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 South Side region's boundaries are, generally, West 49th Street to the north; the Dan Ryan Expressway to the east; I-57, Beverly Blvd, 87th Street, and the city's border with Evergreen Park to the south; and Metra’s SouthWest Service Line, West Columbus Avenue and the BNSF Central Railroad tracks to the west.
It consists primarily of three community areas – Auburn Gresham, Englewood, and West Englewood and includes portions of Ashburn, Chatham, Fuller Park, Greater Grand Crossing, New City, Roseland, and Washington Heights. The region contains a variety of residential and industrial areas and includes access to the Bishop Ford Freeway and I-57.
It contains parts of 9 wards, 12 neighborhoods, and 13 community areas. It is served by 8 CTA train stops and 4 Metra stops.
* Denotes Options/alternative or special education specialty school
School Type
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
Racial/Ethnic Composition
In the South 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 82% to 76%, while the percentage of students identifying as Latinx increased from 17% to 22%.
The majority of the students in the South Side region identify as Black with the northwest portion near the Greater Stockyards region being primarily students that identify as Latinx.
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 76% to 83%. The percentage of students qualifying for FRL in the region remains higher than the overall district percentage of 71%. 1, 2
The South Side region primarily includes areas with low median household income with some medium median income areas in the southern portion of the region.3
Free and Reduced Lunch Rate Over Time
Free and Reduced Lunch Rate Over Time
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME