Muslim Community Center Academy (MCCA) is a Muslim K-12 school in the Chicago metropolitan area and in Illinois. Pre-Kindergarten and elementary school students attend classes in Skokie while secondary grades are in Morton Grove.[1]
| Muslim Community Center Academy (MCCA) | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
8601 Menard Ave , 60053 | |
| Coordinates | 42°2′16″N 87°46′16″W / 42.03778°N 87.77111°W |
| Information | |
| Established | 1989 |
| Enrollment | 740 (2020) |
| Website | mccchicago |
History
editThe school purchased land for a single campus in Morton Grove in 1989.[2] The school described 1989 as its year of establishment.[3] The school began operations in August of the following year.[1] It initially had grades Kindergarten through 2. 25 students were enrolled when the school opened.[4]
At first the school had seven principals before 2002, and that year its enrollment count was 175. In 2002 Habeeb Quadri, the son of the founder of the MCC organization, became the principal. He later became the superintendent.[5]
For a period of time the school had grades K-8 only, partly because since 2004, the government of Morton Grove did not permit the institution to add high school.[6]
In early 2014 the school had 50 employees and 476 students.[7] In 2014 Skokie School District 68 sold MCC a school building that was previously a private Jewish day school, Solomon Schechter Day School,[8] and the Kenton School. That year MCC moved its elementary school students to that campus.[7]
In 2018 MCCA had 129 students at the middle school level. That year,[9] the Morton Grove government agreed to lift the restrictions on high school students, with new rules allowing up to 25 high school students to enter each year. The high school, MCCA College Prep, opened in 2018 with 11 9th grade students.[2]
In 2020 the school had 740 students.[5]
It also has a hifz program, which had 40 students in 2018.[9]
Campuses
editThe secondary campus has 26,035 square feet (2,418.7 m2) of area and includes a mosque and a parking lot that can accommodate over 200 cars.[7]
The elementary campus in Skokie retained the prayer room and a mural reflecting Jewish culture.[10]
Academics
editOakton Community College allows students of MCC at the high school level to take university-level classes.[11]
Athletics
editIn 2016 a girls' basketball team began to play in the Illinois Elementary School Association's league, making it the only hijab-wearing team.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Mission & Vision". MCC Academy. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ a b "Inaugural class at Islamic college prep high school in Morton Grove begins academic year". Chicago Tribune. 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ "Student/Parent Handbook Revised Fall, 2014" (PDF). MCC Academy. Retrieved 2022-01-24. - See school seal on cover page
- ^ Cox, Brian L. (2022-01-03). "Superintendent of MCC Academy in Skokie, Morton Grove honored by international group". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ a b Fisher, Jennifer (2020-01-06). "MCCA principal wins national honor, praise from students and parents". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ Meadows, Jonah (2018-07-02). "Muslim Community Center Academy Gets Approval For High School". Patch.com. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ a b c "Muslim Community Center looks to launch high school in Morton Grove". Chicago Tribune. 2018-06-11. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ Schmich, Mary (2014-09-24). "Important lesson at ex-Jewish school, now Muslim". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ a b "Morton Grove Village Board signs off on Muslim Community Center Academy's expansion to high school". Chicago Tribune. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ "Welcoming group are models for peace and love for humanity". Chicago Tribune. 2014-09-25. Retrieved 2022-01-24. (Opinion Section)
- ^ Robb, Tom (2018-08-22). "MCC Academy Starts High School". Journal & Topics. Des Plaines, Illinois: Journal & Topics Online Media Group. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
- ^ "Morton Grove girls basketball team becomes first hijabi Muslim team in IESA". ABC 7 Chicago. 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2022-01-24.