Chicago Public Schools

What Chicago Public Schools does

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the fourth-largest public school district in the United States, founded in 1837 and operating as a government entity under the Illinois School Code and Chicago Board of Education. The district serves more than 315,000 students from pre-K through grade 12 across 600+ traditional, magnet, charter, and contract schools in Chicago, supplemented by the CPS Virtual Academy for medically fragile K-12 students and an early childhood portal. CPS runs a $10.2 billion FY2025 operating budget funded primarily through Illinois state appropriations, Chicago property taxes, federal grants (Title I, IDEA, school meal programs), and supplementary private philanthropy from partners including Lollapalooza, Amazon Future Engineer, Salesforce, Fermilab, Grainger, and ComEd. Digital infrastructure includes the cps.edu hub, GoCPS enrollment platform, Aspen parent/student portal, SchooLinks college and career planning tool, a supplier portal with MFA, and an AI Guidebook governing responsible AI use across the district. Strategic programs span STEM, Career and Technical Education, All-City Performing Arts, Chi-Craft Minecraft quantum education, dual language, and newcomer services. The district is led by CEO/Superintendent Macquline King (permanently appointed March 2026) and faces material fiscal headwinds: a projected $732-743 million deficit, $9.1 billion long-term debt, $13.9 billion unfunded pension liabilities, junk bond ratings from all three major agencies, declining enrollment, planned teacher layoffs, and a federal funding freeze on the Black Student Success Program.

Name

Chicago Public Schools

Legal name

Chicago Public Schools

Website

https://cps.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1837

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Chicago Public Schools is the fourth-largest U.S. school district, serving 315,000+ pre-K through grade 12 students across 600+ schools in Chicago with a $10.2 billion budget, funded by state appropriations, property taxes, federal grants, and private philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE), Full-Time Virtual K–12 Schools (Statewide/Cyber Charters & District Programs) (EDAJADAA)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Charter school funding
• Special education services
• Pre-kindergarten programs
• Student transportation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State and Local Tax Revenue: Primary funding from Illinois state appropriations and Chicago property taxes, supplemented by local levies
2. Federal Grants and Programs: Federal funding including Title I, IDEA (special education), and previously COVID relief funds; some funding currently frozen or under dispute
3. School Meals Program: Federal meal programs (SNAP integration) providing free breakfast and lunch to all students daily
4. Private Grants and Donations: Philanthropic funding from organizations like Lollapalooza ($1.7M grant), Walsh-VINCI ($250,000 scholarship), Salesforce ($19M national grant), and others

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chicago Public Schools provides free public K-12 education to more than 315,000 students across over 600 traditional, magnet, selective enrollment, charter, and contract schools in the City of Chicago. Core offerings include standard classroom instruction, pre-kindergarten programs, special education, career and technical education, STEM and arts programming, English language learner support, immigrant and refugee services, mental health and wellness services, free school meals, student transportation, and a fully online Virtual Academy for medically fragile students.

Product overview

Chicago Public Schools operates as a large urban school district offering a platform of educational services and digital tools. The district's primary digital infrastructure includes the cps.edu website, the CPS Virtual Academy for K-12 students with medical needs, GoCPS for school exploration and applications, Chicago Early Learning for Pre-K enrollment, and the Aspen Portal for student/parent access. Supporting services include STEM programs, Career and Technical Education, All-City Performing Arts, summer programming, Safe Passage safety routes, health and wellness services (including Hazel virtual counseling), special education, transportation, and college planning through Learn.Plan.Succeed and SchooLinks. The district also operates a Supplier Portal for vendor management. The portfolio is organized around the core school system with multiple specialized programs and digital tools addressing academic, safety, health, and administrative needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CPS Virtual Academy: Online/virtual learning program offering K-12 education for students with complex medical needs and other qualifying criteria
• GoCPS
• Chicago Early Learning
• Chi-Craft Minecraft Education

Products and services

• CPS Virtual Academy A full-time virtual schooling option for K-12 students, primarily serving those with complex medical needs who require flexibility to receive care while continuing education. Operates as a separate school within the district with its own curriculum, staff, and in-person enrichment events.
• GoCPS School Application Platform A platform for exploring and applying to elementary and high schools across Chicago. Enables families to research schools and submit applications through a centralized digital system.
• Chicago Early Learning (Pre-K Programs) A portal dedicated to early childhood education options throughout Chicago, allowing families to explore and apply to Pre-K programs for children birth to age 5.
• CPS STEM Program A dedicated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) educational program providing specialized curriculum and enrichment in science and technology areas, including the Chi-Craft Minecraft Education competition for quantum computing career preparation.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs offering career-focused education and workforce preparation, including culinary arts, robotics, and other technical skills with industry partnerships and competition opportunities.
• All-City Performing Arts An after-school performing arts program supported by Lollapalooza funding, providing instrument lending, rehearsal space, transportation, and performance opportunities for students in grades 3-12.
• Special Education Services Specialized educational programs and support services for students with disabilities, including related services, individualized education plans, and a team of Special Education Coordinators supporting schools.
• Health and Wellness Services Comprehensive health services including mental health counseling (with Hazel virtual counseling for high school students), medical and food benefits assistance, SNAP enrollment support, and school-based health resources.
• Transportation Services Student transportation services including school bus services operated in partnership with providers like First Student, Safe Passage routes, and support for students in temporary living situations.
• International-Newcomer Student Services Dedicated support services for immigrant and refugee students, including language support, cultural orientation, academic transition programs, and partnerships with community organizations for legal resources.
• Learn.Plan.Succeed College and Career Planning A college and career planning initiative within CPS services for grades 6-12, helping students develop post-secondary plans with financial aid guidance and planning support via the SchooLinks planning tool.
• School Meals Program Federal meal programs providing free breakfast and lunch to all students daily through SNAP integration.
• Safe Passage Program A student safety initiative providing trusted adult monitors along designated walking routes to and from schools in high-need areas, helping students travel safely in their communities.
• Summer Programs District-wide summer programming providing academic enrichment, social-emotional development, and access to free meals at schools running summer programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 students reached through Lollapalooza arts education funding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FermilabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Partnership for quantum computing education, preparing students for careers at the planned Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP)
• GraingerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Corporate partner for quantum computing education and workforce development initiatives
• ComEdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Utility partner supporting quantum computing education and career pathways
• Chicago State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Host venue for Chi-Craft Minecraft Education competition finals, supporting STEM education initiatives
• Life Time FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Partnership powering the Life Time Chicago Spring Kids Run Final Mile, enabling 200+ CPS students to complete the final mile of the half marathon course
• LollapaloozacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Lollapalooza music festival awarded $1.7 million grant to CPS over five years to expand arts education, including $634,000 for All-City Performing Arts after-school program and $1.1 million for Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund. Expected to reach more than 40,000 students across 150+ schools. Total support from Lollapalooza now totals $3.9 million since 2021.
• Walsh-VINCI Transit Community PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Contractor for CTA Red Line Extension project partnering with Mayor Johnson, CTA, and CPS to create $250,000 scholarship program for students in construction and engineering careers related to the Red Line Extension (2026-2030)
• First StudentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 April 2026School bus transportation provider operating over 6,000 buses across Illinois, partnering with districts and Secretary of State to address and resolve school bus driver shortage
• BootUp PDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Five-year computer science education initiative in Chicago Public Schools, in collaboration with Amazon Future Engineer program
• Amazon Future EngineercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Five-year computer science education initiative providing funding and resources for CS education expansion in CPS schools
• Saga EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025Nonprofit working with CPS to scale and optimize tutoring programs using hybrid in-person and remote models, showing substantial academic gains equivalent to two-thirds of a year of learning
• The Resurrection ProjectcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity organization providing Know Your Rights training (bilingual in English and Spanish) every Tuesday and Thursday for families, individuals, and organizations regarding immigration rights; also offers immigration assistance workshops and family emergency preparedness training
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCoalition providing Family Support Network hotline (855-435-7693), Know Your Rights fact sheets in multiple languages, and weekly virtual workshops; resource partner for immigrant families
• Chicago Mayor's Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMMR)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCity office collaborating with Resurrection Project and Chicago Public Library on bi-weekly Family Preparedness Plan workshops (in English and Spanish), and providing comprehensive Know Your Rights Resource Guide
• Chicago Public LibraryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in hosting virtual Family Preparedness Plan workshops alongside IMMR and Resurrection Project

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York City Department of Education: Largest U.S. public school district (~1M students) operating K-12 schools, district-run pre-K, charter oversight, and similar portfolio of magnet/selective/specialty programs. Directly comparable as a large urban district with comparable governance, funding mix, and political dynamics.
• Los Angeles Unified School District: Second-largest U.S. district (~600K students) operating K-12, magnet, dual-language, and adult programs with chronic structural deficits. Closely comparable in scale, diversity of programming, and fiscal pressure dynamics.
• Houston Independent School District: Large Texas urban district (~190K students) operating K-12, magnet, and charter programs with state-led accountability pressures. Comparable governance dynamics and demographic mix to CPS.
• Broward County Public Schools: Sixth-largest U.S. district serving a diverse South Florida population with significant ELL and special-education populations. Comparable scale and demographic mix to CPS.
• Boston Public Schools: Mid-size urban district (~50K students) with comparable diversity, ELL services, and selective-enrollment/magnet mix. Useful small-scale analog for CPS's specialty-program strategy.
• Miami-Dade County Public Schools: Fourth-largest U.S. district (~350K students) before CPS's recent enrollment decline, with comparable immigrant/ELL populations, magnet programs, and charter-school funding flows.
• Clark County School District: Fifth-largest U.S. school district serving the Las Vegas metro with similarly diverse student demographics. Comparable in operating scale, reliance on state/local funding, and enrollment volatility.
• Philadelphia School District: Large urban district (~200K students) historically facing deep structural deficits, school-closure cycles, and state oversight — a direct analog to CPS's fiscal trajectory.

Emerging players

• KIPP Chicago / Noble Charter Network: Charter-school operators in Chicago that receive ~$948M of CPS pass-through funding and compete directly with neighborhood schools for students. Representative of the charter ecosystem competing for CPS enrollment.

Regional players

• Dallas Independent School District: Large Texas urban district with similar demographic and ELL profile but operating under a state funding model and political environment distinct from Illinois. Comparable operationally; not a direct geographic competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chipubschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ChiPubSchools
• Facebookfacebook.com/chicagopublicschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-public-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/chipubschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Public Schools