District Overview - Variety

Do Students Have Access to the Variety of Schools and Programs Offered?

Elementary Programs Maps

The Program Density Index measures the density of certain academic programs in each region. The index is calculated as the number of program seats per 100 age-eligible CPS students who reside in the region. This index can be used to compare program availability across regions. For more information about types of programs, visit cps.edu/rfp.

Most regions have either World Language Magnet/Magnet Cluster or Dual Language elementary programs. The Greater Milwaukee Ave, Pilsen / Little Village, and Greater Lincoln Park regions have the greatest density of language program seats. The Central Area, Far Southwest Side, and North Lakefront regions have neither type of language programs.

Selective Enrollment elementary programs (Regional Gifted Centers, Classical, and Academic Centers) are present in 13 regions. Selective Enrollment schools and programs admit students using a testing process.

All regions offer some elementary International Baccalaureate (IB) programming. The Near West Side, Far Southwest Side, and Greater Milwaukee Avenue regions have the greatest density of program seats per students. Elementary IB programs have no admissions criteria.

Personalized Learning (PL) elementary programs are present in 12 regions. The Greater Milwaukee Avenue, South Side, and West Side regions have the greatest density of program seats per students. Elementary PL programs have no admissions criteria.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) elementary programs include STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM), Math, Science, Engineering, and Technology Magnet and Magnet Cluster programs. The Near West Side, North Lakefront, and West Side regions have the greatest density of STEM program seats.

Magnet/Magnet Cluster Fine & Performing Arts programs are present in 15 regions. The Greater Lincoln Park, Central Area, North Lakefront and Near West Side regions have the greatest density of program seats.

Elementary Program Density Table
(Number of Program Seats Per 100 Students)

1. Program capacity data is self-reported by schools and fluctuates year to year. Data regarding the presence of programs or the number of seats in programs may be missing or incomplete.
2. STEM elementary programs include STEM, STEAM, Math, Science, Engineering, and Technology magnet and magnet cluster programs. Schools may offer STEM programming outside of magnet schools/magnet cluster programs.
3. Personalized Learning is a learner-driven instructional model that fosters 21st century skills by empowering every student to actively co-design their learning path, pace, and environment according to their individual needs, strengths, and interests. This data includes schools that are on the path to schoolwide adoption of this approach.
4. Many schools offer arts programming outside of magnet schools/magnet cluster programs. Schools receive a Creative Schools Certification indicating the strength of their arts programming. More information can be found on each school’s profile page.
5. Other includes: Humanities, Math/Science, Math/Science/Technology, Montessori, Montessori/Fine & Performing Arts, Scholastic, and World Language and International Studies schools and programs.

High School Programs Maps

The Program Density Index measures the density of certain academic programs in each region. The index is calculated as the number of program seats per 100 age-eligible CPS students who reside in the region. This index can be used to compare program availability across regions. For high school programs, this index is calculated using the number of seats available for 9th grade via the GoCPS application process and the number of 9th graders who reside in the region. For more information about types of programs, visit cps.edu/rfp.

High School International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are present in 13 regions. The greatest density of IB seats are in the Greater Lincoln Park, Bronzeville / South Lakefront, and North Lakefront regions. The Central Area, Near West Side, and West Side regions have no high school IB programs. High school IB diploma programs have admissions criteria.

Personalized Learning (PL) high school programs are present in 9 regions. The North Lakefront, South Side, and Greater Calumet regions have the greatest density of program seats. High school PL programs have no admissions criteria.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) high school programs are in 8 regions. The North Lakefront and Near West Side regions have the greatest density of program seats. Many schools may offer STEM programming outside of magnet schools/magnet cluster programs and early college STEM schools.

Fine & Performing Arts high school programs are available in 11 regions across the city. The Greater Lincoln Park, North Lakefront, and Greater Milwaukee Avenue regions have the greatest density of program seats.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) high school programs are relatively dispersed throughout the city. All regions offer some type of CTE programming except for the Greater Lincoln Park region. Some CTE programs have admissions criteria, but others are open enrollment.

Military high schools have specific admissions criteria and are in six regions, with those regions relatively spread out across the district. There are 39 traditional Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs in high schools across nearly all regions. The Central Area region is the only region that does not have a military or JROTC program.

There is disparity in Selective Enrollment high schools and program availability and density throughout the city – the Central Area, Near West Side, and Northwest Side regions have a high concentration of Selective Enrollment seats. Selective Enrollment programs have admissions criteria.

Selective Enrollment

High School Program Density Table
(Number of Program Seats Per 100 Students)

1. Selective Enrollment, Military, and IB programs have admissions criteria for enrollment.
2. Program capacity data is self-reported by schools and fluctuates year to year. Data regarding the presence of programs or the number of seats in programs may be missing or incomplete.
3. Many schools may offer STEM programming beyond those designated as Early College STEM schools.
4. Personalized Learning is a learner-driven instructional model that fosters 21st century skills by empowering every student to actively co-design their learning path, pace, and environment according to their individual needs, strengths, and interests. This data includes schools that are on the path to schoolwide adoption of this approach.
5. Many schools offer arts programming outside of these specific Fine and Performing Arts programs. Schools receive a Creative Schools Certification indicating the strength of their arts programming. More information can be found on each school’s profile page.
6. Other includes: AVID, Dual Language, Journalism, Science, Three-Year HS, and World Language and International Studies schools and programs.

Early College and Career Credential Access

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.

There are 7 different ECCC programs available to CPS students, including:
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- Career & Technical Education (CTE)
- Dual Credit (DC)
- Dual Enrollment (DE)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)
- Seal of Biliteracy (SSB)

CPS has set an ambitious goal that 60% of students will earn an Early College and Career Credential by the time they graduate and considers ECCC rates to be a measure of student preparedness for postsecondary success.

In 2021-22, 46% of students across CPS earned an ECCC. Of the 7 ECCC programs, students across CPS earn the most credentials in Advanced Placement (26% of students) and Dual Credit (16%) programs last school year.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) high school programs are relatively dispersed throughout the city. All regions offer some type of CTE programming except for the Greater Lincoln Park region. Some CTE programs have admissions criteria, but others are open enrollment.

Career & Technical Education (CTE)

Military high schools have specific admissions criteria and are in six regions, with those regions relatively spread out across the district. There are 39 traditional Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs in high schools across nearly all regions. The Central Area region is the only region that does not have a military or JROTC program.

Military & JROTC

High School International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are present in 13 regions. The greatest density of IB seats are in the Greater Lincoln Park, Bronzeville / South Lakefront, and North Lakefront regions. The Central Area, Near West Side, and West Side regions have no high school IB programs. High school IB diploma programs have admissions criteria.

High School IB

NOTE: Program density calculations are only available for CTE, JROTC, and IB ECCC programs. Program capacity data is self-reported by schools and fluctuates year to year. Data regarding the presence of programs or the number of seats in programs may be missing or incomplete.

To learn more about AP, visit www.cps.edu/academics/college-credit/ap-credit. To learn more about CTE, DC, and DE programs, visit www.cps.edu/about/departments/early-college-and-career-education-ecce. To learn more about IB, visit www.cps.edu/academics/college-credit/ib-credit. To learn more about JROTC, visit www.chicagojrotc.com. To learn more about SSB, visit www.cps.edu/academics/language-and-culture/seal-of-biliteracy.

Early College and Career Credential Achievement

ECCC Achievement Rate by Home Region

The greatest percentage of students earning an Early College and Career Credentials live in the Greater Lincoln Park region and the lowest percentage live in the West Side region. The greatest overall number of students earning an ECCC live in the Far Northwest Side region (1,845) and the least live in the Near West Side region (107).

Map of ECCC Achievement Rate by Home Region

NOTE: Students can earn an ECCC in more than one program. The number of students shown in each region counts each student that earned an ECCC only once regardless of if they earned more than one credential.

ECCC Achievement Rate by Attending Region

The greatest percentage of students earning an Early College and Career Credentials attend school in the Central Area region and the lowest percentage attend school in the South Side region. The greatest overall number of students earning an ECCC attend school in the Northwest side region (2,020) and the least attend school in the Far Southwest Side region. (141).

Map of ECCC Achievement Rate by Attending Region

NOTE: Students can earn an ECCC in more than one program. The number of students shown in each region counts each student earning an ECCC only once regardless of if they earned more than one credential.

ECCC Achievement Rate per Program by Home and Attending Region

  |  District-wide, 5,719 high school students earned an ECCC in AP

  | District-wide, 3,730 high school students earned an ECCC in Dual Credit

Each ECCC program sets their own credential achievement criteria. To learn more, go to cps.edu/about/district-data/metrics.

NOTE: Percentages shown are the portion of students that earned an ECCC in each program. Bars will not add up to 100% since students can earn an ECCC in more than one program. Students who earned more than one ECCC are counted in each program percentage.