Benito Juarez Community Academy
| Benito Juarez Academy High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
1450–1510 W. Cermak Road , 60608 | |
| Coordinates | 41°51′10″N 87°39′52″W / 41.8529°N 87.6645°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public Secondary |
| Motto | Soaring to new heights! |
| Opened | 1977 |
| School district | Chicago Public Schools |
| Principal | Juan C. Ocon |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | Coed |
| Enrollment | 1,682 (2015–16) |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) | Black Silver |
| Athletics conference | Chicago Public League |
| Team name | Eagles |
| Accreditation | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Yearbook | Eagle |
| Website | benitojuarez |
Benito Juarez Community Academy, (commonly known as Juarez High School; abbreviated BJCA), is a public four-year high school in the Pilsen neighborhood on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Juarez is named for Mexican president Benito Pablo Juárez García. The school is a part of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) district. As of 2014, it has been recognized as the largest high school in Pilsen. The building was designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.
The school was proposed to the Chicago Board of Education multiple times but ultimately rejected. This led to protests and boycotts from many Mexican students and families. Finally, in June 1974, the Chicago Board of Education approved $8.9 million in funding to build a high school in Pilsen. Benito Juarez Community Academy opened in 1977 and as of 2017 has a 94 percent Latino student body. The school is decorated with murals and statues that portray Mexican culture and famous leaders.