Tracking and publishing COVID-19 cases in a district with hundreds of thousands of students, over 40,000 permanent staff, and over 500 district-run schools can be extremely complex. As the pandemic has evolved, our dashboard has evolved to include the most relevant data. So before you dive into the numbers, please take a moment to read about how we currently collect and report the information in our dashboard. Please keep in mind that numbers are dynamic and subject to change.
-
The total cases data on this page shows all cases among CPS students and staff. Cases are displayed at both the District level and the individual school level; counts can be viewed by day or by week. Keep in mind that case counts are not a measure of transmission in schools and numerous studies have shown that schools are not sites of significant COVID-19 transmission.
CPS is notified of cases in two key ways:
- Weekly Screening Testing: Every week, CPS offers free COVID-19 testing in every school. When a positive case is detected, CPS is notified, and the case is posted on the dashboard on the day the result is received. These case counts are subject to change as cases are investigated and verified. Sign your student up for weekly testing
- Self-Reported Cases: When a student or staff member submits a positive test through our self-reporting tool, the case gets posted on our dashboard that same day. These case counts are subject to change as cases are investigated and verified. Report a positive COVID-19 case
Why does CPS treat these cases differently? Results that come in through our weekly screening program are more timely and accurate than self-reported cases. Self-reported cases take time to investigate and verify; some self-reported cases turn out to be duplicates or unconfirmed reports. In the interest of transparency, we are providing both totals.
What does CPS do when there is a duplicate case? Oftentimes when students or staff members receive a positive result from our weekly screening program, they also report it through our self-reporting tool, creating a duplicate case and inflating the number of total cases. The self-reporting tool gives the student or staff member the option of providing significant information regarding the case to assist the contact tracing team in their investigation of the case.The contact tracing team will review both cases, retrieve necessary information, and close the self-reported case as a duplicate. For more information on our reporting and terminology, view the footnotes below.
For more information on our reporting and terminology, view the footnotes below.
-
This section reports the results of our district's screening testing program. This section also shows the positivity rate, which is the number of positive, validated cases detected in the screening testing divided by the number of tests administered.
For more information on our reporting and terminology, view the footnotes below.
-
This section reports information about student vaccination rates at both the district and school levels. Use the “School” tab to search for your school and view detailed information about student vaccination. Results are broken out by school governance, age group, and vaccination status.
For more information on our reporting and terminology, view the footnotes below.
Daily District Cases
date-range
Total Cases
NNN
Adults
NNN
Students
Eligible Student Vaccination Rates
MM/DD/YYYY
District Completed Vaccination Course
Non-District Completed Vaccination Course
Students Opted In To Testing
MM/DD/YYYY
Opted In
- Adults Self-Reported Positive: Adult cases reported to the district through the CPS contact tracing self report form, regardless of investigation status. This will include cases where an investigation has not yet started, is in progress, or closed. Because cases still under investigation may not be confirmed, case counts are dynamic and subject to change.
- Adults Screen-Tested Positive: The total number of positive adult tests resulted through the District’s on-site COVID-19 screening program. This metric does not include positive self-reported cases. Adults exclude students who are 18 years or older.
- Students Self-Reported Positive: Student cases reported to the district through the CPS contact tracing self report form, regardless of investigation status. This will include cases where an investigation has not yet started, or is in progress, or closed. Because cases still under investigation may not be confirmed, case counts are dynamic and subject to change.
- Students Screen-Tested Positive: The total number of positive student tests resulted through the District’s on-site COVID-19 screening program. This metric is validated to ensure it’s matched against a student and does not include positive self-reported cases. Students include those individuals who are 18 years or older.
- Actionable Cases: CPS only reports Actionable Cases on our dashboards. Actionable Cases represent cases where an individual either tested positive while inside a district building or tested positive while outside a district building but entered a building while they may have been infectious. Non-Actionable Cases are cases where an individual tested positive while outside a district building and did not enter a district building while potentially infectious.
- Close Contact: In CPS Elementary Schools, anyone who is present in a classroom with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 is considered a close contact. In CPS High Schools, close contacts are defined as being within 3 feet for 15 or more minutes within a 24-hour period during the positive student’s contagious period, with or without a mask. Those who are deemed close contacts may remain in school as long as they wear a mask until 10 days after exposure.
- Vaccination Data Collection: Chicago Public Schools collects vaccination data through two different methods: 1) directly from CPS families who report changes in their student’s vaccination status directly to their student’s school, and 2) through a reporting process via the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). Per CDPH, there are several limitations that may impact their vaccine data: Due to people receiving vaccinations that are not recorded in I-CARE and linked to their record, such as someone receiving a vaccine dose in another state, the number of people with a completed primary series or a booster dose is underestimated. Inconsistencies in records of separate doses administered to the same person, such as slight variations in dates of birth, can result in duplicate first dose records for a person and overestimate of the number of people with at least one dose and underestimate the number of people with a completed primary series or booster dose.
- Vaccination Rates: Vaccination rates are broken out by school governance, vaccination status, and FDA/CDC eligibility group based on age. The District Completed Vaccination Course numbers at the top of the dashboard represent the percentage and total number (in parentheses) of students across all age groups who have completed a vaccination series out of the total number of eligible students currently enrolled at district-operated schools. The Non-District Completed Vaccination Course numbers at the top of the dashboard represent the percentage and total number (in parentheses) of vaccinated students across all age groups who have completed a vaccination series out of the number of eligible students enrolled in non-district-operated schools that have reported vaccination data to CPS. These rates are subject to change as more students get vaccinated; furthermore, student enrollment numbers fluctuate daily as students enroll for the first time, transfer between schools, and/or leave the district, which can cause rates to change.
- School Governance: District schools are those operated by CPS and staffed by CPS employees. Non-district schools are those operated under charter, contract, ALOP or SAFE governance.
- Vaccination Status: CPS follows guidance provided by public health officials to define student vaccination status and align its reporting with the City of Chicago. In the data above, vaccination status is broken out by At Least One Dose and Completed Course. At Least One Dose refers to the number of students who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine based on self-reported records. Completed Course refers to the number of students who have completed either a two-dose or a three-dose series depending on vaccine manufacturer for ages 0-4, a two-dose series for ages 5 to 17, or either a one dose or a two dose series depending on vaccine manufacturer for ages 18+ based on self-reported records and available public health records. These numbers represent only students whose vaccination status has been reported to the district.
- Students Opted In To Testing: The percentage and total number of students that have consented to participate in the in-school COVID-19 screening testing program at district-operated schools and facilities. Data is available at the district level.
Daily School Cases
date-range
Eligible Student Vaccination Rates
MM/DD/YYYY
Completed Vaccination Course
- Self-Reported Positive: Cases reported to the District through the CPS contact tracing self report form, regardless of investigation status. This will include cases where an investigation has not yet started, is in progress, or closed. Because cases still under investigation may not be confirmed, case counts are dynamic and subject to change.
- Screen-Tested Positive: The total number of positive tests resulted through the District’s on-site COVID-19 screening program. This metric does not include positive self-reported cases.
-
Actionable Cases:CPS only reports Actionable Cases on our dashboards. Actionable Cases represent cases where an individual either tested positive while inside a district building or tested positive while outside a district building but entered a building while infectious. Non-Actionable Cases are cases where an individual tested positive while outside a district building and did not enter a district building while infectious.
- Close Contact: In CPS Elementary Schools, anyone who is present in a classroom with someone who has tests positive for COVID-19 is considered a close contact. In CPS High Schools, close contacts are defined as being within 3 feet for 15 or more minutes within a 24-hour period during the positive student’s contagious period, with or without a mask. Those who are deemed close contacts may remain in school as long as they wear a mask until 10 days after exposure.
- Administration: Cases under “administration” include cases at any non-school based CPS location.
- Child or Adult Cases: Due to privacy laws, child and adult case totals are aggregated and are not broken out at the school level.
- Vaccination Data Collection: Chicago Public Schools collects vaccination data through two different methods: 1) directly from CPS families who report changes in their student’s vaccination status directly to their student’s school, and 2) through a reporting process via the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). Per CDPH, there are several limitations that may impact their vaccine data: Due to people receiving vaccinations that are not recorded in I-CARE and linked to their record, such as someone receiving a vaccine dose in another state, the number of people with a completed primary series or a booster dose is underestimated. Inconsistencies in records of separate doses administered to the same person, such as slight variations in dates of birth, can result in duplicate first dose records for a person and overestimate of the number of people with at least one dose and underestimate the number of people with a completed primary series or booster dose.
-
Vaccination Status: CPS follows guidance provided by public health officials to define student vaccination status and align its reporting with the City of Chicago. In the data above, vaccination status is broken out by At Least One Dose and Completed Course. At Least One Dose refers to the number of students who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine based on self-reported records. Completed Course refers to the number of students who have completed either a two-dose or a three-dose series depending on vaccine manufacturer for ages 0-4, a two-dose series for ages 5 to 17, or either a one dose or a two dose series depending on vaccine manufacturer for ages 18+ based on self-reported records and available public health records. These numbers represent only students whose vaccination status has been reported to the district.
- Vaccination Rates: Vaccination rates are broken out by school governance, vaccination status, and FDA/CDC eligibility group based on age. These rates are subject to change as more students get vaccinated; furthermore, student enrollment numbers fluctuate daily as students enroll for the first time, transfer between schools, and/or leave the district, which can cause rates to change.
- School Governance: District schools are those operated by CPS and staffed by CPS employees. Non-district schools are those operated under charter, contract, ALOP or SAFE governance.
Staff and Student COVID-19 Screening Testing
Loading...
- Screen Tested: CPS conducts onsite COVID-19 staff and student screening testing across the District. The data in the table above reflects only the results of the on-site tests. This data does not reflect any self-reported COVID-19 test results submitted by staff, students, or family members. Case counts are subject to change.
- Tests Completed: The total number of test results that have been processed through the CPS COVID-19 screening program for the range of dates above. Each sample reported in the count is first collected in the field, then processed and analyzed by the lab, and finally, reported to the District. Results are expected to be reported within 72 hours of collection but additional time may be required to process some tests. Therefore, case counts are subject to change.
- Tested Positive: The total number COVID-19 screening program tests that returned a confirmed positive result. The number of positive cases does not include self-reported cases and is validated to confirm it’s matched with a current student/staff record. Confirmed positive cases are also reflected in the Total Cases data above based on when the positive case is reported to the Contact Tracing Team. Case counts are subject to change.
- Percent Tested Positive: The percent test positive is calculated using the following formula: Percent Tested Positive = (Tested Positive / (Tests Completed - Invalid)) * 100. Test positivity is calculated using the date the test was administered.
- Invalid: The total number of CPS COVID-19 screening program tests that returned an inconclusive result.
- Actionable Cases: CPS only reports Actionable Cases on our dashboards. Actionable Cases represent cases where an individual either tested positive while inside a district building or tested positive while outside a district building but entered a building while potentially infectious. Non-Actionable Cases are cases where an individual tested positive while outside a district building and did not enter a district building while potentially infectious.
CPS Employee Vaccination and Testing Stats
CPS is closely tracking employee vaccination efforts. The chart below reflects CPS staff’s vaccination status as obtained through our district-run vaccination sites and self-reported survey reports as well as the current number of employees currently participating in weekly testing.
| Vaccinated | Vaccinated w Booster | Required to Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Totals | 63.1% | 29.2% | 0.9% |
| Teachers | 12,571 | 8,464 | 74 |
| Other CTU Members (subs, PSRPs, nurses) | 4,819 | 1,681 | 14 |
| School-Based Administrators | 666 | 543 | 38 |
| Other Employees (ESP, hourly, misc.) | 11,347 | 2,484 | 244 |
| Network Staff, Citywide Employees, Central Office | 809 | 813 | 73 |
Note: Data last updated July 26, 2022.
Version Notes
As we expand our COVID-19 reporting, we're tracking major changes to this page. View the latest updates below.
-
September 27, 2022
- The date range for Daily/Weekly District and School cases has been updated to align with the school calendar and ensure full weeks are reflected between data pages. The starting date for SY22-23 has been changed from 8/18/2022 to 8/21/2022.
- Beginning September, 27, 2022, the Eligible Student Vaccination Rates dashboard will only count 3 and 4 year olds who are CPS District students in the youngest age group. Previously, the youngest age group included ages 6 months to 4 years old. CPS does not serve students under 3 years of age.
September 19, 2022
- Modified case totals processing to address issue where, under certain conditions, some cases that were later deemed inactionable in system of record were not removed from school-level day and week totals.
September 1, 2022
- Added language regarding sourcing and fluctuation of vaccination data reported on the site
- Corrected an issue where unvaccinated 0-4 year olds were not being counted as part of the overall denominator used for calculating the district-managed and non-district-managed eligible student completed course vaccination rates
- Corrected an issue where five-year-olds were being counted in the 0-4 category. Note: This has caused a significant decrease in the reported percentage of vaccinated 0-4 year olds. Because we are less than two weeks into the school year at the writing of this update, we have yet to receive any significant data uploads from the Chicago Department of Public Health for this age group. The only data that is reflected as of the writing of this update is vaccination data submitted directly from families to their student’s school.
- Corrected an issue that temporarily prevented school-level COVID case data from being published for August 30 and August 31.
August 19, 2022
- Removed Isolation/Quarantine Chart: Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) no longer recommends that those who are exposed to COVID-19 in school work or learn from home for five days. Those who are exposed to COVID-19 in school are able to remain in school as long as they wear a mask for 10 days after exposure. As a result, the number of individuals in quarantine will be zero unless guidance changes. The number of individuals who isolate is identical to the number of positive cases in the preceding chart, so we have removed this table to eliminate redundancy.
- In-School Screening Testing Program: CPS continues to offer free, in-school COVID-19 testing for any student or staff member who is interested. However, anyone who wants to enroll in testing this year will need to fill out an updated consent form — regardless of whether or not they participated in weekly testing last year. That updated consent form can be accessed at the ReadyCheckGo Testing website. Consent forms from last school year or this summer will not be valid for the 2022–23 school year. However, once a student or staff member has consented this year, that consent will remain in place until they leave CPS. Because last year’s consent forms have expired, CPS is beginning the school year with fewer individuals consented for testing than were consented at the end of last school year. CPS will continue to encourage families to sign up for free, in-school COVID-19 testing.