National Study: CPS Students No. 1 In Reading Since Pandemic

Dear CPS Families,

When the COVID-19 pandemic descended in the spring of 2020, it turned our entire education system upside down. The impact on learning was extreme, and we knew that getting our students back on track would require a tremendous effort. Now, a landmark study from Harvard and Stanford Universities is showing us just how hugely that effort has paid off!

CPS Students #1 in Reading

According to this study, CPS students in grades 3 - 8 are #1 among large urban school districts when it comes to gains in reading since the pandemic. In fact, our students made up more than two-thirds of a year of instruction from 2022-2023 alone.

As impressive as this is, CPS students have done MORE than just make up ground that was lost. They’ve actually emerged stronger than they were in 2019— scoring almost half of a grade level higher in 2023 than they did BEFORE the pandemic. Our growth in reading also outpaced the state as a whole, putting CPS students at the forefront for academic recovery in Illinois.

Growth Driven by Priority Groups

This growth in reading was propelled by our Black students, who emerged from the pandemic two-thirds of a year ahead of where they were in 2019. These were the greatest gains in reading since the pandemic when compared to Black students in other large urban districts.

CPS’ Latino students also led large urban districts in reading gains. In fact, ours are the only Latino students in these districts who are scoring better today than they did before the pandemic.

We also made progress in math, where CPS students ranked in the top-third when compared to similar districts. And when the growth in reading and math scores are combined, CPS ranked #3 out of large urban Districts across the country.

This level of improvement doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because as a District, we have been laser-focused on supporting our students’ academic recovery. We have an educational philosophy rooted in supporting the whole child, and we have brought it to life by investing in the strategies, programs, and staff that we know drive student success:

• High-quality, culturally-responsive curriculum that is rooted in student identity
• More teachers in the classroom, with more professional development and academic coaches to help them succeed
• More academic interventionists to get students back on track
• High-dosage tutoring in reading and math, which has helped thousands of CPS students make tremendous gains
• Growing our summer and Out-of-School-Time programs to keep students engaged, learning, and growing outside of regular school hours
• Greater social-emotional learning resources and services in schools, and expanded access to community mental health partners to support our students’ behavioral and mental health.

We are grateful to our talented educators and staff for committing so completely to this work. We also want to thank you, our families, for placing your trust in our District, and in the strategies we have put in place to help your children thrive. Finally, we want to congratulate our students on their achievement, their resilience, and all their hard work. From leading the way on pandemic recovery, to record-high graduation and scholarship rates, we could not be more proud of all they have accomplished.

Our work is not done, and there is much we will need to do to maintain our gains and reach even higher. But for today, let’s celebrate this growth for what it is: proof that when CPS students have the tools they need to be successful, and the right people around them guiding their way, they can accomplish anything.

You can explore our exciting data directly, or read more about it in our news release. We’re also including some recent news coverage of this amazing CPS accomplishment!

• WTTW: CPS Shows Strong Academic Recovery After COVID-19 Pandemic, Study Finds
• Fox32: Chicago schools celebrate recovery in student reading levels, outperforming national averages
• Chalkbeat: Chicago Public Schools recover from pandemic declines more than other districts, study shows

We thank you for your partnership and look forward to continuing to work together as we build on our students’ amazing gains.

Sincerely,

Pedro Martinez, Chief Executive Officer

Chicago Public Schools

Bogdana Chkoumbova, Chief Education Officer

Chicago Public Schools