Christopher House began in 1906 as a settlement house to help immigrants adjust to life in the U.S. Over the last century, our program has evolved to meet the needs of Chicago’s low-income population. Currently, Christopher House serves more than 5,000 individuals annually through four centers throughout Chicago’s North and West Sides: Uptown, Logan Square, Avondale, and Belmont Cragin. Our newest center in Belmont Cragin, which opened in August 2013, offers our full range of schools to this high need community, where there is a critical shortage of early childhood and parenting programs, and the vast majority of public schools are on academic probation. This new site is also home to Christopher House’s first elementary school, which will educate students from birth through eighth grade.
Christopher House provides a continuum of high-quality schools serving infant, preschool, elementary, high school, as well as support services that create stable, self-sufficient families. Our centers are nationally renowned and have earned the highest ratings in the City of Chicago. High standards, high expectations, data-driven outcomes, and a commitment to continuous quality improvement for students, families, and our staff are the driving force behind all of our work.
Christopher House’s programs are grouped into four “schools:”
- Christopher House Infant School and Pre-School prepares children, ages 6-weeks to 5 years old, for school, stimulates cognitive growth, and develops emotional intelligence
- Christopher House Elementary School builds educational continuity from pre-school through elementary school and empowers achievement and perseverance in all students.
- Christopher House After-School drives students, ages 6 to 18 years old, to develop healthy behaviors, explore new opportunities, achieve academic excellence, and succeed in post-secondary education.
- Christopher House Parent School, including our Family Support Services, offers education and support to help parents provide a safe, self-sufficient, and nurturing home environment conducive to educational success.
The investment from The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation will allow Christopher House’s family of schools to continue to grow and to support each child’s educational development through both academic rigor in the classroom, social work and parent education.
