Local Schools Safe From CPS Closures
Out of 129 schools named to a preliminary school closing list, none are in the 19th Ward. However, one Morgan Park school in the 34th Ward did make the list.
More than 100 schools have been identified for possible closure for the 2013-2014 school year, according to a list released by Chicago Public Schools Wednesday evening.
Of the 129 schools listed, many are on the South Side, but none are in Beverly, Mt. Greenwood or the 19th Ward section of Morgan Park. However, Shoop Academy, 11140 S Bishop St., was shortlisted.
Local parents and teachers might be able to take a breath, but tough times are still ahead for Chicago Public Schools.
While schools not listed will remain open, it doesn’t mean they won’t be impacted by more students or co-location, CPS officials said.
“We are going to take these 129 and continue to sift through these schools,” said CPS schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett told the Chicago Tribune.
Esmond School, 1865 W. Montvale, was a possible candidate for closure back in December when talk of mass closings first began to circulate. They were recently removed from probation as scores showed improvement.
"We are going to continue to work with the administration at Esmond to make progress in improving the school," said Ald. Matt O'Shea.
Many of the schools targeted for closure are on the South, West and Southwest sides of the city.
In December, CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett gathered a commission to develop a method of choosing schools for closure. The Commission on School Utilization has been hosting meetings to get feedback from parents and teachers.
The community meetings got rowdy.
The first hearing at Truman College brought parents shouting ‘Save Our Schools,’ preventing officials from showing a presentation. Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) was booed offstage by parents at one of the meetings in Logan Square.
Chicago parents gathered on Tuesday to protest the way CPS choose the schools for closure, the Huffington Post reports. The parents—part of the group Parents 4 Teachers—filed a complaint with CPS Inspector General James M. Sullivan accusing the commission of having conflicts of interest.
The school closures stem from a $1 billion budget deficit expected in 2013-2014, according to CPS.
After this year, no more schools will close until 2020, Byrd-Bennett said.
See full list of proposed school closings:
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Austin-North Lawndale |
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ARMSTRONG, L |
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CHALMERS |
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CROWN |
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DE PRIEST |
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EMMET |
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HENSON |
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HERZL |
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HUGHES, C |
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KEY |
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LAWNDALE |
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LEWIS |
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MASON |
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MAY |
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MCNAIR |
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PENN |
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POPE |
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Burnham Park |
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ATTUCKS |
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BURKE |
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CANTER |
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CARTER |
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DRAKE |
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DUMAS TECH ACAD |
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FERMI |
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FISKE |
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FULLER |
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KOZMINSKI |
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MAYO |
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MOLLISON |
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OVERTON |
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PERSHING MIDDLE |
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REAVIS |
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ROBINSON |
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ROSS |
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SEXTON |
|
TILL |
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WADSWORTH |
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WELLS, I |
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WILIAMS MIDDLE |
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WILLIAMS ES |
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WOODSON |
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Englewood-Gresham |
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ALTGELD |
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BANNEKER |
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BONTEMPS |
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COOK |
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DAVIS, M |
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EARLE |
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GOODLOW |
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GRESHAM |
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HENDERSON |
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HINTON |
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HOLMES |
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JACKSON, M |
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LANGFORD |
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MAYS |
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MORGAN |
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O'TOOLE |
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RYDER |
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STAGG |
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WOODS |
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Fullerton |
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BRENTANO |
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JENNER |
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MANIERRE |
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Fulton |
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BROWN, W |
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DETT |
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DUPREY |
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HERBERT |
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KING |
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LAFAYETTE |
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LOZANO |
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MONTEFIORE |
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NEAR NORTH |
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PEABODY |
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SMYTH |
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VON HUMBOLDT |
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Garfield-Humboldt |
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BEIDLER |
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BETHUNE |
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CALHOUN |
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DELANO |
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ERICSON |
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GARFIELD PARK |
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GOLDBLATT |
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MARCONI |
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MELODY |
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PICCOLO |
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RYERSON |
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TILTON |
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WARD, L |
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WEBSTER |
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Lake Calumet |
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ALDRIDGE |
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CARVER , G |
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GOMPERS |
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LAWRENCE |
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METCALFE |
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OWENS |
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PULLMAN |
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SONGHAI |
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WEST PULLMAN |
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WHISTLER |
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Midway |
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CLAREMONT |
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|
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Pershing |
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DEWEY |
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GRAHAM |
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HENDRICKS |
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LIBBY |
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MCCLELLAN |
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PARKMAN |
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SHERMAN |
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Pilsen-Little Village |
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JUNGMAN |
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PADEREWSKI |
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PILSEN |
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Ravenswood-Ridge |
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BRENNEMANN |
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STEWART |
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STOCKTON |
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TRUMBULL |
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Rock Island |
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FERNWOOD |
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GARVEY |
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GREEN |
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HUGHES, L |
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KOHN |
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SHOOP |
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Skyway |
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ASHE |
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BUCKINGHAM |
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MADISON |
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NEW SULLIVAN |
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O'KEEFFE |
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PARKSIDE |
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POWELL |
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REVERE |
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WARREN |
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YALE |