Academic Excellence

Academic Excellence

Students do not all learn in the same way, and we’re striving to develop teaching methods and programs that work for all students. From literacy programs to arts and cultural education, we’re finding new, more effective ways to teach and engage students. Current partner-supported efforts advancing academic progress and excellence in Chicago Public Schools include:

Arts Education

Research has shown that arts education benefits children in a number of key learning areas, including language development, and a strong arts education can lead to higher test scores across subjects.

CPS’s arts programs have made leaps and bounds forward in recent years. Here are a few key stats:

  • The percentage of CPS schools rated Strong or Excelling in the arts increased by 128%, from 29% in 2012–2013 to 66% in 2016–2017.
  • Community arts partnerships per school increased by nearly 20%, from 41% in 2012–2013 to 60% in 2016–2017.
  • The number of elementary schools providing 120 minutes of weekly arts instruction increases every year.
  • The number of schools employing full-time arts instructors increases every year.

CPS’s arts education partners include Ingenuity Inc., SocialWorks, Inc., Chicago Bulls Charities, ConAgra Foods Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Lyft, New Era Foundation, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Little Kids Rock, Lang Lang, CMA Foundation, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Steinway and Sons, and Conn-Selmer. Thank you!

We are committed to giving the kids as much as we can.

Chance the Rapper

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