Chicago Public Schools Honors Class of 2025 Chicago Builds Graduates

CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools leaders and industry partners today celebrated the latest class of students to graduate with industry-recognized certifications in the construction industry. The Chicago Builds graduation ceremony, held at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134, honored 98 students, the highest number of graduates ever for the program. This year’s graduates are among roughly 14,000 CPS students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes, including nearly 4,000 seniors.

“Our District is continuing to strengthen our early college and career education offerings to ensure that students have choices for success beyond high school, and Chicago Builds is a wonderful example of these efforts,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “I am extremely proud of these students for their hard work and commitment. It is paying off as they now have a stronger foundation as they embark on their chosen career paths.”

Chicago Builds is a pre-apprenticeship training program where students explore multiple career pathways in the construction industry. In addition to earning their high school diploma, the graduates earned industry-recognized certifications.

“To build the cities of tomorrow, we will need young people who are ready to work hard to gain the skills and qualifications it takes to be hired for these important jobs,” said ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones. “That’s why ComEd is proud to partner with CPS to prepare a diverse array of local students to compete in the fast-growing energy and construction industries, particularly those in the trades that are so critical to building our future infrastructure.”

Through Chicago Builds, CPS students can earn up to five credits over their junior and senior years. They begin with a 10-week rotation that covers general construction and introductory technical skills in electrical, carpentry, HVAC, and welding. Students can then move on to advanced training in these fields.
Layla Bonilla, a senior at Whitney Young High School, was one of the graduates at Friday’s ceremony. The Chicago Builds program allowed her to explore a number of trades, learning about opportunities in the construction industry through field trips and networking, she said. After specializing in electricity with Chicago Builds, she plans to attend Eastern Illinois University in the fall, majoring in construction management.

“I’m learning a lot of new things, not just about electricity but also about the world, and the experience is really invaluable,” Bonilla said. “The trades offer another option to make a decent living with good benefits, and give people an opportunity they otherwise might not have had. Just getting your face out there with other people in the construction industry, as well as the reputation of being a Chicago Builds student, gives me a lot of confidence I can be successful.”

Bonilla is one of the Builds participants who earned certification in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 Construction Safety, designed by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core. The program introduces students to basic construction skills and prepares them for entry-level positions on project sites and medical training in CPR and First Aid.

Chicago Builds students learn from industry leaders and develop technical skills that can lead to gainful employment while still in high school, helping to jump start a career after graduation. Builds training integrates construction, math, and literacy skills, and helps prepare students for union entrance exams and certifications. Students also participate in internships, visit union training facilities, complete a capstone project, and prepare for pre-apprenticeship entrance exams.

Through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, 60 Class of 2025 graduates will receive a grant to continue advancing their skills through the Illinois Works Construction Pre-apprenticeship Program. The state-recognized program provides skills training through a network of non-profit, community-based organizations, including community colleges, faith-based organizations, and business associations in the construction industry and building trades. Participants attend tuition-free and receive a stipend and other supportive services to help overcome systemic barriers to entering the construction industry.

Career and Technical Education Pathways

CPS offers at least 34 CTE pathways at more than 80 high schools across the city, including 12 construction trades programs, five carpentry, three in electricity, three in welding, and one HVAC program. The District’s CTE programs allow students to gain work experience for in-demand careers as well as provide opportunities to earn early college credit and industry-recognized certifications and skills training at 12 CPS high schools.

CPS has developed a strong partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) through the Chicago Roadmap, which aims to support students along a seamless path to and through post-secondary training on their way to their chosen careers. Together with CCC, the District is working to establish a talent pipeline with support from the Blum-Kovler Foundation through the Master Builder Construction Trade Program. The Master Builder Program allows students to earn dual credits from CCC as high school students focused on construction and skilled trades.