Rosary High School in Aurora rebrands itself Rosary College Prep

Rosary High School in Aurora, long known for its academic rigor in preparing girls for college, has added College Prep to its name.

School officials say the name change to Rosary College Prep reflects its continuing academic commitment and is the fulfillment of a five-year strategic plan.

“Rosary has always been a college prep school,” said Vicki Danklefsen, director of philanthropy and alumni for Rosary. “The name change is simply stating that more clearly.”

The Dominican Sisters of Springfield started the school at 901 N. Edgelawn Drive in 1962.

According to Danklefsen, the school had roughly 215 students in the last academic year from 32 towns in eight counties, including Kane, DuPage, Cook and McHenry.

“People do drive for this unique experience,” Danklefsen said.

She noted that after 93 years as an all-boys school, Marmion Academy, also a Catholic college prep high school in Aurora, has announced it would allow boys and girls to attend single-gender classes in the fall of 2026.

Head of School Amy McMahon said in an email that Rosary offers “a model proven to empower young women in their academic, spiritual and personal development.”

“Girls at Rosary are seen, heard and challenged in every space — academic, spiritual and social,” McMahon wrote. “It’s about clarity, purpose and positioning.”

Last year, Rosary partnered with Leapfrog Marketing to guide the school through a brand evolution with Rosary stakeholders.

Adding “College Prep” to the name is significant because it “communicates to parents, colleges, and the wider community that Rosary’s goal is not just graduation, but college success,” McMahon wrote.

Single-sex education allows for curriculums, leadership opportunities and a school culture specifically designed for girls’ learning styles and growth, officials said.

In a coeducational world, a girls-only Catholic environment offers focused spiritual formation in a setting that reinforces confidence, leadership, and moral decision-making.

There is less social pressure and more opportunity for leadership, as girls are more likely to take on leadership roles, speak up in class, and explore nontraditional fields — like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) — in all-girls environments, McMahon said.

Students don’t have to be Catholic to attend, Danklefsen said in an email. The name change does not mean tuition will increase, officials said.