Through the Chicago Roadmap, CPS and City College of Chicago (CCC) are transforming their relationship from a successful collaboration to full convergence. By expanding access to high-quality programs, advising and supports, the Chicago Roadmap strives to dramatically and equitably increase student outcomes in college readiness, college enrollment, college persistence, college degree attainment and employment.
The Chicago Roadmap helps college-bound students transition into City Colleges of Chicago through programs that help students earn college credit, improve academic readiness, and learn about career opportunities. Below you'll find more information about the programs offered through the Chicago Roadmap.
Academic Readiness & Success
To increase the number of students continuing their education after high school and improve their postsecondary and career opportunities, students must be academically prepared before graduating high school, especially in math and English. Successful completion of transitional math and English courses results in direct placement into CCC credit courses without a placement test or other hurdles, reducing the time and expense of taking remedial courses, and helping students graduate sooner.
The Roadmap is committed to ensuring that all students are academically prepared for the successful transition to college, and offers the following programs and initiatives to support that effort.
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Purpose Pathways
This workshop series launched its first pilot in Spring of 2023 with first-year City College of Chicago students who, during their High School tenure, participated in the CPS College and Career Competencies Curriculum (C4), with the goal of continuing their journey of postsecondary exploration and self-discovery. This workshop series guides students through exploration of their purpose, values, vision, and passion towards future life and career goals.
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College and Career Competency Curriculum (C4)
This program is designed to ensure that every CPS graduate develops the knowledge and applied skills necessary to succeed in both college and career. C4 is grounded in CPS-designed, industry-vetted student competencies across three distinct domains: foundational skills, career awareness and alignment, and academic and financial readiness for postsecondary.
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Transitional Learning
These opportunities consist of a year-long English or math course offered to students during their senior year of high school, with the goal of providing students the requisite skills for success in college-level courses. Courses are taught by high school teachers who receive preparation and professional development from CCC and key academic departments. Transitional math and English courses are critical to helping students graduate sooner by reducing the time and expense of taking remedial classes in college.
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Math and English Scholarship
The scholarship awards $250 to CPS students who are enrolled in both college English and Math within their first year at CCC. Learn more about the scholarships.
About the Roadmap Building Momentum
The Chicago Roadmap builds on a decade of significant gains in postsecondary readiness and access. Grounded in research and careful assessment of current needs, opportunities, and strengths, the Chicago Roadmap charts a path to economic mobility for Chicago’s students.
About the Roadmap Building Momentum
The Chicago Roadmap builds on a decade of significant gains in postsecondary readiness and access. Grounded in research and careful assessment of current needs, opportunities, and strengths, the Chicago Roadmap charts a path to economic mobility for Chicago’s students.
Access to High-Quality Programs
Students who earn college credits in high school are more likely to complete a postsecondary credential. Starting early has great benefits, including an introduction to college culture, time management training, confidence of successful coursework completion and reducing the time and cost of a college education. To overcome college enrollment gaps that exist especially for first generation and students from low-income families, structural supports need to be in place so students and families are aware of these opportunities and have guidance navigating the process.
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Model Pathways
Traditionally, Career and Technical Education (CTE) has only been offered at large schools, excluding students who attend small schools predominantly located on Chicago’s south and west sides. Through the model pathway approach, students at previously underserved high schools now have access to apprenticeships and an early college curriculum in a high-demand career field such as healthcare, manufacturing, IT or construction beginning their freshman year. Students in Model Pathway schools also have the opportunity to earn 15 college credits and industry recognized certifications such as a certified nursing assistant and other credentials before graduating high school.
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Healthcare Pathway
This pathway allows students to earn college credits in courses such as anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and terminology for medical careers. Sample career opportunities for students in this pathway include dentistry, emergency medical technician (EMT), nursing, physical and occupational therapy, physician, radiography, and respiratory care.
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Information Technology Pathway
This pathway allows students to earn college credits in courses such as computer information systems, fundamentals of programming, operating systems, web development, basic web technologies, java object oriented programming, and networking essentials. Sample career opportunities for students in this pathway include cybersecurity, robotics, software engineering, video game creation, and web development.
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Manufacturing Pathway
This pathway allows students to earn college credits in courses such as introduction to manual machining, introduction to advanced manufacturing, and computer numerical control (CNC) operations and programming. Sample career opportunities for students in this pathway include 3D printing, aerospace, automotive and transportation, consumer products, energy, industrial automation, infrastructure and sustainability.
About the Roadmap A Collective Effort
Over an 8-month period, CPS and CCC leadership developed a strategic plan, redesigning the student journey between CPS and CCC to create more equitable outcomes for Chicago’s students.
Student Advising & Supports
A comprehensive infrastructure of academic, social-emotional, and logistical support helps CPS-CCC students graduate from high school and implement, adjust, and overcome obstacles to their postsecondary plans. Regardless of which CPS school or CCC college they attend, students must be able to easily access and understand institutional resources, policies and procedures.
To succeed in postsecondary programs, students need more than just academic knowledge: They need the skills and relationships to navigate the new college environment; information and advising to make appropriate decisions about their education; and access to help when they encounter challenges. Roadmap offers the following programs to support CCC bound seniors on a seamless postsecondary transition to CCC after high school.
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Postsecondary Navigators
Navigators provide in-school support offered at 84+ District, options, and charter high schools to guide CCC-bound CPS seniors through college enrollment steps.
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Enrollment Days
CPS students are invited to their local CCC campus to complete their enrollment steps, receive hands-on support with completing FAFSA applications, meet with college advisors to register for classes, learn about the wraparound services available, and receive campus gear. Students receive the hands-on support they need to successfully begin their first semester as new college students at the City Colleges of Chicago.
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Supports for Diverse Learners
These supports include:
- Transition 3950: An Early College course sequence for CPS students with intellectual disabilities.
- ACCESS Orientation: A 2-day event that provides enrollment support and exposure to wrap-around services for CPS diverse learners heading to CCC as new college students.
- Success coaching: Monthly one-on-one coaching for first-year students with documented disabilities to support holistic college success.
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Summer Start
This transitional program for CPS graduates offers comprehensive support, including financial, academic, and advising as students prepare to attend CCC. It also offers students the opportunity to receive additional college credit, reducing the time and cost to postsecondary degree attainment and improving college persistence, graduation and transfer rates.
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Options for the Future Scholarship
This scholarship is for high school graduates of CPS options high schools. The award provides waivers for all eligible tuition and books not covered by financial aid.
About the Roadmap Clear Pathways Ahead
As Chicago’s public education engine, CPS and CCC are energized to achieve equity, close the racial wealth gap, motivate economic mobility and power the future of Chicago’s economy.
About the Roadmap Clear Pathways Ahead
As Chicago’s public education engine, CPS and CCC are energized to achieve equity, close the racial wealth gap, motivate economic mobility and power the future of Chicago’s economy.
Career Exploration, Experience & Preparedness
The Roadmap’s vision for career readiness ensures that students have the information, tools, and guidance necessary to cultivate an initial career vision and develop a concrete post secondary plan to help them achieve their career goals. Beginning in middle school and continuing through CCC completion/transfer, CPS-CCC students will develop employability skills and engage in a coherent progression of work-based learning (WBL) experiences, ideally culminating in an internship, youth apprenticeship or job.
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Youth Apprenticeships
These opportunities are designed for students between the ages of 16 and 24, and combine academic and technical classroom instruction with work experience. The apprenticeships provide the foundation for students to choose among multiple pathways, including enrolling in college, beginning full-time employment, or a combination.
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Career Launch Chicago
This joint initiative between Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago builds youth apprenticeship and work-based learning pathways in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology.
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Career Spotlight Days
These interactive open houses at CCC campuses are intended to help students explore postsecondary pathways, learn about specific career industries and gain insights on college offerings, such as industry-validated certificates, student service organizations and related trades training.
