Chicago Living - Relocation Guide 2008 - (Page 58)

➡ public schools Chi Talk Arne DunCAn Chief executive Officer, Chicago Public Schools Where were you born and raised? Chicago Where else have you lived? Boston, while attending Harvard, and Australia, where I played professional basketball for several years and also worked with children who were wards of the state. Five things you love about Chicago: 1 The commitment to quality schools and to our children’s future. 2 The long list of great colleges and universities in Chicago and the suburbs. 3 The diversity 4 The museums and cultural institutions 5 The lakefront Chicago Public Schools Study Halls Students thrive within the Chicago public school system. You may be surprised to learn that the top three high schools and five of the top 10 elementary schools in Illinois are Chicago public schools. People no longer feel they need to move to the suburbs or send their children to private school for good educational opportunities in the Chicago area. Chicago’s school reform process began in 1988 with the joint effort of politicians, principals, teachers, parents and students. It’s paid off handsomely. And, no matter what school children attend—city or suburban, public or private—everyone has the opportunity to learn from the area’s mighty cultural institutions and wonderfully diverse people. The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system is the third largest school system in the country, and its 613 schools serve more than 409,000 students. Not one of these schools is alike. Some CPS high school students graduate with associate degrees from DeVry University along with their high school diploma, while others take tuition-free courses at the University of Chicago. Several high schools and middle schools participate in the International Baccalaureate program. Many neighborhood elementary schools offer daily instruction in Spanish, French or American Sign Language beginning in kindergarten. Other students take violin, percussion or cello lessons, then perform at Orchestra Hall. City parents must do their research, but the reward may be a top-notch, tuition-free education. Children are automatically guaranteed a space at their neighborhood school; you can find attendance area boundaries on the CPS 58 chicagol i v i ngmag.com What is the best part of your job? Going out to all of the great Chicago neighborhoods, visiting schools, and seeing the tremendous work our educators and students are doing. The energy and dedication in our schools is unbelievable, and that’s inspiring to me. Schools are the heart and soul of any community, and they are absolutely critical to the future of our city. I’m completely committed to making us the best big-city school district in the country. What do you wish people knew about the Chicago Public Schools? There are quality, innovative school options in every neighborhood in the city, and Chicago families have a lot to choose from when looking for a school for their children. not only are the neighborhood schools strong and getting stronger every day, but we’re all about choice—creating an array of magnet schools, gifted centers, college prep and vocational high schools, and charter and specialty schools for our families to pick from. What’s the best part about raising kids in Chicago? The school choices, the museums and cultural institutions and the diversity. C h i c a g o L i v in g 2008 http://www.chicagolivingmag.com

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Chicago Living - Relocation Guide 2008

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