Near West Side - Choice

Where are Elementary Students Choosing to Attend Outside the Region?

This map illustrates the current choice footprint of K-8th graders residing in the Near West Side region but attending a school out of the region. The West Side, Greater Milwaukee Avenue, Greater Lincoln Park, and Pilsen / Little Village regions are enrolling the greatest overall number of elementary students that reside in the Near West Side region but attend school out of the region.

                                 Elementary School Choice Footprint Map

Are High School Students Choosing Schools in the Region?

Percentage of 8th Grade Students in the Region Who Applied to High School

Since 2017-18, CPS has utilized the GoCPS platform to allow students to research and apply to all high schools and high school programs. Students are asked to rank in order of preference the schools and programs they are most interested in. Students are still guaranteed a seat in the general education program at their zoned high school and do not have to submit a GoCPS application for that program. For more information about GoCPS and the high school application process, visit go.cps.edu.

In the Near West Side region, 90% (280) of 8th-grade students applied to a variety of high school programs in Round 1 of the GoCPS application process.

Percentage of Students in the Region Who Received an Offer from One of Their Top 3 Choices

Of the 8th-grade students residing in the Near West Side region who applied in Round 1, 93% received an offer to one of their top 3 choices of high school programs. This figure does not include selective enrollment high schools as those schools use a different ranking process in GoCPS.

NOTE: This analysis only includes 8th-grade applicants who were enrolled on the 20th day of school in 2022-23.
Due to rounding, some charts may not add up to 100%.

Changes to the CPS HS admissions process occurred between SY21 and SY22. As a result, students' ranking decisions and offer results will differ from previous years.

High School Student Choice Over Time

School choice is currently defined as attending a school that is not a student’s zoned (or assigned) school.

Over the past four years, in this region, the percentage of high school students attending a school other than their zoned school (in or out of the region) has increased from 93% to 94%. In the same time frame, the percentage of students attending their zoned school has stayed relatively the same at 7%.

The percentage of high school students attending a school in the Near West Side region (zoned or non-zoned) has increased from 44% to 47%, while the percentage of students attending another school out of the region has decreased from 56% to 54%.

NOTE: Due to rounding, some charts may not add up to 100%.

High School Students Who Attend School Out of Region by Race/Ethnicity

Of the 596 high school students who live in the region but attend another school out of the region, the greatest overall number are students who identify as Black. 52% of students identifying as Black attend school out of their home region, compared to 63% of students identifying as White and 61% of students identifying as Latinx.

High School Students Who Attend a Non-Zoned School In Region

Of the 1,110 high school students residing in the region, 40% (446 students) attend another school in the region that is not their zoned school. Of those students, 54% attend Charter/Contract schools with the remainder attending Selective Enrollment, Magnet, or Military schools in the region.

High School Students Who Attend a Non-Zoned School Out of Region

Of the 1,110 high school students residing in the region, 54% (596 students) attend another school out of the region. Of those students, 32% attend Selective Enrollment or Charter/Contract schools with the remainder attending mostly other zoned schools or other citywide schools out of the region.

High School Student's Distance and Time Traveled to School

Of the 1,110 high school students residing in region, 76% travel less than 3 miles for school and 9% travel 6 miles or more. 72% of students travel less than 30 minutes and 10% travel 45 minutes or more.

NOTE: 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.

Due to rounding, some charts may not add up to 100%.

Where are High School Students Choosing to Attend Outside the Region?

Choice Footprint Map

This map illustrates the current choice footprint of 9th-12th graders residing in the Near West Side region but attending a school out of the region. The West Side, Greater Milwaukee Avenue, Central Area and, Bronzeville / South Lakefront regions are enrolling the greatest overall number of high school students that reside in the Near West Side region but attend school out of the region.

                                 High School Choice Footprint Map

Are Options High School Students Choosing Schools in the Region?

Options High School Student Choice Over Time

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’ campuses offer additional supports such as counseling and alternative schedules for students who may work during the traditional school day.

Options high schools exist in every region except the Greater Lincoln Park and Far Southwest Side regions. Options high schools do not have attendance zones or admission criteria although many serve only students 16 years and older. Students can choose to attend any Options high school within or outside of their home region. For this reason, Choice patterns tend to differ for Options students compared to elementary and other high school students.

Over the past four years, the percentage of Near West Side region Options high school students attending a school in the region has remained relatively the same at 20%. In the Near West Side region, Options high school students attend school out of the region at a greater rate than elementary and other high school students.

NOTE: Due to rounding, some charts may not add up to 100%.

Options High School Student's Distance Traveled to School

On average, Options high school students in the Near West Side region travel 3.2 miles to school, which is 0.6 miles less than the district average. 61% travel less than 3 miles and 7% travel 6 miles or more.

NOTE: 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.

Due to rounding, some charts may not add up to 100%.

Options High School Student's Time Traveled to School

On average, Options high school students in the Near West Side region travel for 27 minutes to school, which is 3 minutes less than the district average. 56% travel for less than 30 minutes and 7% travel 45 minutes or more.

NOTE: 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.

Due to rounding, some charts may not add up to 100%.

Where are Options High School Students Choosing to Attend Outside the Region?

Choice Footprint Map and Table

This map illustrates the current choice footprint of 9th-12th Options high school students residing in the Greater Calumet region. The South Side and Greater Stony Island regions are enrolling the greatest overall number of Options high school students that reside in the Greater Calumet region but attend school out of the region.