The CPS Annual Regional Analysis (ARA) is a collection of reports designed to inform conversations with communities to address the question - what school options do families and communities need?
The purpose of the ARA is to support CPS’s goal to provide every student with a high-quality education in every neighborhood. These reports aim to ensure that every student in Chicago has access to quality public schools and a variety of programs.
The reports present CPS data in one place, without making recommendations or suggestions for action. They give stakeholders consistent information about school quality, enrollment patterns, school choice, and program offerings by region.
Structure & Organization
The ARA consists of a district report and 16 regional reports. The City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development created boundaries for regions based on housing and employment research. Natural borders such as rivers and train lines divide each region. These borders are likely considerations for families when selecting a school. The ARA uses these regions as they are more consistent than city wards or school networks.
The ARA includes all CPS schools, including traditional neighborhood schools, Charter schools, Selective Enrollment, Magnet, Special Education Specialty, and Options High Schools.
Maps
Region Map
The Central Area region's boundaries are, generally, Division Street on the north, Lake Michigan on the east, the Stevenson Expressway on the south, and by North Halsted Street and the Kennedy / Dan Ryan Expressway on the west. It contains parts of 10 wards, 19 neighborhoods, and 8 community areas. It is served by 29 CTA train stops and 9 Metra stops..
* Denotes Options/alternative or special education specialty school
School Type
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
Racial/Ethnic Composition
The Central Area region over the last four years has remained relatively diverse.
In the racial/ethnic composition of the Central Area student population, the majority of students identify as Black or Asian, although in the past four years the percentage of students identifying as Black has increased from 32% to 35% while the percentage of students identifying as Asian has decreased from 31% to 28%.
The majority of the students in the northern and southeast portions of the Central Area region identify as Black, with the southwest portion being primarily students identifying as Asian.
Race/Ethnicity Composition Over Time
Race/Ethnicity Composition Over Time
Free and Reduced Lunch Rates
In the past four years, the percentage of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) has increased from 47% to 48%. The percentage of students qualifying for FRL in the region is lower than the overall district percentage of 73%. 1, 2
The Central Area region mostly encompasses neighborhoods of high median household income, with some lower-income neighborhoods in the southwest part of the region.
Free and Reduced Lunch Rate Over Time
Free and Reduced Lunch Rate Over Time
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME