Why Now?
Contrary to popular rhetoric, Chicago’s students are making impressive academic gains. In 2017, Chicago Public Schools announced a record-high graduation rate, with more than 77 percent of Chicago’s students graduating within five years of starting high school – a four percentage point gain from 2016.
At the same time our students are achieving unprecedented gains, Chicago is closing the achievement gap. According to researchers at Stanford University, the typical third-grader in Chicago and Baltimore is almost a full grade-level behind in math. In Chicago, that gap nearly closes by eighth grade.
"On pretty much every measure you can think of, the schools have improved not only for students overall, but for every demographic subgroup."
Stanford University
Sean Reardon, Associate Professor of Education