DePaul College Prep vs German International School Chicago

	D DePaul College Prep Chicago, United States	G German International School Chicago Chicago, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $21,150	Fees / year $18,450 - 22,830
Age range	Age range 14 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 14 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), German Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language German, English
Opened	Opened 2014	Opened 2007
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Mailing Address: 3333 N. Rockwell Street, Chicago, IL 60618. Main Entrance & Parking: 3300 N. Campbell Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618. Located in Chicago, Illinois.	Location 1726 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613. Located in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood.
Stages	Stages Grades 9-12 (high school).	Stages Preschool through Grade 9; Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School; bilingual German-English instruction.
School type	School type Catholic, co-ed, college-prep high school.	School type IB World School (Authorized for the PYP)
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix 40+ nationalities represented; 64% international families
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning specialists provide curricular support for diagnosed learning differences; targeted strategy support in reading comprehension, written expression, math, and executive functioning. Instructional support is provided inside and outside the classroom. Learning specialists manage classroom and testing accommodations and communicate with teachers, parents, and outside professionals. They help students develop independence through self-awareness, proactivity, perseverance, goal setting, support networks, and emotional coping strategies.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United States	Country affiliation Germany; Official German School Abroad (DAS) in the U.S. Midwest
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Catholic (Vincentian Catholic Identity).	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - There is no separate application fee listed. A non-refundable Registration Fee of USD 550 is charged for all students and is billed through the school's tuition management system. Tuition by school year (amounts shown per academic year and per installment option) - 2026/2027 (All students) - Tuition (annual): USD 20,600. - Registration Fee (non-refundable): USD 550. - Total at initial billing (tuition + registration): USD 21,150. - Payment-plan breakdowns (based on the full total before any scholarships, discounts, or credits): - Annual (pay in full): USD 21,150 due on the single due date. A 2% discount on tuition is applied if the tuition portion is paid in full by the annual due date. - Semi-annual (2 payments): two equal installments of USD 10,575 (1st installment due July; 2nd installment due December). - Quarterly (4 payments): four equal installments of USD 5,287.50 (due July, October, January, April). - Monthly (10 payments): ten equal installments of USD 2,115 (July through April). - 2025/2026 (All students) - Tuition (annual): USD 19,825. - Registration Fee (non-refundable): USD 550. - Total at initial billing (tuition + registration): USD 20,375. - Payment-plan breakdowns (based on the full total before any scholarships, discounts, or credits): - Annual (pay in full): USD 20,375 due on the single due date. A 2% discount on tuition applies if the tuition portion is paid in full by the annual due date. - Semi-annual (2 payments): two equal installments of USD 10,187.50 (1st installment due July; 2nd installment due December). - Quarterly (4 payments): four equal installments of USD 5,093.75 (due July, October, January, April). - Monthly (10 payments): ten equal installments of USD 2,037.50 (July through April). - Note on calculations: the installment amounts above divide the total annual charge (tuition plus the one-time registration fee) evenly according to the selected plan. Actual installment amounts shown on a family's FACTS account will reflect net tuition after any scholarships, sibling discounts, or other credits, and will include any FACTS enrollment fee where applicable. Additional, course‑specific and one‑time fees - Graduation fee (seniors): USD 275 (one-time). - International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme fee (Juniors and Seniors in the IB Diploma Programme): USD 1,800 payable over the two years of the program. - International Baccalaureate individual course fee (for students taking individual IB courses): USD 220 per course. - One-time, non-refundable school-issued iPad fee for the indicated cohort (Class of 2030): USD 800 (the fee may be payable through the regular payment plans). - Sibling discount: USD 500 per sibling (applied as a credit). - Families should budget additionally for books, one‑to‑one technology costs (where applicable), uniforms, meals, school parking (if used), transportation, AP/IB exam fees, summer school, retreats, and other incidental charges. Many of these incidental charges are billed through the school's incidental billing system. - Uniforms: official uniform pieces are required to be purchased from the school's approved vendor (Tommy Hilfiger / Global Schoolwear partner code). Uniforms are ordered through the vendor; uniform prices are set by that vendor. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition collection and billing cycle: payment plans begin in July and run through April for the academic year. The school finalizes tuition payment plan terms in the FACTS tuition management system between May 1 and mid‑June. Families must enroll and maintain a valid FACTS account for tuition and incidental billing. - Specific due dates by plan (examples shown for the 2025–2026 cycle; equivalent monthly/quarterly timing applies in the 2026–2027 cycle with the July–April collection window): - Annual (pay in full): payment due July 15 (2% tuition discount if paid by this date). - Semi‑annual: 1st installment in July; 2nd installment in December. - Quarterly: installments in July, October, January, and April. - Monthly: ten monthly installments from July through April. - FACTS enrollment fee: a one‑time per school‑year payment plan fee (assessed by FACTS when the payment plan is finalized) is charged; amounts vary by payment frequency and do not exceed USD 50 currently. Returned payment fee: FACTS automatically assesses a USD 30 returned payment fee when a scheduled payment fails. Families are responsible for keeping their FACTS payment method current. Payment methods and how payments are processed - All tuition and fees are billed and collected through the FACTS tuition management system. Families must attach a valid payment method to both the Tuition Payment Plan and the Incidental Billing account in FACTS. FACTS will attempt scheduled withdrawals on the payment dates shown in the plan; banks may show withdrawals as pending before the displayed date. The school and FACTS will provide notice when charges are placed. Credit cards and scheduled electronic withdrawals are used for payments; a payment failure for insufficient funds or an invalid credit card will trigger FACTS returned‑payment procedures and fees. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. DePaul College Prep is a Catholic, co‑educational, college‑preparatory high school serving grades 9–12; the school does not operate a boarding program. Other incidental or optional charges - Incidental Billing covers items such as bus fees, AP exam fees, IB program/course fees (when applicable), summer school, retreats (e.g., Kairos), annual registration, and other incidental charges. Families are notified in advance through FACTS before any incidental charge is processed. Parking fees, team or club fees, and meal plans (if used) are typically billed and collected through FACTS or incidental billing. Refund information - Monthly payments that have been made are not refunded if a student withdraws or is dismissed during the July–May period. If tuition has been paid in full, semi‑annually, or quarterly, a prorated tuition refund may be issued at the school's discretion. All outstanding balances must be paid in full to complete student transfers. Important administrative notes relevant to fees and billing - Financial aid and merit scholarships appear as credits in the FACTS tuition account once awards are verified. Outside scholarships and grammar school awards must be submitted to the school for verification so the award can be credited to the FACTS account. - Incidental charges will never be processed in a family's FACTS account without prior email notice. Disputes about charges are handled through the school's Tuition and Financial Aid office. If you require the exact installment amounts displayed on a family account, or need amounts after applying a specific scholarship, sibling discount, or the 2% full‑pay tuition discount, those figures will be calculated and shown in the family's FACTS account when the plan is finalized.	Fee details 2026–2027 Tuition (by program) - Preschool Part‑Day (8:00am–1:00pm): USD 18,450 per year. - Preschool Full‑Day (8:00am–3:00pm): USD 21,950 per year. - Grades K–9 (8:00am–3:00pm): USD 22,830 per year. Corporate tuition (by program) - Preschool Part‑Day: USD 23,450 per year. - Preschool Full‑Day: USD 26,950 per year. - Grades K–9: USD 27,830 per year. Application and enrollment fees - Admission (application) fee for new students: USD 200 (due with application). - New family fee (grades K–8) for new families: USD 2,000 (due with first tuition installment). - Tuition deposit: non‑refundable USD 1,500 due with student registration. Additional / program fees - Field trip fee: Preschool USD 75; Grades K–4 USD 100; Grades 5–9 USD 200 (all due with first tuition installment). - Fast Track German Language Program (Grades 3–6): USD 4,000 per student. - GPG (parent group) membership fee: USD 60 per student (required as part of enrollment for Deutsche Auslandsschulen). Tuition reductions and sibling discounts - Sibling reduction: USD 1,000 off tuition for the second child enrolled. For each additional child, tuition is reduced by one‑third of the original rate. Billing schedule and payment terms - A non‑refundable tuition deposit of USD 1,500 is due at registration. - Remaining tuition balance is billed in two installments due on July 1 and November 1. - Monthly payment plans are available; enrolling in a monthly plan incurs a 2.5% surcharge to the total tuition, payable with the first installment. - For corporate tuition arrangements, first‑time enrollment deposit is required; re‑enrolling families with employer‑paid tuition may not be required to pay an upfront deposit. Corporate accounts receive customized payment plans at no additional charge and no finance charges on account balances. Boarding - Boarding is not offered; the school operates as a day school. Refunds and withdrawal-related terms - The USD 1,500 tuition deposit is non‑refundable. For corporate tuition arrangements, withdrawal is handled on a prorated basis based on attendance. Other refund or withdrawal specifics are governed by the school's enrollment/financial policies. Other costs parents commonly pay (examples noted in billing items) - One‑time or annual charges in addition to tuition can include the new family fee, field trip fees, program fees (e.g., Fast Track German), and GPG membership fee as listed above. These additional charges are charged on or with the first tuition installment unless specified otherwise. Fee payment options and practical notes on payment - The school provides installment and monthly payment plan options (monthly plans carry a 2.5% surcharge). Corporate tuition arrangements offer customized payment plans and billing options for employer‑paid tuition. Specific payment method types (for example: credit card, bank transfer/Wire/ACH) are handled through the school's billing processes and accounts receivable procedures. For corporate accounts, no finance charges are assessed on account balances. Important dates and timing - Re‑enrollment contracts, new student enrollment contracts, and financial aid applications are noted with a March 31 deadline in the school's enrollment timeline. Installment due dates for tuition are July 1 and November 1. (End of fee overview)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Diploma Programme with two enrollment paths: the Full Diploma Programme and an Individual Course Pathway. IB course offerings cover Group 1 to Group 6 and the IB Core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, CAS). Students enroll in two-year IB courses as sophomores and may earn college credit whether or not they complete the IB Diploma. In addition to IB, the school offers sixteen Advanced Placement courses beginning in 9th grade (starting in 2024-2025) and summer dual credit and dual enrollment courses at DePaul University beginning in 11th grade. The STEAM-focused program uses interdisciplinary learning with state-of-the-art technology, ten science labs, four maker spaces, an organic garden, and a greenhouse, including robotics, visual and fine arts, film production, computer programming, engineering, and design. The school maintains an 80-minute block schedule to support personalized instruction and includes a robust post-secondary planning program through a DePaul University partnership for dual enrollment and college-credit opportunities.	Curriculum details GISC is an IB World School authorized for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) offering a German-English bilingual education from Preschool through Grade 9. The majority of subjects are taught in German, and there is full German immersion from Day 1. It is a bilingual program spanning Preschool–Grade 9, with IB credentials and an emphasis on international education.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio 14 to 1	Student teacher ratio 6.5:1
Exam results	Exam results 77% of IB Full Diploma Programme graduates earned the IB Diploma in 2025.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates enroll at a broad range of colleges and universities, including DePaul University, Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, Boston College, Bucknell University, Butler University, Denison University, Drake University, Elmhurst University, Elon University, and more.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented Advanced learners have access to AP and IB coursework, plus Dual Enrollment at DePaul University. The E.D.G.E. Program, delivered through Superior Chicago Tutoring, offers tutoring and academic coaching for eligible students.	Gifted and talented Fast Track German Language Program (FTGLP) is open to gifted students in Grades 3-6.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions The school invites prospective students and families to learn about the student experience, contact the admissions team, apply to DePaul Prep, and explore financial aid and related information. The admissions process seeks to understand each student's strengths, weaknesses, talents, interests, and values to determine fit within the DePaul Prep community. Fall 2025 admissions and recruitment details include the on-campus Entrance Exam held December 6, 2025; eighth graders who register for the Entrance Exam and test in person receive first preference for admission to the Class of 2030; students who test at another Catholic high school will not be notified of admission unless scores are officially sent to DePaul Prep; students who test at DePaul Prep receive preference for consideration. For the application and supporting materials, submit the last three years of grades/report cards (6th–8th), most recent standardized test scores, the discipline report, birth certificate, and the online application. The Class of 2030 Admissions Application opens December 6 at 8:00 AM and closes December 19 for regular applicants. Required documents include birth certificate; 8th-grade, 7th-grade, and 6th-grade report cards; most recent standardized test scores; discipline report; the most updated IEP/504 plan (if applicable); private evaluation (if available); and a completed Diversity Learning Needs template if applicable. Shadow Days include 8th-grade shadow days for the 25-26 school year which have concluded; 7th-grade shadow day registration is now open. Virtual campus tours are available to sign up, and a Prospective Student Info Card provides ongoing information. Open Houses were held in Fall 2025 (Open House #1 on October 9, 2025; Open House #2 on November 2, 2025). The admissions application is open, and the admissions team can be reached at 773-539-3600 for information.	Admissions The school offers a personalized bilingual and international education from Preschool through Grade 8, with High School Grade 9 launching in 2026-2027 and first graduates expected in 2030. It is currently enrolling Preschool to Grade 9. The Expat Brochure describes a full-day preschool through 8th grade program with flexible after-school care until 6:00 pm and extracurricular opportunities for children aged 3 to 14. Classes are taught in German and English, combining German and US curricula within the International Baccalaureate framework. Students in Grade 8 take the DSD I exam. GISC supports a seamless enrollment process through a personalized admissions path and reserves spots in every class for expat families to avoid the stress of a waitlist. GISC accepts new students at any time during the school year.
Scholarships	Scholarships DePaul College Prep offers financial aid and several internal and external scholarship opportunities. Financial aid applications for the 26-27 school year opened October 1, 2025 and closed December 31, 2025.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Expat families have reserved spots in every class to avoid the uncertainty of a waitlist.
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