Do Students Have Access to the Variety of Schools and Programs Offered?
Elementary Program Density Table
The Program Density Index measures the density of certain academic programs in each region. The index is calculated as the number of program seats per 100 age-eligible CPS students who reside in the region. This index can be used to compare program availability across regions. For more information about types of programs, visit cps.edu/rfp.
The West Side has a high density of elementary STEM/STEAM programs. There are also some World Language, Fine & Performing Arts, International Baccalaureate, and Dual Language programs.
Elementary Program Density Table
(Number of Program Seats Per 100 Students)
- Program capacity data is self-reported by schools and fluctuates year to year. Data regarding the presence of programs or the number of seats in programs may be missing or incomplete.
- Academic Centers (AC) offer accelerated instruction and the ability to earn high school credit to 7th and 8th grade students. All 7 CPS ACs are located at CPS high schools and may offer continuous 7-12 enrollment. To be admitted, students must apply to Academic Centers through the GoCPS application process.
- Dual Language (DL) programs include one-way and two-way programs. One-way DL provides instruction in two languages and serves English Learners (EL), former ELs, and heritage language speakers in the same classroom. Two-way DL provides instruction in two languages but creates a balance of ELs/heritage language learners and non-ELs in the same classroom.
- Fine and Performing Arts (F&PA) elementary programs may be offered to students outside of magnet schools or magnet cluster programs. Schools receive a Creative Schools Certification indicating the strength of their arts programming. More information can be found on each school’s profile page.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) programs at the elementary level include the Primary Years Programme (PYP) which generally serves grades K-5 and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) which generally serves grades 6-8. Elementary schools with IB may offer PYP, MYP, or both.
- Elementary school Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs offer an interdisciplinary approach to learning that prepares students for the future through a strong foundation of STEM integrated learning. A large number of elementary schools provide STEM enriched learning environments including but not exclusive to STEM, STEAM, Technology, or Magnet schools.
- Regional Gifted Centers (RGC) and Classical schools are separate elementary school models that offer accelerated instruction across a variety of subjects. RGC and Classical schools can offer programming in K-8 but may only offer programming in certain grades. To be admitted, students must apply to RGC and Classical schools through the GoCPS application process.
- Elementary schools offering World Language (WL) programming expose students to either American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Polish, or Spanish language content. Schools use either a FLES model (120+ minutes per week) which is designed to achieve high levels of language and cultural proficiency or a FLEX model (<120 minutes per week) which helps to develop an enthusiasm for language learning in general.
High School Program Density Table
The Program Density Index measures the density of certain academic programs in each region. The index is calculated as the number of program seats per 100 age-eligible CPS students who reside in the region. This index can be used to compare program availability across regions. For more information about types of programs, visit cps.edu/rfp.
The West Side has a high density of high school World Language programs. There are also some Career & Technical Education, STEM/STEAM, International Baccalaureate, Selective Enrollment, Military/JROTC, and Fine & Performing Arts programs.
High School Program Density Table
(Number of Program Seats Per 100 Students)
- Program capacity data is self-reported by schools and fluctuates year to year. Data regarding the presence of programs or the number of seats in programs may be missing or incomplete.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide experiential learning opportunities that allow students to explore careers and gain skills while still in high school. There are over 10 different CTE pathways that include exposure to Agricultural Sciences, Business, Culinary, Health Sciences, Information Technology, and Manufacturing and Pre-Engineering career areas. Schools may choose to offer one or more different CTE pathways based on student interest.
- Dual Language (DL) programs include one-way and two-way programs. One-way DL provides instruction in two languages and serves English Learners (EL), former ELs, and heritage language speakers in the same classroom. Two-way DL provides instruction in two languages but creates a balance of ELs/heritage language learners and non-ELs in the same classroom.
- Fine & Performing Arts schools (F&PA) are committed to providing an arts-rich learning experience that includes arts instruction, arts creation and performance, and arts related community partnerships. Schools receive a Creative Schools Certification indicating the strength of their arts programming. More information can be found on each school’s profile page.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) programs at the high school level include the Diploma Programme (DP) which offers a rigorous, college preparatory focused curriculum and Career-related Programme (CP) which builds on the DP curriculum while integrating career-related education. High schools with IB may offer DP, CP, or both.
- Military and Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs aim to develop responsible cadet-leaders through high-quality instruction and enrichment opportunities that enable the development of the life skills, aspiration, and expectation needed to be college and career ready. CPS offers six dedicated Military Academies and thirty-seven JROTC programs at participating high schools.
- High school Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs offer an interdisciplinary approach to learning that engages students in hands-on, problem-based learning that prepares them for college and career. The district has a combination of Early College STEM/STEAM high schools and STEM integrated high schools across the district.
- Selective Enrollment high schools provide academically advanced high school students with a challenging and enriched college preparatory experience. To be admitted, students must apply to Selective Enrollment schools through the GoCPS application process.
- World Language (WL) programs provide students with intensive instruction in a world language to acquire proficiency in a non-native language as well as develop cultural understanding and awareness.
Elementary Program Seats Table
Number of Elementary School Program Seats in the Region
NOTE: Program capacity data is self-reported by schools and fluctuates year to year. Data regarding the presence of programs or the number of seats in programs may be missing or incomplete.
High School Program Seats Table
Number of High School Program Seats in the Region
NOTE: Program capacity data is self-reported by schools and fluctuates year to year. Data regarding the presence of programs or the number of seats in programs may be missing or incomplete.
Early College and Career Credential Achievement
Early College and Career Credential (ECCC) programs provide access and support for rigorous, college-level, hands-on, and career-focused courses and experiences. ECCC programs advance student postsecondary success through earned college credits or professional credentials and the exposure to soft skills needed to succeed in college, civic, life, and the 21st-century labor market.
There are 7 different ECCC programs available to CPS students, including:
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- Career & Technical Education (CTE)
- Dual Credit (DC)
- Dual Enrollment (DE)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)
- Seal of Biliteracy (SSB)
CPS has set an ambitious goal that 60% of students will earn an Early College and Career Credential by the time they graduate and considers ECCC rates to be a measure of student preparedness for postsecondary success.
In 2022-23, 34% of students residing in the West Side region earned at least one ECCC compared to 49% of students across CPS. Of the 7 ECCC programs, students residing in the West Side region earned the most credentials in Dual Credit (16% of students) and Advanced Placement (11% of students) programs last school year.
ECCC Achievement by Program in the Region
ECCC Achievement by Program in the Region
NOTE: Students can earn an ECCC in more than one program. Students earning more than one credential are counted in each program category.
To learn more about AP, visit www.cps.edu/academics/college-credit/ap-credit. To learn more about CTE, DC, and DE programs, visit www.cps.edu/about/departments/early-college-and-career-education-ecce. To learn more about IB, visit www.cps.edu/academics/college-credit/ib-credit. To learn more about JROTC, visit www.chicagojrotc.com. To learn more about SSB, visit www.cps.edu/academics/language-and-culture/seal-of-biliteracy.