Chicago Public Schools Celebrates Historic Graduation Rates, Early College Credits Earned, More than $2 Billion in Scholarships

Chicago Public Schools Celebrates Historic Graduation Rates, Early College Credits Earned, More than $2 Billion in Scholarships

Dyett High School Hosts Celebration as Federal, City, and District Leadership Celebrate Progress and Community Partnerships

CHICAGO – U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez Tuesday celebrated the District’s progress in preparing more students for success in college and careers with record-breaking graduation rates, growing participation in Early College and Career Education programming and more than $2 billion in college scholarships awarded last year alone. The celebration at Walter Henri Dyett High School for the Arts emphasized collaboration with private, public, non-profit, and higher education partners across the city that are equipping CPS graduates with the knowledge as well as the skills and experiences to soar in their post-secondary lives.

“I applaud Chicago Public Schools, CEO Martinez, and the dedicated educators for their relentless efforts to Raise the Bar for academic achievement and create new systems of support for students’ social and emotional wellbeing,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The exciting results and improved outcomes we see here demonstrate the effective use of the American Rescue Plan dollars and are promising signs for the future of education in Chicago as it emerges from the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic.”

Several Class of 2023 alums joined Tuesday’s celebration, highlighting how the District helped them find success in college and the workplace through specific high school pathways and programming and strong community partners like the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization (KOCO) and Bright Star Community Outreach, which have both supported Dyett High School’s climate and culture. KOCO provides mentorship and restorative justice programming and other initiatives that elevate student voice and engagement.

“Our CPS graduates reflect the best of our city. Through collaboration with our teachers and community partners, nearly half our graduates are leaving CPS with more than a high school diploma,” said Mayor Johnson. “They challenged themselves, going above and beyond by earning college credits in high school, better preparing themselves for the rigor of college - and saving on the extraordinary expense of a college education.”

The Class of 2023 achieved an 84 percent graduation rate, setting a record at CPS, surpassing the Class of 2022 achievement of 82 percent, and continuing an upward trend; the CPS graduation rate was 59 percent just a decade ago, in 2013.
“We have made intentional investments in addressing our student's needs as individuals and now we see CPS students taking advantage of these opportunities,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “They are graduating at a record pace with scholarships and college credits and have developed tools that will help propel them toward a successful future.”

The Class of 2023 collectively earned more than two billion dollars in scholarships, the highest amount ever awarded to a CPS class since 2013. Fourteen schools reported earning scholarships totaling $20 million or more. CPS graduates are attending higher education powerhouses like Stanford, Harvard, Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, Michigan, and institutions around the world.

The District’s efforts to prioritize our students continue to ensure their ultimate success. As of October 2023 more than 87 percent of our freshmen are currently on track to graduate in four years, a testament to a system and city that is working together.

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