1. Department of Arts Education /
  2. Creative Schools

The Creative Schools Certification

The Creative Schools Certification (CSC) identifies the level of arts instruction in each school in five categories from Emerging to Excelling. It creates a clear picture for principals, teachers, and families about arts instruction in their school and serves as a roadmap for expanding the quality of, and access to, arts education. The Certification appears on school progress report cards along with other indicators of academic performance.

Creative Schools Certification

The Creative Schools Certification – Scoring Rubric provide an overview of the process by which Categories for High School and Elementary Schools are determined.

Creative Schools Certification 5 in row

The Creative Schools Certification, or CSC, is Chicago Public Schools' school-level arts indicator that provides an quantitative summary of arts education access and conditions in each school. Excelling schools are those that meet the goals and priorities outlined in the 2025 CPS Arts Education Plan.

Since the 2012-13 school year, the CSC has served as a shared measurement system for the school district and arts education sector, providing valuable insights that inform resource allocation and drive data-informed strategies that expand equitable access to the arts. The CSC is displayed on official CPS school profiles and will be an indicator in the newest CPS accountability system.