Students, educators, and community members celebrate the opening of Sor Juana Elementary School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Success Starts Here
OUR FIVE-YEAR VISION: 2019-2024
Our district has emerged as a beacon of what is achievable for large urban school districts across the country.
Vision, Mission, Commitments
Defining What We Want to Achieve
Chicago Public Schools is truly a district on the rise. The last five years have been an unprecedented success for CPS, and during that time, our district has emerged as a beacon of what is achievable for large urban school districts across the country.
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Our MissionTo provide a high-quality public education for every child, in every neighborhood, that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Vision & MissionThis plan outlines our Vision for what we aspire to, our Mission to provide world-class educational programs for all students across the city; and the core Commitments we are making to our families and all Chicagoans as we pursue them with a focus on equity in all we do. |
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Academic ProgressIn young people, a high-quality education develops not only strong academic skills, but also a love of learning, the ability to work with others, the motivation to take initiative, the experience to solve problems creatively, the knowledge to live healthy lives, and the desire to become active citizens in their communities.
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Financial StabilityFulfilling our promise to provide a high-quality education requires that we remain on sound financial footing and serve as good stewards of public and philanthropic funds. We will advocate with the wider Chicago community for fair school funding from the state so all of Chicago’s children receive the educational resources they need and deserve.
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IntegrityWe respect our students and families, and the diverse communities in which they live, and honor them as partners in our shared mission. We will earn their trust by communicating openly and consistently acting on community feedback.
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CPS Five-Year Vision
Core Values
As a district, we will work to ensure that the following core values are adhered to in all of our planning and practices:
Student Centered
We place students at the center of everything we do.
Whole Child
We support our students so they are healthy, safe, engaged, and academically challenged.
Equity
We eliminate barriers to success and ensure equitable opportunities for all students.
Academic Excellence
We provide diverse curriculum and programs with high academic standards to prepare students for future success.
Community Partnership
We rely on families, communities, and partners in every neighborhood to shape and support our shared mission.
Continuous Learning
We promote an environment of continuous learning throughout CPS for students, teachers, leaders, and district staff.
Five-Year Goals
Where we want to be in five years
We believe that CPS is just getting starting in our journey to the new heights our school district can achieve. So to prepare our students for success in a global economy, we are elevating instruction in every content area to emphasize deeper reasoning and creative problem-solving.
Increase in the number of incoming kindergartners meeting benchmarks across all developmental domains.
2nd grade students will be at or above national attainment for reading.
2nd grade students will be at or above national attainment for math.
Students will be at or above national attainment for reading.
Students will be at or above national attainment for math.
Freshmen will be on track to graduate high school.
Students will graduate high school within five years.
Students will meet college readiness benchmarks on the SAT.
Graduates will enroll in college.
Creating the Vision
CPS Five-Year Vision
Across Chicago, we met with students, parents, teachers, leaders, partners, and community members to learn about their vision for the future of CPS. Those ideas and insights are reflected in this plan and will guide us over the next five years. Below are the top three ideas of each group expressed for shaping the school district they envision: one that is equitable, inclusive, supportive, responsive, and makes us all proud.
Students Want
- More student representation in school and district planning and decision-making
- Opportunities to express their own viewpoints and feel supported and engaged by teachers, principals, and the district
- Their needs placed before everything else
- Over 2,000 students engaged through Student Voice Committees completing surveys and focus groups
Educators Want
- A stronger emphasis on engaging families, communities, and external partners in the school
- More opportunities for teachers to develop their leadership skills and pursue clearer pathways to teacher leader and administrative roles
- Equity in the distribution of school programs, such as fine arts, STEM, International Baccalaureate, and world language
- Over 5,200 engaged through surveys and focus groups, including over 3,200 teachers and over 1,900 other school-based educators
Parents and Community Members Want
- An increase in direct communication from district leadership, such as through more community town hall meetings
- A clearer understanding of how schools are rated and how school programming and budget decisions are made
- More opportunities to learn how to support students in high school selection, college and career options, and transitioning into life after high school graduation
- Over 2,100 engaged through surveys in English and Spanish and focus groups
Philanthropic, Business, Higher Education, Health, Cultural, and Community Partners Want
- A clearly defined role in supporting CPS to achieve its vision to maximize impact and properly steward resources
- A better understanding of equity issues and how they can support equity goals
- A role in educating CPS students and families on the many pathways possible after graduating high school
- Over 150 engaged through focus groups and partner meetings
Principals Want
- Acknowledgement and celebration of school efforts and achievements
- More support to attract and develop highly-qualified teachers, especially those with expertise in areas of high need
- Greater emphasis on life and professional skills for students
- Over 500 engaged through surveys and focus groups
We All Want
- Every school to be one of high-quality and opportunity
- A shared belief in communities as the bedrock for school success
- A shared excitement and pride in being a part of CPS
Resources
Access All of Our New Vision Documents
Vision Booklet
