College Preparatory School of America was founded by the departed Dr Salim Abdul-Rahman out of his apartment in Bridgeview, IL in 1989. In 1991, having outgrown a series of temporary locations, CPSA moved to its permanent home in Lombard, in the suburbs of Chicago, IL, as a premier establishment to provide unparalleled education in a highly-disciplined environment following the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad .

Dr Salim’s goal and the enduring vision of CPSA is to see a new generation of American Muslims take their place as leaders in society, making their way to the upper echelons of all fields and industries. CPSA has always promoted a STEM-focused curriculum designed to encourage critical thinking and rational analysis and our students are taught to both think for and rely on themselves to accomplish their dreams.

Dr Salim (born Jan. 15, 1946) passed away on the 8^th of October 2003 (7^th of Ramadan, 1424) while on umrah during Ramadan, and is buried in Saudi Arabia. His legacy lives on with every student that passes through the walls of CPSA.

Today, CPSA has become famous nationwide for its rigorous and thorough attention to premium education in a conservative and disciplined environment, and are proud to be repeatedly named The Washington Post‘s number one most challenging high school in all of Illinois. We instill in our students the very qualities that define leadership and excellence from a young age, and offer our services for children in the community of all ages, from preschool to 12th grade.

CPSA is recognized as the foremost Islamic elementary, middle, and high-school in the nation and has attracted both students and faculty from all corners of the continent and of all faiths and backgrounds, drawn to its legacy of excellence and its commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow. Students at CPSA are subjected to intense and directed one-on-one education with personal attention to their future career path, personal talents, and strengths and weaknesses.