Walter Payton College Preparatory High School is a selective enrollment public high school and a global model for teaching and learning. Since its founding in 2000, Payton has become a space for student discovery, intellectual curiosity, and international exploration. Located in downtown Chicago, it is renowned for its exceptional math, science, world languages, humanities, fine arts, and adventure education programs.

On any given day, Payton students engage in an honors and advanced placement curriculum, collaborate with peers, teachers, and national experts to solve real-world problems, or connect with sister schools globally. While Payton excels at preparing students for top-tier universities and beyond, its focus on developing the whole child sets it apart from other institutions.

Beyond academics, Payton offers numerous student-driven clubs, extracurriculars, and competitive sports. Global destinations like France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, China, and South Africa serve as outdoor classrooms for students in exchange programs. Payton is also home to the only Confucius Institute in a U.S. high school, supporting the growth of its Mandarin Chinese program. The Seminar Program offers a range of activities from horseback riding to Improv comedy, Math Modeling, and even Harry Potter exploration.