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 West Side region’s boundaries are, generally, the Metra Milwaukee District West railroad line to the north, West Ogden Avenue to the south, Western Avenue to the east, and Austin Avenue to the west, bordering Oak Park.
It consists primarily of five community areas – Austin, East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and West Garfield Park. The region is bisected by the Eisenhower Expressway and contains residential and industrial areas.
It contains parts of 9 wards, 19 neighborhoods, and 5 community areas. It is served by 15 CTA train stops and 8 Metra stops.
* Denotes Options/alternative or special education specialty school
School Type
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
Racial/Ethnic Composition
In the 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 72% to 65%, while the percentage of students identifying as Latinx increased from 26% to 33%.
The majority of the students in the West Side region identify as Black with some northern and southern portions 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 77% to 83%. The percentage of students qualifying for FRL in the region remains higher than the overall district percentage of 71%. 1, 2
The West Side primarily includes areas of low median household income with some areas of medium median income in the northern portion of the region.3
Free and Reduced Lunch Rate Over Time
Free and Reduced Lunch Rate Over Time
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME