These 32 Chicago schools to split $32 million for new STEM, arts, and International Baccalaureate programs

In an effort to make its neighborhood and magnet schools more attractive, Chicago will spend $32 million to expand sought-after programs such as International Baccalaureate and dual-language to 32 more campuses across the city.

The plan, announced today by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and schools chief Janice Jackson, is billed as the largest programmatic expansion in the district’s history and comes at a time of intense scrutiny over what Chicago is doing to stem the tide of declining K-12 enrollment citywide.  

Related: Good news for schools in $32 million push, but questions surface about whether process is fair

When the competitive application program was announced last fall, 102 principals sent the district letters of intent to apply for funds. The district subsequently invited 58 of them to submit full proposals, eventually narrowing the list down to 32 schools, according to school board reports from Jackson.

The school district has repeatedly refused Chalkbeat requests for a complete list of schools that applied.

You can find the full list of 32 awardees below. 

Of the seven high schools receiving funds, six are district-run neighborhood schools that have struggled to compete with the district’s popular selective-enrollment high schools. 

Chicago will add programs focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math — some also with arts — to 11 schools. It will expand the International Baccalaureate curriculum to seven schools, to bring the program to a total of 62 campuses citywide. The rigorous IB curriculum — originally designed for the children of British diplomats — has expanded more quickly here than in any other school district in North America.

The $32 million expansion will also build out dual-language programs at four schools. A small group of schools will also receive world language and personalized learning programs that lean on computer-assisted instruction. The district will add one new gifted program, starting with kindergarten, at McPherson Elementary in Ravenswood.

Chicago also released an updated version of its Annual Regional Analysis, an inventory report compiled with school-choice group Kids First that is meant to both guide district decision-making and arm school communities with information to discuss and advocate for resources.

The report, which debuted last year, divides the school district into 16 “planning regions” showing where schools are, what programs they offer, how they are performing, and how people choose among available options. At community meetings held last year about the district’s Annual Regional Analysis, educators and parents pushed for the school district to help neglected open-enrollment schools raise their profile with programmatic investments and marketing support.

Here’s a full list of schools and new programs:

  • Addams Elementary School (Personalized Learning)
  • Belmont-Cragin Elementary School (Magnet – Fine & Performing Arts)
  • Cameron Elementary School (Magnet Cluster – Fine & Performing Arts)
  • Chase Elementary School (STEAM)
  • Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville (Early College STEM)
  • Michele Clark Magnet High School (IB – MYP)
  • Collins Academy High School (Magnet Cluster – Fine & Performing Arts) (Nhood)
  • Columbia Explorers Elementary School (STEM)
  • Cuffe Elementary School (STEM)
  • Earhart Elementary School (STEAM)
  • Eberhart Elementary School (Dual Language)
  • Everett Elementary School (STEM)
  • Evergreen Academy (STEAM)
  • Fairfield Elementary School (IB – MYP)
  • Faraday Elementary School (IB – PYP)
  • Goethe Elementary School (Dual Language)
  • Hawthorne Elementary School (Personalized Learning)
  • Joplin Elementary School (Magnet Cluster – World Language)
  • Josephine Locke Elementary School (IB – PYP)
  • McPherson Elementary School (Gifted & IB-PYP)
  • Moos Elementary School (IB – PYP)
  • Peck Elementary School (STEM)
  • Perez Elementary School (World Language Academy – Mandarin & Spanish)
  • Peterson Elementary School (STEAM)
  • Portage Park Elementary School (Magnet Cluster – Fine & Performing Arts)
  • Roosevelt High School (Dual Language)
  • Salazar Elementary School (Dual Language)
  • Senn High School (IB – CP)
  • Shoop Elementary School (STEM)
  • Steinmetz High School (STEAM)
  • Till Elementary School (Magnet Cluster – Fine & Performing Arts)
  • Wells High School (Magnet Cluster – Fine & Performing Arts)


Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect that 102 principals submitted letters of intent and 58 schools were invited to move forward with the process.