Chicago Expands Sustainable Community Schools Initiative

Chicago Grows Sustainable School Model to 36 Sites Citywide

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), has announced a significant expansion of the Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) initiative. The number of participating schools will increase from 20 to 36, aiming to strengthen the connection between educational institutions and the communities they serve.

Originally launched in 2018 as a joint venture between CPS and CTU, the SCS model partners schools with local organizations to offer wraparound services. These include wellness programs, trauma-informed care, restorative justice practices, and enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom.

“As a former educator and community organizer, I understand the power of schools that are deeply connected to the neighborhoods they serve,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The expansion of the Sustainable Community Schools model is an investment in our children, our families, and the future of our city. It reflects our shared belief that every student deserves access to a supportive, inclusive, and opportunity-rich learning environment.”

Dr. Macquline King, Interim CEO and Superintendent of CPS, underscored the importance of community voice in shaping equitable school experiences. “The expansion of Sustainable Community Schools reflects the District’s commitment to equity and community voice,” she stated. “We know that students do best when schools are equipped to support their academic, emotional, and social well-being. This model recognizes and supports our schools as the anchors they are for students, staff, and families.”

Sixteen additional schools are set to implement the model starting in the 2025–26 academic year. These new SCS sites will be resourced to foster improved academic outcomes and deepen family and community engagement.

This development follows a resolution passed by the CPS Board of Education in December 2023, which elevated Community Schools to a strategic priority under the district’s five-year plan, Success 2029: Together We Rise. The overarching goal is to establish every school as a hub for collective growth, where educators, families, students, and partners unite around shared responsibility and holistic support.

“Expanding this model allows us to build on the strengths of our communities and ensure that every child has access to the resources they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom,” said Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden. “This is how we create lasting change based on community leadership and shared responsibility.”

“Sustainable Community schools are more than a place where lessons are taught. It’s where a child gets a hot meal, a health checkup, a trauma counselor, and the wrap-around services they need to grow, thrive, and achieve,” added CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. “With 16 new schools joining the Sustainable Community Schools family, we are deepening our commitment to equity, and it comes at a time when students and their families need it the most.”

Schools newly selected for the initiative include:

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

Planning is already underway at these sites, with full implementation expected in the 2025–26 school year. CPS has emphasized that the expansion prioritizes schools in historically underserved communities in accordance with the district’s equity framework.

Existing Sustainable Community Schools include Oscar DePriest Elementary School, Herbert Spencer Technology Academy, Charles Steinmetz College Prep, Brighton Park Elementary School, and Carl Schurz High School, among others.

More information about the SCS initiative and the Success 2029 plan is available at:

CPS Website

CTU’s Sustainable Community Schools page