CPS touts rise in college enrollment, expands trades and early-college pathways

Chicago Public Schools officials told the Board of Education on March 20 that the district is expanding early-college and career-connected learning options, reporting record college-enrollment rates and growing numbers of students earning college credit while still enrolled in high school.

Pedro Martinez, chief executive officer, and the district’s college-and-career team framed the presentation as part of the district’s Learn, Plan, Succeed graduation initiative and a broader five-year strategic goal: increase students’ access to a semester-or-more worth of college credits while in high school.

Key figures and programs cited - College enrollment: The district reported a college-enrollment rate near 69.8% for recent graduates, a historic high according to district presenters. - Early-college credits: CPS officials said more than 6,000 students have earned at least one college credit, the number of students earning 15+ college credits has roughly doubled since 2022, and the district expects to graduate more than 200 students this year with an associate degree in hand. - Dual-credit/CTE expansion: The district has Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in about 80 schools and 34 career pathways. Officials said they have applied for and received state pathway endorsement approvals in 16 programs (two remain pending). - Work-based learning and trades apprenticeships: CPS reported more than 8,000 recorded work-based-learning experiences during the school year, summer internship placements exceeding 1,400 last year and new partnerships with unions and employers. The district highlighted labor partnerships (carpenters, plumbers, Laborers’ union) and the “laborers training program” that last year led to city positions with the Department of Streets and Sanitation for many participating students.

Why it matters: District leaders said early attainment and trade pathways can help students graduate prepared for college or employment and reduce equity gaps. They also told the board that the district is increasing school-based staff to support career-connected learning so advising and credential opportunities reach more students.

Voices from the presentation - Armano Rodriguez, deputy chief for career success, summarized recent student engagement at trades events and the district’s strategy to broaden exposure to careers and postsecondary options. - Dr. Heidi Truax, executive director of the Office of School Counseling and Post Secondary Advising, said the district’s SchoolLinks platform (postsecondary individualized learning plans) now serves more than 170,000 students and supports graduation-related postsecondary tasks beginning in middle school. - Maria Buscio, executive director for early college and career education, detailed partnerships with City Colleges and unions and cited specific program outcomes: increases in dual-credit course requests (up roughly 184% year-over-year), plumbers’ apprenticeship cohorts, and a roster of early-college pathway partners beyond City Colleges.

District next steps: Officials said they will expand alumni support programming to improve college persistence and continue to scale apprenticeship and work-based learning. They requested board support for continued investments in the advising and school-based staffing that sustain the initiative.