City Colleges of Chicago

CPS students headed to City Colleges of Chicago Register for Classes 

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) seniors who are headed to City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) in the fall can register this week for classes, resources, and supports they may need to be successful on the campus of their choice.  Called “City Colleges Enrollment Days,” this inaugural opportunity aims to help CPS seniors become more comfortable on a CCC campus with time to  meet and socialize with future classmates, and even take home some college swag.

“We’re excited to work with City Colleges to make the application and class registration process easy and to ensure that students have enrolled in their programs so they can start their college journey strong,”  said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “We want to ensure that our seniors lock into their CCC plans and make all the necessary connections to ensure their success.”

The new “Enrollment Days,” May 17, 18 and 19, reflects one of the many initiatives under The Chicago Roadmap, an unprecedented partnership between CPS and CCC to support students along a seamless path to and through college on the way to their chosen career.  The partnership aims to transform the relationship of CPS and CCC from a successful collaboration to full convergence to help expand access to high quality programs, advising and supports. Ultimately, this convergence looks to dramatically and equitably increase student outcomes in college readiness, enrollment, persistence, degree attainment, and employment.

While CPS graduation rates continue to increase – now at 83 percent – many of Chicago’s students still face barriers to college enrollment, college readiness, college completion, and economic mobility. More than 1500 students from 88 CPS schools are participating in the Enrollment Days. As part of improving access to college, the Chicago Roadmap is also covering the cost of transportation to CCC campuses during Enrollment Days.

“City Colleges of Chicago offer students a lot of flexibility and individual supports, especially for those juggling more than academics,” said Juan Salgado, Chancellor of CCC. “Enrollment Days is also a good opportunity for seniors interested in STEM careers to better understand all CCC has to offer and how we holistically support them in this pathway.”

More than 1,200 members of the CPS class of 2022 have already applied for a Star Scholarship.   These students are eligible to pursue a degree or certificate at CCC for free, including tuition, books, and course materials. Star Scholars’ college graduation rates are nearly double the national average and applications among the Class of 2022 are 53 percent higher than last year’s graduates.

Additionally, the Chicago Roadmap recently introduced the Options for the Future Scholarship, where any CPS-affiliated Options high school Class of 2022 graduate will have their tuition and books paid for (after financial aid) for up to three years, as long as they enroll at CCC in Fall 2022. CPS Options schools are designed to be a unique learning model for students who are not engaged in a traditional high school and seek an alternative pathway to graduation that leads to college and career success.

In 2019, 21 percent of CPS graduates enrolled directly into CCC after high school. While that percentage decreased during the pandemic, officials are hopeful to meet their five-year goal of seeing 30 percent of CPS graduates enroll in a CCC school by 2025. Next week, CPS and CCC will celebrate more than 400 CPS seniors who have earned 15-plus hours of college credit through the Dual Credit Program. 

The Chicago Roadmap is made possible thanks, in part, to generous philanthropic contributions made to the Children First Fund: The Chicago Public Schools Foundation and the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, with special thanks to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bluhm Family Foundation, CME Group Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Joyce Foundation, Lefkofsky Family Foundation, and Salesforce Foundation.

To read the full Chicago Roadmap Progress Report, go to www.chicagoroadmap.org

For more information about initiatives led by the Department of Office of College and Career Success you can visit https://www.cps.edu/about/departments/college-and-career-success/