Chicago Public Schools (CPS) administrators, staff, and students on Monday gathered to share the latest milestones and insight on how to help more Chicago youth enroll and graduate from colleges and universities. It was the last of six stops CPS leaders have been making in the past month to celebrate the early college and career successes across one of the country’s largest public-school districts. College enrollment and persistence are among the early college and career indicators the District tracks – along with credential attainment and scholarships earned – to ensure CPS students are prepared for success after graduation. Under Success 2029: Together We Rise, the District’s five-year strategic plan, CPS set a goal to increase the percentage of graduates earning advanced course credits or career credentials from 49 percent in 2024 to 70 percent by 2029. In 2025, CPS made progress toward that target, with 56.3 percent of graduates earning at least one credential through Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, the State Seal of Biliteracy, Career and Technical Education, internships, or Junior ROTC. The Class of 2025 achieved several historic milestones:
• 211 graduating seniors earned both a high school diploma and an associate degree.
• More than 1,000 graduates completed 15 or more transferable college credits — the equivalent of a full semester of college.
• More than 6,600 students earned over 66,000 early college credits, generating an estimated $10 million in tuition savings for CPS families, the highest in District history.
For the full report, visit www.cps.edu.
