Chicago Public Schools, with over 361,000 students in approximately 631 schools, is the third largest district in the nation. It has a diverse student demographic including bilingual/English language learners, diverse learners and a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. The district’s academic structure continues to evolve thereby constantly improving student performance. This is in part due to increased school choice and access to a range of instructional programs. See the Educational Master Facility Plan for more information regarding the District’s facility planning and investment strategy.
The district’s academic vision is rooted in 6 core values: student centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. While the intent of these values may be more focused on academic success, the design team should consider how these values can be realized in capital improvement projects. As stated in the CPS vision, projects should reflect what all of CPS wants:
- Every school to be one of high-quality and opportunity
- A shared belief in communities as the bedrock for school success; and
- A shared excitement and pride in being a part of CPS
Chicago Public Schools continues to be one of the largest school districts in the country. As good stewards of such a vast institution, scale must always be considered. Diversity, equity and inclusion must be factors in the work proposed and completed.
Capital improvements should be considered on a district level as well as at the individual school level. Decisions regarding materials, design, etc set precedents that will have long range and long term implications. Changes or exceptions to the design guidelines and other standards should not be isolated decisions, but instead with an eye toward a broader implementation.