School, Chicago Military Academy High School, and Urban Prep Charter Bronzeville High School generally outperform Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School across various metrics, despite also facing challenges. This suggests that there may be opportunities to learn from the approaches and strategies used at these nearby schools to improve outcomes for the students at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School.

355

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$28,135

Per pupil spending ?

96.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3000 S King Dr
Chicago, IL 60616-3452

(773) 534-9000

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

African American:

96.1%

Hispanic:

2.8%

White:

0.6%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2015 → 5th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (10% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (5th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Illinois average (84% vs 89%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school10%

District avg37%

Illinois avg48%

664^th of 698

Illinois public high schools ?

Bottom 5%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

114^th of 144High Schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299

698^th of 811Chicago Public Schools District 299 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	5.9	664 of 698	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.6	665 of 697	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.6	688 of 699	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.0	687 of 699	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.3	667 of 688	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.4	667 of 701	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.1	643 of 647	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	3.8	636 of 642	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	9.1	631 of 643	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	11.0	587 of 614	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	2.3	642 of 670	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	1.7	655 of 670	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	1.9	642 of 665	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	1.9	641 of 655	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	2.4	615 of 643	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	1.4	620 of 632	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	1.4	606 of 624	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	1.0	601 of 612	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	1.1	582 of 596	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	1.0	571 of 590	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	1.2	569 of 592	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	1.2	563 of 586	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	19.4	288 of 323	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.4	253 of 299	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	288 of 301	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.5	279 of 294	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.1	241 of 281	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.8	256 of 299	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.5	242 of 253	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.3	463 of 491	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.0	261 of 429	39.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.4	382 of 428	10.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	6.6	649 of 685	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.6	623 of 664	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.3	635 of 656	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.2	646 of 658	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.4	616 of 639	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.6	612 of 665	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.7	609 of 620	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.6	111 of 138	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.1	55 of 104	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.5	46 of 98	53.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.0	634 of 672	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.1	605 of 639	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.2	632 of 644	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.5	617 of 626	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.2	580 of 611	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.0	595 of 639	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.1	581 of 585	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	6.0	660 of 685	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.0	632 of 668	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.4	663 of 668	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.3	652 of 664	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.6	626 of 653	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.5	666 of 675	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.8	616 of 619	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	14.9	512 of 527	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.8	377 of 482	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.1	375 of 476	21.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	31.2	286 of 493	42.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.3	270 of 453	40.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.6	306 of 473	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.2	248 of 374	33.7%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Homeless (2025)20th percentile+15 vs school

African American (2025)11th percentile+6 vs school

Disabled (2025)6th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)6th percentile~ school

Female (2025)5th percentile~ school

Male (2025)4th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)3rd percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Science14%-34 vs state

English Language Arts5%-46 vs state

Mathematics3%-37 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2025)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2025)		PreACT Secure Science (2025)		ACT English Language Arts (2025)	ACT Mathematics (2025)	ACT Science (2025)	ISA Science (2025)	IAR English Language Arts (2025)			IAR Mathematics (2025)			% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School	Public	9-12	3000 S King Dr	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-9000	355	31	11.3	96.9%	2 (0.6%)	341 (96.1%)	10 (2.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5.9	664^th of 698 public high schools	4.9%		10.6	665^th of 697 public high schools	4.6%	1	26.9	14.5	2.9	3.3	14.7	9.7	5.3	2.6	14.5								96.1	99.5	99.5	99.5	91.2	98.4	98.6	76.3	$28,135	$4,057	$24,079
YCCS-McKinley-Lakeside Leadership	Public, Charter	9-12	2920 S Wabash Ave	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(312) 949-5010	103	7	14.7	95.1%	0 (0.0%)	97 (94.2%)	4 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	3.9	689^th of 698 public high schools	1.3%		9.7	680^th of 697 public high schools	2.4%	9							3.0	0.0	6.1																$27,280	$1,572	$25,708
Chicago Military Academy High School	Public	9-12	3519 S Giles Ave	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-9750	209	21	10.1	68.4%	1 (0.5%)	147 (70.3%)	56 (26.8%)	2 (1.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13.9	598^th of 698 public high schools	14.3%		10.9	659^th of 697 public high schools	5.5%	61	24.1	31.8	3.4	2.3	8.6	11.4	22.2	5.6	44.4								96.2	98.1	98.1	98.1	89.5	98.1	98.1	78.5	$32,270	$4,678	$27,592
Urban Prep Charter Bronzeville High School	Public, Charter	9-12	521 E 35th St	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 624-3444	148	10	14.8	81.8%	0 (0.0%)	140 (94.6%)	4 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.7%)	9.5	630^th of 698 public high schools	9.7%		13.9	611^th of 697 public high schools	12.3%	19	37.0	17.9	8.7	7.1	21.7	10.7	15.2	3.0	18.2																$17,614	$1,206	$16,408
Graham R Training Center	Public	9-12	2347 S Wabash Ave	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-9257	0	31	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																	98.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	93.6	99.6	99.6	82.5
Perspectives Charter - IIT Campus	Public, Charter	6-12	3663 S Wabash Ave	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 358-6800	413	0		93.2%	2 (0.5%)	400 (96.9%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	8.6	639^th of 698 public high schools	8.5%		12.2	638^th of 697 public high schools	8.5%	1	27.5	17.9	5.7	4.5	17.4	13.4	20.4	4.9	19.6	0.0		12.5	21.4		0.0	3.6									$21,020	$1,630	$19,390
Phillips Academy High School	Public	9-12	244 E Pershing Rd	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1603	467	33	14.3	71.5%	4 (0.9%)	427 (91.4%)	23 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	11 (2.4%)	6.5	661^st of 698 public high schools	5.3%		11.7	643^rd of 697 public high schools	7.7%	18	21.1	18.6	1.0	4.1	10.6	17.3	12.2	4.4	12.2								84.7	87.8	87.8	87.8	81.2	87.0	86.8	55.0	$22,344	$3,024	$19,320
Air Force Academy High School	Public	9-12	3630 S Wells St	Chicago	60609	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1590	131	18	7.3	87.8%	4 (3.1%)	73 (55.7%)	52 (39.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	13.4	601^st of 698 public high schools	13.9%		41.4	381^st of 697 public high schools	45.3%	220	28.9	26.7	10.5	6.7	15.8	33.3	18.5	7.4	22.2								94.9	99.2	99.2	99.2	91.5	99.2	99.2	81.4	$38,052	$5,658	$32,394
Perspectives Charter - Joslin Campus	Public, Charter	6-12	1930 S Archer Ave	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(312) 225-7400	313	0		93.0%	1 (0.3%)	297 (94.9%)	11 (3.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	10	626^th of 698 public high schools	10.3%		11.6	649^th of 697 public high schools	6.9%	23	31.7	29.6	7.1	3.7	19.0	18.5	12.8	7.4	16.0	16.0	71.4	40.0	43.8	30.8	4.0	12.8									$20,440	$1,178	$19,262
King College Prep High School	Public	9-12	4445 S Drexel Blvd	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1180	819	49	16.6	82.8%	3 (0.4%)	781 (95.4%)	25 (3.1%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.6%)	33.5	490^th of 698 public high schools	29.8%		22.4	521^st of 697 public high schools	25.3%	31	62.1	44.3	22.4	7.0	36.4	29.7	39.8	15.7	34.3								94.9	98.0	98.0	98.0	90.4	97.9	97.0	85.9	$18,678	$2,216	$16,462

Frequently Asked Questions about Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School

Is Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School a good school?

Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School ranks in the bottom 4.9% of Illinois high schools.

How many students attend Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 355 students attended Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School.

What is the racial makeup of Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School?

Students at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School are 96% African American, 3% Hispanic.

What district is Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.