Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
At CPS, we believe strongly that all students have the potential to soar academically, and that every child should be given the opportunity to reach their full potential. That’s why, five years ago, our District began expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses throughout our city, especially in communities where students had been historically underserved.
Critics warned us that the District’s AP scores could drop as a result of this change. But we let belief in our students and our commitment to equity guide us, and as they so often do, CPS students rose to meet the challenge.
Data from the 2023–24 school year shows our District’s students are reaching new heights when it comes to taking — and passing — AP exams. With the exception of 2020 when exams were shortened due to the pandemic, CPS students have set new records for:
- Number of total AP exams taken
- Number of students taking at least one AP exam
- Number of students achieving at least one passing AP score
- Number of total passing scores on AP exams
Most importantly, our students are also outpacing the nation when it comes to overall AP success, with more than half of the exams taken in CPS last year receiving a passing score. For context, in 2011, less than one-third of exams taken in CPS received a passing score. This success can translate to students earning college credit even before graduating from high school, which can save them both time and money.
AP courses are just one of many pathways our District provides to help students achieve success after high school. Others include our International Baccalaureate (IB), Career and Technical Education (CTE), and dual-credit, dual-enrollment programs. As a result of these many opportunities, 52 percent of students from the Class of 2024 graduated from high school having earned at least one college or career credential.
73 CPS Students Named Posse Scholars for 2025
Huge congratulations to the soon-to-be high school graduates who are receiving full-tuition scholarships from the Posse Foundation, which in addition to providing them with financial support, sends students to college together, in “posses”, so that they have a built-in support system on campus from day one of their freshman year.
CPS students make up the majority of this year’s Posse Scholars from the Chicago area, and will be attending such prestigious schools as Middlebury College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Cornell University.
CPS Educators in the Spotlight
Congratulations also go out to a group of CPS educators who’ve received statewide recognition in the past few weeks.
Ms. Comfort Agboola of Poe Classical School, and Mr. Josh Lerner of Peirce Elementary, have been named Co-Regional Teachers of the Year by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
In addition, Ms. Jessica Suarez-Nieto of Telpochcalli Elementary has been named Bilingual Teacher of the Year for the state of Illinois.
An additional sixteen CPS teachers, administrators, and educational support personnel also received recognition this year as part of ISBE’s “Those Who Excel” initiative. See the full list here.
Equally exciting, eight CPS teachers have been named finalists for the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. They are:
- Nick Anaya, Lindblom Math and Science Academy
- Tiffany Childress Price, South Shore International College Prep
- Elvira Concepcion Soriano, Taft High School
- Victor Hurtado, Schurz High School
- Vyjayanti Joshi, Lake View High School
- Kathleen Mahoney, Lake View High School
- Trevor Nicholas, Senn High School
- Elise Scarbeary, Solorio Academy High School
I am incredibly proud of these ISBE award winners and Golden Apple finalists, and thank them for consistently going above and beyond for their students.
Nothing makes me more proud than seeing our students, educators, and school communities recognized for their success. Their accomplishments are yet more proof of what we always say—“the best are with CPS”!
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 few ideas to consider:
- March 2–8 is National School Social Work Week. Tell us about the social worker who is making a difference in your CPS community.
- What does your school have planned for the celebration of Women’s History Month in March?
- Spring is right around the corner! Tell us about the outdoor spaces that make your school special, or the programs and activities that see students spending time outside!
Use our Good News Form to help us showcase all the ways the best are with CPS!
A Look Around the District
McCutcheon Elementary in Uptown celebrated Black History Month with various celebrations, including a special visit from authors Clothilde Ewing and Malcolm Newsome, who read their books to Pre-K to 5th-grade students. Meanwhile, their 6th to 8th-grade scholars visited the DuSable Black History Museum as a part of an inspiring day of learning and reflection for the entire school community.
At Zapata Elementary in Little Village, 7th-grade students analyzed the 2025 Superbowl halftime show as a part of Black History Month and will also analyze protest songs throughout the decades to learn more about the impact music has had on social movements.
Staff members on the Wellness Team from Albany Park Elementary participated in the Hustle Chicago Stair Climb event with the Respiratory Health Association (RHA). The team climbed 94 floors and took 1632 steps up the Hancock Building to help raise money that benefits RHA’s work to prevent lung disease and promote clean air.
And at Peterson Elementary, located in North Park, third-grade students hopped into the fascinating world of frog anatomy! With help from Northeastern Illinois University’s College of Arts and Sciences, students dissected frogs in a hands-on learning experience.
CPS Magnet Schools Earn National Recognition
Congratulations to the nine CPS Magnet schools that recently received national recognition from Magnet Schools of America (MSA) in the following categories:
- Top Schools of Excellence: Goudy Technology Academy, Hawthorne Scholastic Academy, and Jungman STEM Magnet School
- Schools of Excellence: Brown STEM Magnet Academy, Burr Elementary School, LaSalle II Magnet Elementary School, Sheridan Math & Science Academy, and Stone Scholastic Academy,
- Schools of Distinction: Thorp Elementary Scholastic Academy
This was Jungman’s second consecutive year earning MSA recognition, and the school’s principal, Suzanne Luzzi, was also named one of the organization's Principals of the Year for 2025.
New Leadership for the Office of Student Protections and Title IX
The Chicago Board of Education has named Elizabeth Mendoza-Browne as the District’s new Chief for the Office of Student Protections and Title IX (OSP). Chief Mendoza Browne began her career with CPS in 2021 as the Director of Investigations for OSP. In this role, she oversaw investigators who support students and families involved in the Office of Student Protections process. She then transitioned to the position of Deputy Chief Title IX Officer, and finally to Acting Chief Title IX Officer. Chief Mendoza-Browne has dedicated her career to the protection of children, and will continue on that path by coordinating our District's response to all reports of abuse, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation involving students.
Supporting Families Amidst Federal Policy Changes
With the transition to a new presidential administration, many in our school communities are experiencing anxiety, especially regarding immigration issues. CPS is committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming educational environments that embrace and celebrate everyone in our diverse communities. CPS has strong protections in place for our students and staff; you can read about them here.
We have also created a website with many resources on immigration services, as well as details on “Know Your Rights” trainings and workshops that are being held throughout Chicago. Some of these sessions are being conducted by our District’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Team, while others are being presented by our community partners. Families can find complete details at cps.edu/newadminguidance. This website will be updated frequently to reflect new training opportunities and any changes to federal law, so we encourage everyone to visit regularly. Mental health supports are also available to students through their schools. Parents who feel their children could benefit from these supports should contact their child’s teacher, principal, or school counselor directly.
Complete the Annual CPS School Food Survey
Calling all CPS students, parents, and school-based staff! The District’s annual School Food Survey is open from now through March 21, 2025. Please take this opportunity to share your opinion on the food being served at your school each day. Tell us what you like, and what you think could be better. We will use your feedback to improve school meals for the remainder of this school year and beyond. As a bonus, the elementary and high school with the greatest participation in the survey will be part of a raffle for some exciting prizes. So please complete this brief survey today!
Nominate a CPS Crossing Guard for the Crossing Guard of the Year Award
Crossing Guard Appreciation Month runs from February 14–March 14. This is a great opportunity to let our 686 active crossing guards know how much we appreciate them seeing our students safely to and from school, no matter what the conditions outside. Please take a moment in the next four weeks to thank our crossing guards for their service, and consider using this form to nominate a crossing guard who has made a difference in your life for the District’s Crossing Guard of the Year Award!
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
Taft High School’s Evan J. made history this week, placing fifth in the IHSA State Wrestling Tournament! Read more about Evan’s journey to the title and his impact at Taft here.
Congratulations to Tory S. from Jones, Da’Kyla H. from Simeon, and Maylin N. from Taft on receiving the Chicago Bears Changemaker Award for 2025! This recognition highlights these students’ excellence in Flag Football and in the classroom. Read more about these three athletes here.
IHSA and the Chicago Public League honored longtime CPS Sports Administration Director Mickey Pruitt (retiring), Curie basketball coach Mike Oliver (550+ wins) and the Chicago Tribune’s Barry Temkin for their impact on our District. Read more about their accomplishments, the ceremony, and their work with our student-athletes on the CPS athletics website.
Chicago Public Schools student-athletes continue their state journeys in girls and boys basketball and boys swimming to close out the winter season. Make sure to support our athletes across their various competitions ! All schedules, stories, and photo galleries relating to the IHSA State Tournament can be found at CPSAthletics.com.
CPS SCORE! elementary school sports program is inching closer to the playoffs and championships! The elementary cheer cChampionship will take place at UIC Forum on March 8, boys and girls basketball championships on March 20 at Phillips High School, and wrestling championships will take place March 22 at Chicago Military Academy Bronzeville. Make sure to come out and cheer on our elementary school-athletes!
REMINDER: CPS Athletics is excited to announce their official launch on Instagram and Facebook, highlighting the incredible accomplishments of our student-athletes and programs across the District! Make sure to follow these accounts and interact with us on these new social platforms in addition to our existing X account.
Cash Assistance for CPS Families Experiencing Homelessness
Thanks to a partnership between the Illinois Department of Human Services, GiveDirectly, and the University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab, CPS families who are experiencing housing instability are now eligible to receive up to $6500 in cash assistance.
To be eligible for this financial assistance, families must:
- Currently be experiencing housing instability or homelessness
- Have a child who is 17 or younger and enrolled in Chicago Public Schools
- Have a member of the family receiving SNAP, TANF, or VTTC benefits
After being selected by lottery, 750 families will receive a $6500 payment, and 750 families will receive $500. Applications are open now, and the deadline to apply is March 9, 2025.
This pilot program aims to understand the impact of this one-time cash assistance pilot on families’ housing stability, as well as its impact on other measures of well-being for the entire family. For more information or to apply, click here, or speak with the STLS liaison at your school.
Opportunities from the Chicago Park District
Teens: Get your summer plans set now! Attend a Teen Opportunity Fair. Join the Chicago Park District on March 1, March 8, or March 15 to learn about summer opportunities in the parks for Chicago youth ages 13–19. Teens age 16+, apply for a summer job. Youth age 13–15, learn about RIT (Rec Leader in Training) and CIT (Counselor in Training) paid stipend-based programs, teen camps and other opportunities. The new Deaf and Hard of Hearing Fair takes place on March 22. Learn more and register: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/teen-opportunity-fairs/cps
Be a lifeguard this summer—take the March 1st test. Join the Chicago Park District team and make $19.75 an hour as a lifeguard this summer. Apply now and pick the March 1 test date, which takes place at Whitney Young High School, 211 S. Laflin St, beginning at 9 a.m. Must be a Chicago resident age 16 or older by July 1, 2025 to be a summer lifeguard. Learn more and apply: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/CPS.
Apply now for other summer positions! A number of positions are now open for the summer, including Recreational Leaders (for day camp), Lifeguards, Junior Laborers (landscape maintenance), and Special Recreation Leaders, all open to Chicago residents age 16 and older by July 1, 2025. Additional positions are available for residents age 18 and older. Enjoy your perfect summer job in the parks! Learn more and apply: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/summer-jobs/cps
For questions, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Discounted Tickets for CPS Staff and Families
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs invite CPS teachers, administrators, and staff to visit Wrigley Field on Monday, May 5 at 6:40 p.m. for Teacher Appreciation Night! Discount tickets are available from $24 and include a Cubs quarter-zip. Get your tickets here!
Chicago Bulls
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. Pacers: Monday, March 10
- Bulls vs. Nets: Thursday, March 13
CSO Civic Impact Concert
Be inspired by the musicians who are learning, growing, and serving Chicago through the programs produced by the Negaunee Music Institute at Impact — a showcase of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s education and community engagement programs. On March 17, enjoy performances by the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, musicians from the CSO, Percussion Scholarship Program students, Young Artist Competition winner Jaden Teague-Núñez, and more. Use promo code IMPACT to get $12 tickets.
Enter the promo code before selecting your seats and the pricing will be adjusted after you have added the seats to your order. Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in combination with other offers. Eligible for adult tickets only; additional restrictions may apply.
Purchase tickets here: https://cso.org/performances/24-25/civic-orchestra/impact/
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Wednesday, March 5: Board Agenda Review Committee meetings. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Thursday, March 20: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Friday, March 21: End of the third quarter.
- Monday, March 24–Friday, March 28: Spring break for all CPS students and teachers.
- Monday, March 31: School improvement day for staff; no classes for CPS students.
- Tuesday, April 1: Parent-teacher conferences; no classes for CPS students.