The CPS Annual Regional Analysis (ARA) is a collection of reports that have been created to support conversations with communities and stakeholders. These reports provide data that helps answer questions about who attends CPS schools, where do students enroll, what programs do CPS schools offer, and is the district meeting family and community needs.
Updated yearly, the ARA presents CPS data in one place and does not make recommendations or suggestions for action. Instead, these reports are designed to empower stakeholders with the information they need to ask questions and advocate for the types of schools they want in their communities. In doing so, the ARA supports CPS's goal of ensuring that every student in every neighborhood receives a high-quality education.
Stakeholders are encouraged to review this information to understand current school quality, enrollment patterns, school choice options, and program offerings at the district level and across the 16 Chicago regions.
Structure & Organization
The ARA consists of a district report and 16 regional reports. The City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development created boundaries for regions based on housing and employment research. Natural borders such as rivers and train lines divide each region. These borders are likely considerations for families when selecting a school. The ARA uses these regions since they are more consistent than city wards or school networks.
The ARA includes all CPS schools, including traditional neighborhood schools, Charter schools, Selective Enrollment, Magnet, Special Education, Specialty, and Options High Schools.
Maps
Region Map
The Near West Side region's boundaries are, generally, Kinzie Avenue to the north, Interstate 90 to the east, 16th Street to the south, and Rockwell Avenue to the west.
It consists almost exclusively of the Near West Side community area. It is the smallest of the 16 regions in terms of geographic area and student enrollment but contains a variety of areas including high-density housing, commercial spaces, and industrial buildings.
It contains parts of 5 wards, 4 neighborhoods, and a single community area. It is served by 7 CTA train stops and 3 Metra stops.
* Denotes Options/alternative or special education specialty school
School Type
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
Racial/Ethnic Composition
In the Near West Side region over the last four years, the number of students who identify as Black has decreased.
In the region's student population over the last four years, the majority of students identify as Black, with the percent of students identifying as Black decreasing from 64% to 63%, while the percentage of students identifying as Latinx remained the same at 12%.
The majority of students in the Near West Side region identify as Black although the region is generally diverse.
Race/Ethnicity Composition Over Time
Race/Ethnicity Composition Over Time
Free and Reduced Lunch Rates
In the past four years, the percentage of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) has increased from 54% to 62%. The percentage of students qualifying for FRL in the region remains lower than the overall district percentage of 71%.
The Near West Side region includes areas with low median household income in the western part of the region and medium and high median income areas in the eastern part of the region.
Free and Reduced Lunch Rate Over Time
Free and Reduced Lunch Rate Over Time
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME