Dear ¿ìè Chicago Families,
I hope this letter finds you and your family enjoying a beautiful Chicago summer!
First and foremost, I would like to thank you for an incredible school year. A year filled with hope and promise, made even more special because of you. Our teachers, staff members, families, and most importantly our students made this year at ¿ìè Chicago a very special one. Let’s take a moment to reflect on the 2025-26 school year and share some highlights:
- ¿ìè Chicago students demonstrated the highest reading growth rate among all ¿ìè schools nationwide! This achievement reflects what is possible when an entire region commits to a clear strategy and executes it with consistency. Our relentless focus on decoding and fluency, combined with targeted intervention informed by real-time data, ensured more students received the instruction and support they needed to grow as readers. Together, we proved that when we stay focused on what matters most, extraordinary outcomes are possible.
- End-of-year assessment showed that nine times as many students were on grade level in Math as at the start of the year. To drive this growth, we established tailored academic objectives and curated individual learning pathways for every student. Our approach empowered ¿ìèsters to build the perseverance required for tackling intricate, multi-layered challenges with confidence. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, we helped our ¿ìèsters realize the profound utility of mathematics in their daily lives. We fostered a collaborative environment where students articulate their reasoning and engage in rigorous mathematical discourse. Each of these efforts ensures our students continue to thrive and reach their highest potential every single day.
- Chronic absenteeism rates at ¿ìè Chicago are half those of neighborhood schools. Consistent attendance ensures our ¿ìèsters have every chance to thrive and excel. This outcome highlights the deep dedication of our families to their children’s education and the ¿ìè Chicago community. We are truly grateful for your partnership in prioritizing daily attendance and ensuring your students arrive punctually and prepared for the school day.
- In addition to our academic achievements, our students experienced success outside of the classroom. Students across all grade levels discovered and explored new passions this past year. Highlights included our award-winning Model UN Team competing at the international conference in New York City for the fourth consecutive year, the creation of a new literary-arts exhibit at our Children’s Museum of Art and Social Justice, and participation in over 2,200 hours of enrichment programming. ¿ìè Chicago is committed to developing and supporting our students’ passions and skills in many different ways.
Summer at ¿ìè Chicago is not a break from the work. It is when we prepare to serve your children even better. We spend these months studying student achievement, strengthening our instructional plans, investing in our teachers, and reflecting honestly on where we must improve. Throughout our summer planning, we have started each day with one question: How can we better serve our students? Every decision we make is guided by that question.
As we prepare for another school year, we are committed to building on this year’s momentum so that every student experiences an even stronger academic program, a joyful school culture, and the support they need to thrive. We are grateful that you have chosen ¿ìè Chicago, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.
Wishing you a safe and joyful rest of your summer!
Best,
Rashid Bell