End of Week Message: A Week of Exceptional CPS News!
18 October 2024
Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
What a week! I always enjoy taking the opportunity to acknowledge the positive work happening at CPS, but this week was a truly exciting one because we had so many achievements to celebrate.
It was day after day of good news, starting with the fact that our District’s enrollment has increased for the second year in a row! Also, attendance rates are on the rise for students across all racial and ethnic groups at nearly every grade level.
We also released encouraging data this week from the 2023–24 school year. Here are a few of the highlights:
- A record-breaking 4-year graduation rate of 84.1%
- More than $2 billion in scholarships earned by our graduates for the second year in a row
- Close to 7 out of every 10 CPS graduates are enrolling in college
- Reading proficiency among our 3rd–8th graders are now HIGHER than before the pandemic
- The second-lowest one-year dropout rate in two decades
- More than half of CPS students now graduating with college credit, an industry certification, or another Early College and Career Credential (ECCC)
You can explore these and other exciting data points in more detail here.
Finally this week, we added a new dashboard to our District’s website detailing how we’ve invested in more staff—a key contributor to our District’s growing success. In just the past five years, CPS has added more than 2,600 teachers and over 4,000 support staff to our classrooms, meaning that there are more licensed educators in our schools now than at any point in CPS history. All in all, 83% of schools have seen an increase in staffing since 2019. You can browse the dashboard at cps.edu/SchoolStaffing.
Full STEAM Ahead in North Lawndale!
As if all of this wasn’t enough, we also celebrated a momentous milestone this week in one of our city’s West Side communities.
I wish everyone in our CPS family could have been with me this week at Collins Academy High School. I was there to celebrate a long-awaited and well-deserved investment that will transform three neighborhood schools into 21st-century STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) schools to serve the children of North Lawndale.
The North Lawndale STEAM partnership aligns perfectly with the rigorous, joyful, and equitable daily learning experience outlined in Success 2029: Together We Rise, our District’s five-year strategic plan. This plan calls for creating high-quality K–12 pathways just like this one in every Chicago neighborhood, and leveraging our District’s many partnerships to transform neighborhood schools and make them stronger anchors for their communities.
Students in North Lawndale will begin their STEAM education at Chalmers and Johnson—both neighborhood elementary schools in North Lawndale—with exposure to music, art, and technology through a STEAM lens.
Then, when it’s time for high school, these students will travel a few short blocks to Collins Academy, where their STEAM education will continue with digital media and film, coding, engineering, mechanical and technical trades, and biological sciences, with the goal of all students graduating having earned advanced technical certifications, a semester of college credit, or even their associate degree.
Our children are coming of age in a technology-driven world. And career forecasts show that 80% of jobs created in the next 10 years will require some form of math and science skills. So I can think of no better tool to provide children than a robust STEAM education that promotes creative and critical thinking, and that teaches students to investigate, analyze, problem-solve, and work with others to achieve a common goal.
The creation of these three STEAM schools is an example of what can happen when true partnership exists. In this case, it was the outgoing Chicago Board of Education that approved the plan, and the Chicago City Council that provided $10 million in TIF funding to help get it across the finish line.
I applaud both our Board members and our partners in the City Council for their support of this project. But the group that deserves the most credit is the community of North Lawndale.
First, the North Lawndale families who have chosen our neighborhood schools for their children. Next, the teachers and school leaders who have embraced an innovative STEAM curriculum and instructional model. And finally, our amazing community partners, especially the North Lawndale Community Action Council and Community Coordinating Council, who fought tirelessly for this investment for nearly a decade.
This week, I saw the power of partnership reflected in the eyes of our North Lawndale students. They know now that their school system, their community, and their city truly believes in them, and it’s that knowledge that will propel them toward a successful future as Chicago’s next generation of scientists, artists, and engineers.
Sincerely,
Pedro Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
Help Us Highlight Your School
We love highlighting the amazing things that are happening day-to-day in our schools, along with the people who are making them happen! Please share your stories with us using our Good News Form so that we can share them with the District!
A Look Around the District
Check out some highlights from schools across the District!
Taylor Elementary, located on the East Side of Chicago, recently unveiled its new Hall of Honor, highlighting former students and their career success stories. The display features 80 former students and was created in hopes of showing current and future students the numerous career opportunities available to them, as well as enhancing their school pride and motivating them to strive for their best, knowing that one day they could be featured as well.
Meanwhile, schools like Belding Elementary in Old Irving Park and Scammon Elementary in Kilbourn Park marked the end of Hispanic Heritage Month with school-wide celebrations filled with community, cultural food and music, and fun activities, such as trivia, face painting, and games!
Fun Fall Festivities for Students
Teen Fallapalooza
All Chicago youth ages 14-19 are invited to celebrate the start of fall at the 2024 Teen Fallapalooza event on Friday, October 18! Join My CHI. My Future. at the Winter Garden in Harold Washington Library from 5-8 pm for an evening filled with music, games, food, and fun activities. Click here to register or contact MyCHIMyFuture@cityofchicago.org for questions or accommodations.
Chicago Fall Fest 2024
Enjoy Chicago Fall Fest, a two week celebration of Fall holidays and events across the city from October 18 to November 3. Visit chicagofallfest.org for more information on community events, parades, and more.
Halloween in the Parks
From pumpkin patches and Fall Harvest Fests to haunted houses, parties, and more, there is something for everyone this season in the parks! Visit: chicagoparkdistrict.com/halloween for all the details!
Fall Youth Events from the Chicago Public Library
Join the Chicago Public Library for events at every library branch all fall! There are events for all ages. Visit the CPL website to learn more.
Safe Events for Teens this Fall
Local community events for teens and families are being planned throughout the month of October. Check out My CHI. My Future. website and app in October and search “MCMFKickbacks” to get up-to-date event information.
CPS Safe Haven Sites
Safe Haven sites offer out-of-school time programming for all CPS students throughout the school year. Healthy meals are provided at all locations. Hours of operation vary by site. Call (773) 553-2500, email faithbased@cps.edu, or click here to learn more.
Opportunities from the Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District has a few upcoming opportunities that you should know about.
- Join the Chicago Park District in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Junior Bear program at the Annual Mum Bowl, on Saturday, October 26 at noon at Soldier Field. Free admission and parking. Junior Bears is a tackle football program for ages 8-13. The 11-13 year old division season culminates with the Mum Bowl. Come cheer on these youth athletes and enjoy Soldier Field. A special invitation is extended to Junior Bear alumni, who will be recognized at halftime. Registration is encouraged for alumni. Learn more at chicagoparkdistrict.com/junior-bear-football.
- Apply now to be a Chicago Park District lifeguard next summer! Make friends, keep active, have fun, make a difference and make $19.75 an hour by being a lifeguard in the summer of 2025. Complete four steps to be hired: (1) Apply (2) Test (3) Get certified (4) Complete paperwork! Must be a Chicago resident age 16 or older by July 1, 2025. Enjoy your perfect summer job in the parks! Learn more and apply at chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/CPS.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in CPS Athletics
CPS made history this week when three of our high schools—Lane Tech, Perspectives Leadership, and Whitney Young—qualified for the first-ever flag football state finals! The three teams will head to Willowbrook High School this weekend to compete for the inaugural IHSA State Championship. Full schedules can be found here.
CPS also crowned a new city champion in boys soccer (Lane Tech High School) in thrilling fashion this week, and there are more championships to come in the next few weeks!
- Boys and Girls Cross Country (October 19)
- Girls Diving (October 25)
- Girls Swimming (October 26)
- Girls Volleyball (October 24)
- Boys Football (November 23)
More information and schedules can be found at CPSAthletics.com.
Discounted Tickets for CPS Staff and Students
CPS staff are invited to cheer on the Chicago Bulls with an exclusive ticket offer for the below games. Get your tickets here!
- Bulls vs. Magic: Wednesday, October 30
- Bulls vs. Jazz: Monday, November 4
- Bulls vs. Rockets: Sunday, November 17
- Bulls vs. Hawks: Friday, November 22
Step aboard Titanic: The Exhibition at Westfield Old Orchard and bring history to life for your students with an immersive journey through the legendary ship's stories, artifacts, and unforgettable experiences. Free tickets for groups from Title IX schools are available during "Free Field Trip Days" on November 14th and 15th. Click to Apply for Tickets and Download Educator’s Guide.
Also, CPS staff members receive a 25% discount on single tickets using code 25TITANIC at checkout through October 30. Visit www.thetitanicexhibition.com, now through Oct 30 only.
DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL is a hilarious, heartfelt family adventure based on the bestselling book series! Don't miss the SUPA awesome production beginning Nov 8 at The Studebaker Theater. Teachers can Download Educational Resources here. CPS staff members receive 20% OFF tickets with code DM20CPS at checkout (good through November 24, P1 and P2 price levels only, based on availability). Click for Dog Man tickets!
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Friday, October 25: End of quarter 1.
- Monday, November 4: Parent-teacher conferences; no classes for CPS students
- Tuesday, November 5: CPS schools and offices are closed in observance of Election Day; no classes for CPS students.