To build on the record-setting academic progress being made in Chicago schools, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson today announced that nearly 17,000 CPS students at 32 schools across the city will gain access to high-quality programming next school year as part of the largest-ever program expansion in district schools. CPS’ remarkable financial turnaround — due in large part to the education funding reform that families and city leaders fought to achieve in 2017 — has positioned the district to invest $32 million in new programs that were requested through a first-of-its-kind application process that empowered school communities to apply for new high-quality programs including International Baccalaureate (IB), STEM and Dual Language.

"Chicago schools are stronger than ever, and together we are laying the foundation for a bright future for students across the city,” said Mayor Emanuel. “By expanding high-quality academic programs in schools across the city, we are supporting the record academic progress Chicago’s students are making, and inspiring the next generation as they continue to shatter barriers and redefine what they can accomplish when given the opportunity to succeed.”

To ensure the success of these programs, which will benefit a student population that is 80 percent low income, CPS will be providing the 32 schools a total of $32 million over the next six years to support staffing, training, learning resources, and other elements needed to ensure programs are successfully implemented.

"High-quality programming opens a world of opportunities for our students and through our largest-ever programmatic investment, we will be transforming the educational experience for nearly 17,000 students across the city," said CPS CEO Dr, Janice K. Jackson." Our vision for CPS is a district where every child in every neighborhood has access to the high quality academic programs that meet their needs and interests, and these community-driven investments are a big step toward that goal.”

As a result of this historic investment, more students than ever are expected to access high-quality academic programming in CPS next school year:

• IB: More than 19,000 students will have access to proven International Baccalaureate programs at CPS’ 62 schools that make up the largest IB network in North America. New programs will be established at seven schools, serving approximately 1,900 students.
• STEM/STEAM: Nearly 18,000 elementary and high school students will engage in modern STEM and STEAM programming at 36 schools to prepare them to thrive in a technology-driven world. New programs will be created at 11 schools, including one new Early College STEM High School, serving more than 6,100 students and creating and strengthening five STEM Neighborhoods.
• Fine & Performing Arts: Nearly 41,000 students at 66 schools will benefit from comprehensive arts instruction that integrates arts throughout the school day. Next year, new programs will be created at six schools, serving more than 3,000 students.
• Dual Language: Students at 45 schools will receive instruction in two languages through Dual Language programs that allow students to expand their cultural understanding and develop literacy and fluency in two languages. New programs will be created at four schools in 2019-20.
• World Language: Students at 31 schools will be able to specialize in a foreign language and build their oral, written and cultural knowledge through World Language programs next year. New programs will be created at two schools in 2019-20.
• Personalized Learning: Students at 118 schools will engage in teacher-driven Personalized Learning instruction that tailors learning to the unique needs of each child. New programs will be created at two schools in 2019-20.
• Gifted: 4,600 students will be able to engage in accelerated coursework through Gifted programs at 22 schools. McPherson is receiving a Gifted program that will support 30 kindergarten students next school year and add one grade level each year until the program spans from K-8.

Empowering Schools to Offer High-Quality Academics

To select schools for the largest program investment in CPS history, the district established a first-of-its kind application process that empowered school communities to apply for new programming through a transparent application process. Schools were selected based on a thorough evaluation process that included community and parent engagement, a needs assessment, interviews with school staff, letters of support from community stakeholders, and approval by each school’s Local School Council (LSC).

After an intensive review process, which used the district’s Annual Regional Analysis (ARA) to identify program need throughout the city, the following 32 schools will receive programmatic investments:

• Addams Elementary School (Personalized Learning)
• Belmont-Cragin Elementary School (Magnet - Fine & Performing Arts)
• Cameron Elementary School (Magnet Cluster - Fine & Performing Arts)
• Chase Elementary School (STEAM)
• Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville (Early College STEM)
• Michele Clark Magnet High School (IB – MYP)
• Collins Academy High School (Magnet Cluster - Fine & Performing Arts)
• Columbia Explorers Elementary School (STEM)
• Cuffe Elementary School (STEM)
• Earhart Elementary School (STEAM)
• Eberhart Elementary School (Dual Language)
• Everett Elementary School (STEM)
• Evergreen Academy (STEAM)
• Fairfield Elementary School (IB – MYP)
• Faraday Elementary School (IB - PYP)
• Goethe Elementary School (Dual Language)
• Hawthorne Elementary School (Personalized Learning)
• Joplin Elementary School (Magnet Cluster - World Language)
• Josephine Locke Elementary School (IB – PYP)
• McPherson Elementary School (Gifted & IB-PYP)
• Moos Elementary School (IB – PYP)
• Peck Elementary School (STEM)
• Perez Elementary School (World Language Academy - Mandarin & Spanish)
• Peterson Elementary School (STEAM)
• Portage Park Elementary School (Magnet Cluster - Fine & Performing Arts)
• Roosevelt High School (Dual Language)
• Salazar Elementary School (Dual Language)
• Senn High School (IB – CP)
• Shoop Elementary School (STEM)
• Steinmetz High School  (STEAM)
• Till Elementary School (Magnet Cluster - Fine & Performing Arts)
• Wells High School (Magnet Cluster - Fine & Performing Arts)

Schools that applied but were not chosen to receive programs were provided clear, objective rationale, as well as areas of improvement so they can focus on strengthening structures to ensure successful program implementation in the future. CPS is committed to working hand-in-hand with any school interested in applying for programs during the next application cycle, which will begin later this year.

Expanding IB and STEM Neighborhoods

To ensure every family in Chicago has access to IB and STEM programs in their own community from elementary to high school, Mayor Emanuel and CPS are working to create “IB Neighborhoods” and “STEM Neighborhoods” across the city. IB and STEM Neighborhoods consist of elementary feeder schools and high school options within the community, so that students gain exposure to high-quality programming at a young age and engage with the rigorous program in their own community through graduation. IB and STEM Neighborhoods are being created and strengthened in the following areas as a result of the investments announced today:

IB Neighborhoods:

• Far Northwest Side: J. Locke (expansion) → Steinmetz High School
• Greater Milwaukee: Moos (expansion) → Clemente Community Academy
• North LakeFront: McPherson (expansion) → Amundsen High School
• West Side: DePriest, Ellington, Frazier Prospective, and Faraday (new program) → Michele Clark High School (new program)
• Greater Midway: Fairfield (new program) → Hubbard High School

STEM Neighborhoods:

• Greater Stony Island: Earhart (new program) → Chicago Vocational Career Academy
• Bronzeville: Wadsworth, Fiske, Beasley → Chicago Military Academy (new program)
• Greater Calumet: Shoop (new program) → Corliss
• Far Northwest Side: Camras → Steinmetz (new program)
• Northwest Side: Peterson (new program)  → Von Steuben

Additionally, the district added key programs to help address regions with programmatic gaps as shown by the ARA. Examples include:

• Michele Clark: First IB High School on the West Side.
• Collins High School: First Magnet Cluster program on the West Side.
• Chicago Military Academy: First Early College STEM High School in the Bronzeville/South Lakefront Region.
• Salazar Elementary: First Dual Language School in the Central Area Region.
• Roosevelt: First Dual Language High School in the Northwest Region.

Identifying Opportunities for Additional Investment

To identify opportunities for additional investment and facilitate community engagement the district today released its Annual Regional Analysis (ARA), a fact-based report designed to empower communities with objective school-level and regional education data.

CPS and Kids First Chicago created the first ARA in 2018 to ensure all stakeholders are able to utilize  the same transparent set of information and objectively assess education in their communities. The effort is meant to ensure stakeholders and the district can work collaboratively to create opportunities.

In addition to the information included in the district’s inaugural ARA report, the 2018-19 ARA has incorporated feedback from stakeholders and community members to include commute times, additional program types, information about Pre-K, GoCPS data and more.

A link to the 2018-19 ARA report and all 16 regional reports can be found at https://cps.edu/SchoolData/Pages/SchoolData.aspx.

To learn more about the ARA and the ways in which it is empowering school communities to strengthen their schools, see our brief video on the ARA at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndqonJpfL5Q.

Chicago Public Schools serves 361,000 students in 644 schools. It is the nation's third-largest school district.

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