Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Public Schools Continue Expansion of Sustainable Community Schools

CHICAGO - Fifteen additional Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will soon become vibrant community hubs that offer wraparound support and partnerships with community-based organizations to provide well-rounded, integrated care for students. The latest expansion will bring the total number of Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) to 51 across Chicago, with 19 more planned next year, reflecting the District's continuing commitment to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of students and families.

"Every child deserves a school that opens doors not only to academic success, but to the opportunities and support that strengthen entire families," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Expanding Sustainable Community Schools reflects our commitment to investing in neighborhoods, empowering communities, and creating learning environments where students can thrive. When we strengthen our schools, we strengthen the future of Chicago."

The SCS model, inspired by historic hunger strikes and launched in 2018 as a joint initiative, is born from the collective bargaining agreement between CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) with the goal of centering community voice and collaboration to address both academic and non-academic needs. The model treats the neighborhood as a "village" and pairs schools with community-based organizations to provide integrated support, including health and wellness services, trauma-informed care, restorative justice practices, and expanded after-school learning.

"Sustainable Community Schools demonstrate what is possible when schools, families, and community partners work together with a shared purpose," said CPS CEO/Superintendent Dr. Macquline King. "The expansion of this model means we are creating more opportunities for students to succeed academically while ensuring they have access to the services, relationships, and supports that help them reach their full potential."

Planning and community engagement for the 15 newly selected schools are already underway, with full implementation beginning in the 2026-27 school year when students can begin receiving resources to enhance their learning, along with efforts to promote family engagement, create shared leadership opportunities, and strengthen school-community ties.

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One of the new hubs will be at Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School, where Principal Homero Penuelas hopes his school will become more than a place of learning. With the additional resources, Curie, he said, will also become a place where families connect, partnerships flourish, and the entire community grows stronger together.

"Becoming a sustainable community school means committing to the success of every child by collaborating with families, community organizations, and our neighbors to address both academic and non-academic needs," said Principal Penuelas. "Here at Curie, we believe that when schools become the heart of their community, students thrive, families are empowered, and lasting opportunities are created for generations to come."

The latest strategic expansion prioritizes historically underserved communities and aligns with the District's equity framework, which seeks to close opportunity gaps and elevate student voices. The Board of Education affirmed this vision by passing a resolution in December 2023, officially naming Community Schools a strategic priority within CPS's Success 2029: Together We Rise five-year strategic plan. The initiative directly advances the plan's goal of ensuring that every school becomes a community hub, a place where educators, families, students, and community partners come together to promote collective well-being.

"The goal of Sustainable Community Schools is creating stronger connections between our schools and the communities they serve. By building on local partnerships and listening to families, we are creating learning environments that respond to students' needs and reflect the strengths of every neighborhood," said Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden. "This is an investment in long-term success for our students and our city."

"These community hubs recognize that student success is built through strong relationships, meaningful partnerships, and a commitment to supporting the whole child," said CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. "Expanding this work means more families will have access to schools that serve as trusted centers of opportunity. We are encouraged to see this continued investment and remain committed to working alongside CPS to ensure every student has the support they deserve."

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For more information about the Community Schools strategic priority, visit the District's website as well as the CTU's Sustainable Community Schools Page.

Newly Selected Sustainable Community Schools for 2026-27 Implementation

• Chicago High School for the Arts
• Chicago Vocational High School
• Roberto Clemente Community Academy
• DeWitt Clinton Elementary School
• Mary E. Courtenay Elementary Language Arts Center
• Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School
• James Farmer, Jr. Elementary School
• Foster Park Elementary School
• Gage Park High School
• Mildred I. Lavizzo Elementary School
• Little Village Elementary School
• Roswell B. Mason Elementary School
• Benjamin E. Mays Elementary Academy
• Parkside Elementary Community Academy
• Theodore Roosevelt High School

Existing Sustainable Community Schools

• Oscar DePriest Elementary School
• Herbert Spencer Technology Academy
• Charles Steinmetz College Prep
• Brighton Park Elementary School
• Thomas Kelly Preparatory School
• Donald L. Morrill Math & Science Specialty School
• John B. Drake Elementary School
• Jacob Beidler Elementary School
• Daniel R. Cameron Magnet School of the Arts
• Carl Schurz High School
• Richard Yates Elementary School
• Richards Career Academy
• Christian Fenger Academy High School
• Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary School
• David Farragut Community Academy IB World School
• Cyrus H. McCormick Elementary School
• Uplift Community High School
• Fort Dearborn Elementary School
• Walter H. Dyett High School for The Arts
• Ralph H. Metcalfe Community Academy
• Ira Aldridge Elementary School
• Austin College and Career Academy High School
• Belmont-Cragin Elementary School
• James H. Bowen High School
• Cesar E. Chavez Multi-Cultural Academic Center
• George W. Collins Academy STEAM High School
• James R. Doolittle Elementary School
• Englewood STEM High School
• Stephen F. Gale Community Academy
• Harold Washington Elementary School
• Gurdon S. Hubbard High School
• Stephen T. Mather High School
• McCutcheon STEAM Elementary School
• Richard J. Oglesby Elementary School
• Telpochcalli Dual-Language Elementary School
• George Washington High School

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