The founding Board of Directors of Chicago International Charter School came together in 1997 with a shared vision and passion for educating the traditionally underserved members of society; inner city, urban youth from kindergarten through 12th grade. These professionals formed a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to bringing change to the traditionally staid education industry. The Board created a strengths-based business model focusing on core competencies and economies of scale in conjunction with partners invited to participate in the fabric of the organization. The ultimate goal has remained constant: college preparation for all students, from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Chicago International educates 6,450 students by leveraging strengths, expertise and relationships on the eleven neighborhood campuses, located primarily in traditionally underserved communities across the city of Chicago. The students, families, staff and faculty gain through these partnerships because the focus remains on core competencies—both internal and external. This manifests through the quality, committed, and professional organizations partnering with Chicago International to deliver a world-class education for all students, regardless of ability. The educational model is the purest example of this partnership. Chicago International partners with four education management organizations (EMOs) to manage the day-to-day operations of the eleven campuses. These partners bring an expertise to the students that translate into positive results and student achievement.
In addition to the EMOs, we partner with many distinct organizations to enhance the educational experience for all Chicago International students, including, but not limited to: Harvard Club of Chicago, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Chicago Cares, Junior Achievement, University of Illinois at Chicago — College of Education Center for Literacy, LEAP Learning Systems, KaBOOM!, United States Tennis Association, Chicago Sky, Hyde Park Bally's, and Juvenile Protection Agency.
Chicago International has also developed strong relationships with prominent local and national corporations and funders. These partners have enabled Chicago International to mature, build capacity and grow to become one of the most accountable, data-driven and largest charter school in Illinois. Private funding has primarily come from: The Walton Family Foundation, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Renaissance Schools Fund, Kraft Foods, Crown Memorial, Judd Enterprises, The Home Depot, AMC Mortgage Specialists, Circle of Service Foundation, and the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation.
Throughout our ten years, we have come to recognize that we do not have all the answers, so we seek others that may assist us in finding the answers. Therefore, we continuously identify people and organizations that may bring additional strengths to the table that we may leverage on behalf of our students, their families, our staff and faculty. If you are interested in finding out more about partnering with Chicago International or learning about new and exciting initiatives, contact us for additional information.