Chicago Public Schools Announces Historic Milestones in Scholarships and Seal of Biliteracy Achievements

Chicago Public Schools Announces Historic Milestones in Scholarships and Seal of Biliteracy Achievements

Students top prior scholarship awards by more than $1 billion and achieve unprecedented levels of State Seal of Biliteracy awarded in a greater range of languages than ever before.

CHICAGO- Chicago Public Schools (CPS) celebrates the achievements of the Class of 2025 by highlighting a record number of scholarships and State Seal of Biliteracy awards. The District recognized these accomplishments at Eric Solorio Academy High School in Gage Park, where students secured these honors at unprecedented levels. CPS emphasizes that these achievements not only demonstrate students' dedication and perseverance but also create meaningful advantages for their futures.

“Our students are remarkable, and the recognition they receive beyond the District reflects not only their intelligence but also their unwavering persistence,” said Dr. Macquline King, Interim CEO/Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools. “We take great pride in preparing students for both university and life. Through this program, we cultivate global awareness, strong communication abilities, and an expansive set of real-world skills that empower them to thrive in any path they choose.”

The record-setting Class of 2025 earned an unprecedented $3.27 billion in scholarships, surpassing the Class of 2024 by more than $1.1 billion. The previous class earned approximately $2.1 billion as they graduated from CPS and continued to higher education, making this year’s total the highest in District history.

The event at Solorio highlighted the supports the District provides to help students explore postsecondary education opportunities. Across the District, staff members are working diligently to ensure that students are prepared for life after high school. According to preliminary National College Attainment Network FAFSA completion data, the country’s completion rate is 26 percent, Illinois leads the nation at 38 percent, and CPS currently has a completion rate of 51 percent well above the state and national averages.

More than 3,500 Class of 2025 CPS students earned the State Seal of Biliteracy. Approximately 3,200 received the Seal in Spanish, while others achieved proficiency in 40 different languages. This year also brought several exciting firsts for both CPS and the State of Illinois. State Seals in Swahili, Afrikaans, Pashto, and Nepali were awarded for the first time in both CPS and the State of Illinois, and students earned State Seals in Hungarian for the first time at CPS.

“Language is a source of strength, and being multilingual gives our students a distinct advantage. Multilingualism strengthens cognitive capacity, creates a global mindset, and opens doors to academic and professional opportunities.” Said Dr. Karime Asaf, Chief Officer of Multilingual-Multicultural Education. “The Seal of Biliteracy celebrates that achievement and ensures our graduates are recognized for the academic dedication and cultural richness they bring to every space they enter.”

The record scholarship awards provide students with greater financial stability as they pursue higher education, reducing the burden of college costs and expanding their access to competitive academic programs. The State Seal of Biliteracy further strengthens their postsecondary opportunities by certifying them as proficient bilingual communicators, enhancing their employment prospects, opening doors to careers in global industries, and increasing their value in an increasingly multilingual workforce.

Seal of Biliteracy Awards

The State Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by the State of Illinois to high school seniors at graduation in recognition of attaining a high level of proficiency in English and in one or more additional languages. It is highlighted on high school diplomas and serves as a statement of accomplishment for college admission and for future employment. Seal recipients are awarded foreign language credit at public colleges and universities in the state of Illinois.

The Seal of Biliteracy honors high school graduates who demonstrate strong skills in English and an additional language, whether they speak a heritage language at home or have acquired a new language through their studies. Eligible recipients include English learners, former English learners, and students who were never identified as English learners.

To qualify for the Seal, graduating seniors must demonstrate proficiency in English and a world language according to the Illinois State Board of Education criteria. Seniors may take approved language assessments during a designated spring testing window to meet these requirements.

CPS broadened its assessment options so more linguistically diverse students can have their language skills evaluated and qualify for the Seal of Biliteracy. Students earned 3,203 Seals of Biliteracy in Spanish in SY 2025, up from 2,631 in SY 2024, and demonstrated proficiency in 41 languages, an increase from 38 the previous year. The District awarded the Seal in Hungarian for the first time, along with new Seals in Afrikaans, Pashto, Nepali, and Swahili, building on the SY 2024 additions of Burmese, Greek, Hausa, Jamaican Creole, Somali, Wolof, and Yoruba.

While slightly fewer high schools had at least one recipient in SY 2025 (89 compared with 91 in SY 2024), more students earned multiple Seals. 73 students earned the Seal in more than one language in SY 2025, up from 43 in SY 2024, including one student who earned Seals in five languages.

The demographic makeup of Seal recipients also shifted. English learners represented 13 percent of recipients in SY 2025, up from 7.2 percent in SY 2024. Former English learners made up 54.3 percent in 2025, compared with 60.6 percent in 2024, while the share of students who were never English learners remained relatively steady.

Students who come close to qualifying for the Seal of Biliteracy may earn the State Commendation Toward Biliteracy, which recognizes significant progress toward full proficiency in English and another language.


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