Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
A huge thank you to the Daisie Foundation for bringing joy to more than 1,200 students and staff through their Holiday Magic Express!
This annual event delivered holiday cheer to classrooms at both Lawndale Elementary in North Lawndale and Leland Elementary in Chicago’s Austin community. Festivities included gifts for every student and staff member, a special lunch for the entire school community, and visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Grinch.
Through random acts of kindness and special projects, the Daisie Foundation works to bring joy, hope, and life-changing moments to students, families, and professionals, reminding them that they are seen, valued, and loved. We thank this team for turning two of our schools into a winter wonderland, and for brightening the season for so many in our CPS community.
Setting Graduates Up for Success
Continuing our ongoing conversation around college and career readiness, we are excited to highlight the wide range of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that are giving students across the city a powerful head start on pursuing the careers of their dreams.
CPS currently offers 34 CTE pathways at more than 80 high schools, allowing students to gain work experience for in-demand careers while earning early college credit and industry-recognized certifications. Focus areas include the construction trades, medical care, law and public safety, and much more.
Despite being one of the largest urban school Districts in the country, CPS even has a specialized high school for agriculture! From the farm, to the full-sized kitchen, to the expansive greenhouse, students at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (CHSAS) on Chicago’s far south side have unique opportunities to engage in hands-on learning across the fields of animal science, horticulture, and food science.
Nearly ALL of last year’s CHSAS graduates (98%) finished high school having earned CTE certifications, making this school the ideal backdrop to celebrate the exciting growth we’ve seen in these programs in recent years. The number of students earning CTE certifications has nearly tripled over the past decade, moving us closer to our goal of seeing 70% of all graduates earn early college or career credentials by the time they finish high school. We’ve set this goal because we know it will give our students a significant head start on building successful futures.
One area where we see continued growth is in the number of CPS graduates now earning the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy.
More than 3,500 students from the Class of 2025 earned the State Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes a high level of proficiency in English and one or more additional languages. CPS graduates primarily received this distinction in Spanish, but students also earned the Seal in dozens of other languages, including Swahili, Afrikaans, Pashto, Nepali, and Hungarian, all of which were awarded for the first time in 2025.
By certifying them as strong bilingual communicators, the State Seal of Biliteracy gives our students a distinct advantage, enhancing their value in an increasingly multilingual workforce. In 2025, 73 CPS graduates earned the Seal in multiple languages, with one graduate even achieving this credential in an astounding five languages!
We celebrated this news at Solorio High School in Chicago’s Gage Park community, where 67% of graduates earned the State Seal of Biliteracy in 2025. Solorio also consistently ranks among the top neighborhood schools for scholarship awards, contributing to our District’s record-breaking scholarship total from last school year.
Many factors have led to this achievement, including engaged postsecondary teams that provide our high school students with consistent support throughout the college application process. Our school counselors and postsecondary coaches help students explore their college options, complete applications, and access scholarships and other financial aid opportunities that will allow them to enroll and persist in college.
I want to thank these professionals for their relentlessness in ensuring CPS students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as part of their college application process. This tenacity is critical, as the FAFSA is required for students to be considered for financial aid, including grants, loans, and scholarships. Thanks to their work, FAFSA completion rate for CPS currently stands at 51%, which is significantly higher than the average for the State of Illinois (38%) and the country overall (26%).
I thank our talented postsecondary teams, along with our District’s Office of College and Career Success (OCCS), for nurturing our students' dedication and perseverance, and for helping them achieve meaningful advantages that will propel them to success beyond high school.
Sincerely,
Dr. Macquline King
Interim Superintendent/CEO
Chicago Public Schools
Highlight Your School for the Holidays
We know that there are great things going on in our schools this holiday season! Please let us know about your holiday celebrations and special events, including those featuring your students and staff giving back to the community, using the Good News Form!
A Look Around the District
Take a look at what schools across our District have been up to!
The school community at Bates Elementary in Chicago’s Avalon Park and Chatham neighborhoods recently organized a Food Pantry at their school, stocking the shelves with food and essentials to support families in need.
And at Dirksen Elementary in Norwood Park, students worked on a special project, researching the history of mazes and their importance to American farming. Students then worked together in groups to create their own winter-themed mazes!
You’re Invited to the All-City Visual Arts Senior Portfolio Exhibition
Come join us in celebrating the creativity of over 100 talented CPS high school seniors from across the District! With the support of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Design Museum of Chicago, the Department of Arts Education would like to invite you to visit the 2026 CPS All-City Senior Portfolio Exhibition Opening Reception on January 7, 2026 from 4–7 p.m. at The LeRoy Neiman Center at 37 S. Wabash Ave.
This free exhibition will be on display daily from January 7–14 from 12:30–6 p.m. The show closes on January 14 at 4 p.m. Can’t make it in person? Explore the exhibition online here starting January 7.
Application Deadline Approaching for Black Student Achievement Committee
The Chicago Board of Education is now accepting online applications for its Black Student Achievement Committee (BSAC). This opportunity is open to a broad range of CPS stakeholders, including students, parents, public school educators and administrators, social service providers, and community leaders. Fourteen individuals will be selected to serve a one-year term on the BSAC.
Applicants must reside within the city of Chicago, and if selected, must complete the CPS New Volunteer Application. Those who successfully complete the volunteer application will participate in an onboarding process before their names are released publicly.
The BSAC is committed to a fair and transparent process for selecting members. As such, the application process will use an initial screening and scoring methodology to ensure candidates align with the profile criteria outlined in the Illinois School Code, including a demonstrated commitment to racial justice and public education.
Apply online through Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Applications Open Now for FREE Music, Dance, and Theater Program
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the All-City Performing Arts (ACPA) 2025–26 season! ACPA is our world-class performing arts ensemble program that provides CPS students in grades 3–12 the opportunity to learn directly from experienced instructors, grow in their chosen art forms, and meet other student artists from across the District. ACPA ensembles meet on Saturdays (in person) at Jones College Prep High School. If you are interested, don’t wait to apply! Applications close on December 19! You can see the full schedule of ensembles, learn more about the program, and apply at cps.edu/acpa. Please email allcityarts@cps.edu with any questions.
Consider Running for Your Local School Council
Applications are now being accepted for our District’s next Local School Council election in the spring of 2026. Students, parents, staff, and community members who are interested in running for a seat on their LSC can apply online at cps.edu/lscelections.
LSC members have many important responsibilities, including approving academic plans, aligning financial resources to those plans, and selecting and evaluating school principals.
LSC candidates must file their paperwork by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20 in order to run in the next LSC election on March 18, 2026. More information is available at cps.edu/lscelections.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
This Saturday, Dec 13, BOWA Gives and CPS Athletics will team up for the Girls in Sports Summit Preview — a day designed to uplift, inspire, and equip young athletes across Chicago. From confidence-building sessions to hands-on drills, we’re creating a space where girls can thrive, connect, and see the possibilities ahead. Empowering the next generation of athletes starts here! Click here for more information and to register!
The annual Chicago Elite Classic wrapped up last weekend as boys and girls high school basketball teams competed in the tournament at Malcolm X and Credit Union 1 Arenas. Check out cpsathletics.com for photos and recaps from the event!
The 95th Annual Prep Bowl between the Chicago Public League and the Chicago Catholic League took place Friday, November 28 between Morgan Park and St. Ignatius. Check out our website for a recap and photo gallery as we close out the 2025 football season!
Winter schedules for CPS SCORE! are beginning to be released online. To find out where your students will be playing this season (basketball, cheer, and wrestling), please visit our website at cpsathletics.com
The Chicago Bears have announced their player and coach of the week winners from this year’s Girls’ Flag Football season. Congratulations to Whitney Young’s Ja’Mya H. for her Player of the Week honors, and to Whitney Young coach Valerie Spann and King High School coach Daniel Moore for their Coach of the Week recognition. Young finished in 2nd place in the IHSA State Tournament, and King was the 2025 Chicago Public League City Champion!
High School Boys and Girls Basketball is underway! Make sure to check out the season previews as we get insight into the unique storylines for our teams this season!
Note: The above articles were written based on team feedback. If your school is missing, have your coach reach out so that we can add you!
CPS is proud to continue its partnership with Honest Game to ensure students are academically eligible to play sports in college if they so choose. Families can learn more about Honest Game’s services for their student-athletes through family-facing webinars throughout the year. Click here for Honest Game Webinar information and Registration.
For the latest content surrounding CPS student-athletes, make sure to follow us across social media!
Experience Winter in the Parks
Register for winter programs beginning December 8 and 9. Find something to get your kids out and active during the winter months! There is something for every age group throughout the city, and classes are very affordable. Most programs run January 5 through March 15, 2026. View programs and create a wish list beginning December 1. Learn more here.
Come out and skate! All outdoor ice rinks are now open, weather permitting! Pre-registration is required for all ice rink programs, including open skate sessions. Learn more and register for a skating session here!
Enjoy the Holiday Season in the Parks! A variety of events are being hosted in the parks in celebration of the holiday season. The activities offered include dancing, caroling, visiting and ice-skating with Santa, making holiday crafts, and enjoying live holiday music. Visit our website for information on how to join the fun!
Celebrate the Season at the Conservatories. The annual Holiday Flower Shows are back at the Garfield and Lincoln Park Conservatories! Open now through January 4, you can enjoy the festivity of the season at the Merry & Bright show at Garfield, and a cozy environment at the Fireside show at Lincoln. Learn more here.
Traveling for the holidays? Check out our holiday tree at O’Hare Airport. This year, the Chicago Park District was invited to participate in the annual Holidays at O’Hare tree decorating program. This is a great way to promote the parks and bring seasonal cheer to both travelers and the airport community. You will find the tree in Terminal 2 by the family area. Be sure to take a photo and tag us on social media.
Tell us about your favorite park treasures. As the Park District prepares to celebrate our 100-year anniversary in 2034, we’re developing a Centennial Plan for Historic Assets. We want to hear from you! Tell us which historic buildings, landscapes, sculptures, murals, and park features matter most to you—and which might need some extra care or attention. Your stories, memories, and ideas will help inform our Centennial Plan. Submissions will be accepted through December 15, 2025. Learn more and submit your favorite treasures here.
Apply now to be a 2026 summer lifeguard. Get your summer job plans in motion now. Make $20.50 an hour next summer as a Chicago Park District lifeguard. Apply now and select your test date—the next test will be offered on December 20. Must be a Chicago resident and at least 16 years old by July 1, 2026. Learn more and apply here.
For questions, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Thursday, December 18: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Monday, December 22–Friday, January 2: All CPS students and teachers will be on winter break from December 22 through January 2; all CPS offices will be closed from December 25 through January 1.
- Monday, January 5: A professional development day for staff; no classes for students.