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Last
year's ACT results for graduating seniors mark an encouraging five-year trend of ACT
improvement across CPS schools, climbing from 17.2 in 2011 to 18.2 in 2015 - the highest on
record. Aher 5 years of flat scores that hovered around 17 prior to 2011. ACT scores have climbed
significantly to reach this new high.
College Enrollment:
According to the University of Chicago, the college enrollment rates for CPS students are on par
with national rates. In 2015, the four-year college enro)lment rate for 2014 CPS high school
graduates was 42% compared to 44% natjonally. The CPS rate is up from 33% in 2006.
Additionally, 20% of CPS graduates enrolled in a two-year college, making the overall college
enrollment rate 62%, compared to 68% nationally.
Attendance;
The district attendance rate for SYlS increased from 93.1 % to 93.2%, a new high for CPS. Over five
years, attendance rates have increased 1.7 percentage points.
Gates MIiiennium Scholars:
For seven of the last eight years, CPS has led the nation in the number of Gates Millennium
Scholarship recipients. Established in 1999, the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program is funded
by a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is designed to remove barriers
to education for high-performing, low-income students.
Top High Schools:
U.S. News and World Report recognized seven CPS high schools as among the top ten schools in the
state, and four of them were also ranked nationally.
Making Computer Science a Graduation Requirement:
In 2016 the Chicago Public Schools became the first school district in the country to make computer
science a high school graduation requirement.
Advanced Placement and College Credit:
Since 2011, CPS student participation in AP college-level coursework has increased by 31 % to
reach a total of more than 20,000 students taking the exam, while the number of students earning a
passing score-at least a 3 or higher-on at least one AP exam has increased over 61 %. The pass
rate for the exam has increased among all ethnic groups, including among African-American and
Latino students. CPS is among just 14 school districts in the country and is the only district of its
size to be lauded on the College Board Honor Roll for: (1) 30% or greater enrollment in AP classes
of American Indians, African-Americans and Latino students; (2) 30% or greater enrollment oflowincome
students; and (3) achieving this distinction for multiple years.
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