New Report Highlights Educational Milestones for Chicago Public Schools Students
A new analysis by the To&Through Project and the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research reveals critical insights into the educational attainment of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students. The report, The Educational Attainment of Chicago Public Schools Students: 2023, examines high school graduation, college enrollment, and college completion rates, offering a comprehensive view of students’ progress and challenges across the district.
2023 PAI — Key Points
- If 2023 rates held over the next decade, of 100 current CPS ninth-graders, 85 would graduate from high school within four years.
- Of those 85 high school graduates, 43 would immediately enroll in a four-year college, 14 would immediately enroll in a two-year college, and 28 would not immediately enroll in college.
- Six years after high school graduation, 31 of the original 85 high school graduates would have completed a college credential—24 with a bachelor's degree and 7 with an associate degree or certificate.3
- The 2023 PAI of 30.6%, which we report rounding to whole numbers as 31%, shows a 0.4 percentage point increase over the 2022 PAI of 30.2%.4
The findings underscore the ongoing challenges students face, particularly in achieving college completion, while pointing to opportunities for systemic improvement. The authors stress the importance of long-term investments and innovative partnerships to support students on their educational journeys, especially as they continue to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The To&Through Project’s Post-secondary Attainment Index is designed to track progress over time and inform actionable steps to improve outcomes. To explore how these trends apply to specific schools or communities, visit the To&Through Milestones Tool.
Supporting CPS students will require a deeper understanding of their lived experiences, tailored solutions to address disparities and unprecedented level of investment across the city.