Chicago Public Schools Announces Historic Milestones in Scholarships and Seal of Biliteracy Achievements

CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools (CPS) celebrates the achievements of the Class of 2025 by highlighting a record number of scholarships and State Seal of Biliteracy awards. The District recognized these accomplishments at Eric Solorio Academy High School in Gage Park, where students secured these honors at unprecedented levels. CPS emphasizes that these achievements not only demonstrate students' dedication and perseverance but also create meaningful advantages for their futures.

“Our students are remarkable, and the recognition they receive beyond the District reflects not only their intelligence but also their unwavering persistence,” said Dr. Macquline King, Interim CEO/Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools. “We take great pride in preparing students for both university and life. Through this program, we cultivate global awareness, strong communication abilities, and an expansive set of real-world skills that empower them to thrive in any path they choose.”

The record-setting Class of 2025 earned an unprecedented $3.27 billion in scholarships, surpassing the Class of 2024 by more than $1.1 billion. The previous class earned approximately $2.1 billion as they graduated from CPS and continued to higher education, making this year’s total the highest in District history.

The event at Solorio highlighted the supports the District provides to help students explore postsecondary education opportunities. Across the District, staff members are working diligently to ensure that students are prepared for life after high school. According to preliminary National College Attainment Network FAFSA completion data, the country’s completion rate is 26 percent, Illinois leads the nation at 38 percent, and CPS currently has a completion rate of 51 percent well above the state and national averages.

More than 3,500 Class of 2025 CPS students earned the State Seal of Biliteracy. Approximately 3,200 received the Seal in Spanish, while others achieved proficiency in 40 different languages. This year also brought several exciting firsts for both CPS and the State of Illinois. State Seals in Swahili, Afrikaans, Pashto, and Nepali were awarded for the first time in both CPS and the State of Illinois, and students earned State Seals in Hungarian for the first time at CPS.

“Language is a source of strength, and being multilingual gives our students a distinct advantage. Multilingualism strengthens cognitive capacity, creates a global mindset, and opens doors to academic and professional opportunities.” Said Dr. Karime Asaf, Chief Officer of Multilingual-Multicultural Education. “The Seal of Biliteracy celebrates that achievement and ensures our graduates are recognized for the academic dedication and cultural richness they bring to every space they enter.”

The record scholarship awards provide students with greater financial stability as they pursue higher education, reducing the burden of college costs and expanding their access to competitive academic programs. The State Seal of Biliteracy further strengthens their postsecondary opportunities by certifying them as proficient bilingual communicators, enhancing their employment prospects, opening doors to careers in global industries, and increasing their value in an increasingly multilingual workforce.

Seal of Biliteracy Awards
The State Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by the State of Illinois to high school seniors at graduation in recognition of attaining a high level of proficiency in English and in one or more additional languages. It is highlighted on high school diplomas and serves as a statement of accomplishment for college admission and for future employment. Seal recipients are awarded foreign language credit at public colleges and universities in the state of Illinois.

The Seal of Biliteracy honors high school graduates who demonstrate strong skills in English and an additional language, whether they speak a heritage language at home or have acquired a new language through their studies. Eligible recipients include English learners, former English learners, and students who were never identified as English learners.

To qualify for the Seal, graduating seniors must demonstrate proficiency in English and a world language according to the Illinois State Board of Education criteria. Seniors may take approved language assessments during a designated spring testing window to meet these requirements.

CPS broadened its assessment options so more linguistically diverse students can have their language skills evaluated and qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy. Students earned 3,203 Seals of Biliteracy in Spanish in SY 2025, up from 2,631 in SY 2024, and demonstrated proficiency in 41 languages, an increase from 38 the previous year. The District awarded the Seal in Hungarian for the first time, along with new Seals in Afrikaans, Pashto, Nepali, and Swahili, building on the SY 2024 additions of Burmese, Greek, Hausa, Jamaican Creole, Somali, Wolof, and Yoruba.

While slightly fewer high schools had at least one recipient in SY 2025 (89 compared with 91 in SY 2024), more students earned multiple Seals. 73 students earned the Seal in more than one language in SY 2025, up from 43 in SY 2024, including one student who earned Seals in five languages.

The demographic makeup of Seal recipients also shifted. English learners represented 13 percent of recipients in SY 2025, up from 7.2 percent in SY 2024. Former English learners made up 54.3 percent in 2025, compared with 60.6 percent in 2024, while the share of students who were never English learners remained relatively steady.

Students who come close to qualifying for the Seal of Biliteracy may earn the State Commendation Toward Biliteracy, which recognizes significant progress toward full proficiency in English and another language.

CPS Pathways to Biliteracy Awards
Bilingualism is an asset to be celebrated for all CPS students. In an effort to encourage the development of these skills, CPS also recognizes fifth and eighth-grade students for their language proficiency through the CPS Pathway to Biliteracy Award. The District award honors students enrolled in Bilingual, Dual Language or World Language programs who are advancing toward becoming bilingual and biliterate.

The Office of Multilingual and Multicultural Education (OMME) introduced the award in SY 2021–22 to recognize students making progress toward the State Seal of Biliteracy. In its first year, about 1,700 fifth graders and 1,500 eighth graders received the award. By SY 2024–25, approximately 3,600 fifth graders and more than 3,100 eighth graders earned the prestigious award.

Spanish accounted for nearly 97 percent of awards, and students also earned recognition in 14 other languages, including French, Arabic, Mandarin, Ukrainian, Polish, Russian, Italian, Japanese, German, Vietnamese, Urdu, Portuguese, Cantonese, and Filipino. A total of 195 schools had at least one recipient. Among awardees, 61.4 percent were English learners, 14.5 percent were former English learners, and 24.2 percent were never classified as English learners.

School Spotlight: Solorio
Eric Solorio Academy High School, on the Southwest side of Chicago, serves as a leading STEM school that delivers rigorous academic programs across all core subjects. The school also maintains a highly respected fine arts program that encourages creative exploration and artistic excellence. Solorio offers a wide range of Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses, and it provides students with the opportunity to earn an associate degree in computer science before they graduate.

Approximately 67 percent of the Class of 2025 at Solorio earned the State Seal of Biliteracy. In SY24, Solorio had 155 Seal of Biliteracy recipients. The number of awards increased to 192 in SY5.

“We take great pride in the growth of Solorio’s Seal of Biliteracy program, which has expanded significantly since its inception more than a decade ago,” said Principal Rosa Jimenez of Eric Solorio Academy. “At first, it was difficult to generate student interest, but now students pursue the Seal eagerly, inspired by alumni who share how it opened doors for them through college credit and career opportunities.”

Solorio also consistently ranks among the top neighborhood schools for total scholarship awards. In SY24, students at Solorio were awarded an estimated $46 million in scholarships. Students at Solorio receive comprehensive, proactive support throughout the college application process. Solorio has a dedicated Post Secondary Team. Dedicated staff members actively guide students in exploring postsecondary options, completing applications, and meeting key deadlines. This support includes targeted scholarship guidance and hands-on Financial Aid assistance, ensuring that every student identifies funding opportunities and secures the resources needed to pursue their chosen educational pathway with confidence. Solorio students regularly earn early college credits, state level distinctions, and are often recognized for their dedication to both academic and personal growth.

Advancing Success: Together We Rise 2029
As part of Success 2029: Together We Rise, the District’s five-year strategic plan, CPS has set a goal to increase the percentage of high school graduates earning college course credits and career credentials from 49 percent in 2024 to 70 percent by 2029.

In 2025, the District moved closer to that goal with 56.3 percent of graduates earning at least one credential through Advanced Placement(AP), Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment courses, International Baccalaureate Programmes (IB), the State Seal of Biliteracy, Career and Technical Education (CTE), completing an internship, and Junior ROTC programming. In addition to credential attainment, CPS also monitors graduates' college enrollment, college persistence rates, and scholarships earned as key indicators of student success.

The Class of 2025 achieved several historic milestones:
- 211 graduating seniors earned both a high school diploma and an associate degree.

- More than 1,000 graduates completed 15 or more transferable college credits — the equivalent of a full semester of college.

- More than 6,600 students earned over 66,000 early college credits, generating an estimated $10 million in tuition savings for CPS families, the highest in District history.

These achievements reflect a broader momentum highlighted across a series of CPS events this fall. Together, early college and career programs – including IB, AP, dual credit, dual enrollment, CTE, and JROTC – create flexible, high-quality pathways that meet the needs of a diverse student body. Whether students pursue a full diploma programme, explore specialized coursework, or accumulate transferable credits, these opportunities help them build confidence, reduce college costs, and prepare for success after high school.