Essential education reporting across America
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Thomas Wilburn

Senior Data Editor

Thomas Wilburn is the Senior Data Editor for Chalkbeat. Previously, he was a senior developer with the NPR News Apps team, where he worked on large-format visual storytelling, rebuilt the team’s data and visualization tools, and led the development of the 2020 election results displays. He was also a founding member of the Seattle Times Interactives team.

A group of four students work on worksheets together at their desks. The district has enrolled a smaller and smaller share of students from low-income families over the past decade.
From Chalkbeat Chicago School Enrollment
As Chicago becomes wealthier, the public schools are also becoming less low-income
The shift raises questions about who schools are serving, how they should be resourced, and what the district — and the city — can do as it continues to lose students.
By Reema Amin and Thomas Wilburn
 
Two young students write on a poster board on the ground as an adult peers overhead to review their work.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Assessment and testing
Memphis TCAP scores show modest gains, with English results stagnating
Improvement in math tracks statewide trend, but proficiency rates lag behind pre-pandemic levels.
By Laura Testino, Tonyaa Weathersbee, and 1 more
 
hands on computer keyboards
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Student & School Performance
TCAP scores are in for Tennessee school districts. See how your district did.
Results offer localized snapshot of how school systems are doing with pandemic recovery.
By Marta W. Aldrich and Thomas Wilburn
 
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Year in Review Year in Review
13 education data stories that explained U.S. schools in 2022
Chalkbeat’s data team looks back at an eventful 12 months covering education across America.
By Thomas Wilburn
 
A teacher pats one of his students on the head while he is working at a desk, seated next to a young girl.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Shrinking Schools
Where are the kids? Colorado school enrollment trends shed light on closure discussions
As Colorado districts prepare to vote on school closures, Chalkbeat answered some common questions.
By Melanie Asmar, Yesenia Robles, and 2 more
 
An orange sign says “testing in progress, do not disturb” as students work in the background.
From Chalkbeat New York Featured Stories
How did the pandemic affect your NYC school’s state test scores? Find out here.
By Alex Zimmerman and Thomas Wilburn
 
A girl sits waiting in an auditorium alongside a health worker for her first COVID-19 vaccine.
From Chalkbeat Chicago COVID and Schools
Chicago schools’ COVID vaccine rates backslide as disparities persist
After hovering around 45% last spring, the average school is 39% fully vaccinated at the start of the new school year.
By Mauricio Peña and Thomas Wilburn
 
Two boxes for ballots stand in Yates Elementary in Chicago. A yellow box is for mail-in ballots dropped off at the campus and a brown box is for votes cast on site.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Campaigns and elections
Chicago Public Schools is looking to fill 1,400 empty seats on Local School Councils
Despite high voter turnout — largely buoyed by student voters — many of Chicago’s Local School Councils still have open seats. Data shows schools on the South and West Side account for the majority of unfilled seats.
By Mauricio Peña and Thomas Wilburn
 
Students walk through the lobby of P.S. 89, with ornate murals on the walls and light blue doors.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID Stimulus
Most NYC schools are losing funding. See what’s happening at your school.
Chalkbeat created a lookup tool examining changes to Fair Student Funding, a major source of funding for schools.
By Reema Amin and Thomas Wilburn
 
A young boy wearing a winter coat is comforted by an adult kneeling next to him before getting a vaccine shot inside a school gym.
From Chalkbeat Chicago COVID and Schools
What five graphics tell us about COVID vaccine disparity in Chicago schools
Despite a gradual uptick in overall vaccine rates since December, the nation’s third largest district is struggling to make inroads at predominantly Black schools on the South and West Sides.
By Mauricio Peña and Thomas Wilburn
 
From a distance, two people stand in front of a table with a person sitting behind it.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID safety
52% of NYC public school students are fully vaccinated. Check your school’s rate here.
The education department on Friday released school-level vaccination rates that show wide disparities across the boroughs.
By Christina Veiga, Alex Zimmerman, and 1 more
 
This map shows efforts in 36 states to restrict education on racism, bias, the contributions of specific racial or ethnic groups to U.S. history, or related topics. Last updated Feb. 1, 2022.
Teaching & Classroom Teaching & Classroom
MAP: Efforts to restrict teaching about racism and bias have multiplied across the U.S.
Chalkbeat is tracking efforts to restrict teaching about race and bias in schools, as well as efforts to expand it, on this map of critical race theory legislation.
By Cathryn Stout and Thomas Wilburn
 
A parent and a child walk toward an elementary school, with fencing on either side. Their backs are turned to the camera.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
75% of NYC public schools enrolled fewer students this year. Here’s a breakdown of every school.
Nearly 23% of schools lost 10% or more of their students, state figures show.
By Alex Zimmerman and Thomas Wilburn
 
Graduation seniors in red gowns toss their graduation mortarboards into the air against a dark evening sky.
Teaching & Classroom Teaching & Classroom
Graduation rates dip across U.S. as pandemic stalls progress
High school graduation rates dipped in 20 of 26 states with data for the class of 2021, suggesting the pandemic may have ended nearly two decades of progress toward getting more students diplomas.
By Matt Barnum, Kalyn Belsha, and 1 more