Chicago Public Schools (CPS) reported an 83.4% four‑year graduation rate for the class of 2026, marking the second consecutive year of growth after a dip in the class of 2024. The previous year’s rate stood at 82.5%.
CPS CEO Marquelline King shared the results with cheering students and staff at Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center in North Park, emphasizing the district’s focus on college readiness. King noted that roughly seven out of ten CPS graduates from the class of 2025 have enrolled in post‑secondary institutions—a figure that exceeds the national average of about five in ten students from high‑poverty schools, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
“In our district, the question used to be, ‘Are you going to college?’” King said. “These days, the question tends to have another word attached. More and more people are asking, ‘Where are you going to college?’”
Student Success Stories
The district highlighted several alumni as examples of the pathways CPS aims to create. Laila Mendez, a 2020 Von Steuben graduate, earned an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, and a master’s in engineering management from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She now works for a Los Angeles‑based firm on a project for the CTA’s Red Line, mentioning a six‑figure salary that drew gasps from the audience.
Another alumnus, Gedeon Mawutodji, who graduated from Kenwood Academy in 2025, credited a supportive counselor and principal for helping him navigate a challenging senior year and gain admission to the University of Illinois at Chicago to study therapy.
Kathy Saldana, a recent Steinmetz College Prep graduate, is pursuing psychology at Dominican University with the goal of blending psychology, theater, and creative writing. She praised teachers who encouraged her to earn a seal of biliteracy and take AP art and English courses.
Dual Credit and Attendance Policies
CPS also noted rising numbers of students earning college credit while in high school, a push that began before King’s tenure. While dual‑credit participation has not always translated into higher college enrollment or persistence at every school, the district continues to promote the option.
At Von Steuben, the chronic absenteeism rate mirrors the district’s overall rate of around 40%, but the school’s graduation rate remains well above citywide averages. In 2025, more than 96% of Von Steuben seniors graduated on time; the rate dipped slightly to 93.7% for the class of 2026.
Principal Jennifer Sutton explained that the school uses attendance as an incentive: students must maintain a 90% attendance rate to enroll in dual‑credit courses and to participate in events like homecoming and prom. Sutton said staff work closely with seniors to develop post‑graduation plans, ensuring each student meets with a college counselor at least three times a year.
“We’re constantly working with students on their next steps,” Sutton said.
CPS has not yet released school‑by‑school graduation rates for the class of 2026. The district’s overall graduation rate has risen by almost 10 percentage points since 2018, despite dips during the pandemic. Recent investigations found that CPS officials are giving students more opportunities to make up missed work or classes, aiming to improve both attendance and completion outcomes.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
