Key Words
Census Data
The American Community Survey (ACS) provides data that helps the public understand changes taking place in their communities. The ACS is the premier source for detailed population and housing information data in the U.S. Provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the ARA uses ACS data to describe student populations and community demographics including birth rates, childhood population totals, and household income data.
To learn more about the ACS, go to www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/about.html.
Chicago Open Data Portal
The City of Chicago makes city data available to public users via the Chicago Open Data Portal. Across 16 categories of data, users can access data about specific neighborhoods, create maps and graphs about the city, and freely download data for additional analysis. To view and download City of Chicago data, visit https://data.cityofchicago.org/.
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Community Data Snapshots
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) Community Data Snapshots summarize demographic, housing, employment, transportation, land use, revenue, and water data in northeastern Illinois. Each year, CMAP updates these snapshots for the region’s seven counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will), 284 communities, and 77 Chicago neighborhoods. To access community data snapshots, visit https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/data/community-snapshots.
CPS Metrics
CPS also publishes data on various other district metrics. To access other district data resources, visit https://www.cps.edu/about/district-data/metrics/.
Distance Traveled and Commute Time
Distance traveled and commute time are calculated based on the student’s home address and the address of their school. Commute time was calculated using Google Maps travel time estimations using the shorter travel time between walking and public transit. The analysis takes into account school start times and chooses routes that minimize travel and wait time. Any wait time before a trip starts is not included but wait times due to transfers are included.
Early College and Career Credential (ECCC) Programs
Early College and Career Credential (ECCC) programs provide access and support for rigorous, college-level, hands-on, and career-focused courses and experiences. ECCC programs advance student postsecondary success through earned college credits or professional credentials and the exposure to soft skills needed to succeed in college, civic, life, and the 21st-century labor market.
Students can earn an ECCC in more than one program. Each ECCC program sets their own credential achievement criteria. To learn more, go to cps.edu/about/district-data/metrics.
Options High Schools
Options high schools serve students who need a new pathway toward high school graduation. CPS schools offer additional supports and services for students who have been out of school and seek to return or who may need opportunities to earn credits in an accelerated program. Some of CPS’s campuses offer additional supports such as counseling and alternative schedules for students who may work during the traditional school day.
Postsecondary Success Indicators
While the School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP) was suspended for school years 2020-21 and 2021-22, some data on student outcomes is available as an indicator of how schools are preparing high school students for postsecondary success. The ARA contains data on how high school students are progressing towards high school graduation, college enrollment, and college persistence goals. For more information on these metrics, visit cps.edu/about/district-data/metrics.
School Profiles & School Locator
For data on specific CPS schools, the CPS school profile search shares information on school-level programs, admission requirements, after school activities, support resources, and school performance. To use the CPS school profile search, visit https://www.cps.edu/schools/find-a-school/. Users can also use the CPS school locator to see where CPS schools are located, what the attendance boundaries are for a specific address, what city-wide (non-attendance boundary) schools are nearby, and utilize various other geographical overlays (e.g. Safe Passage Routes). To use the CPS school locator, visit https://schoolinfo.cps.edu/schoollocator/index.html.
School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP)
In the past, the ARA used School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP) ratings to provide information about student and school performance. In 2020, CPS suspended SQRP due to the impact of COVID-19.
CPS updated the ARA to share data on graduation rates, college enrollment, and college persistence while SQRP ratings are not being calculated. These data points provide an alternative way to understand school quality at the high school level.
CPS is also in the process of redesigning the district's accountability system (SQRP). For more information on that process, visit cps.edu/strategic-initiatives/accountability-redesign/.
Zoned Schools and Applying to Schools
Zoned schools have attendance boundaries. Every street address in the City of Chicago is assigned one attendance area elementary school and one high school. To identify specific school boundaries, use the CPS School Locator, cps.edu/schoollocator. Students can attend their designated zoned school without having to submit an application. Students can apply to attend another zoned school that has available seats and admissions is determined by a lottery. Citywide schools do not have attendance boundaries and admit students through a lottery.