Fact Sheet | Programs | Supporters
Watch the video to learn more about two New Leaders in Chicago in an interview on NPR’s Storycorps segment.
New Leaders has been in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) since 2001. As of 2011, more than 140 New Leaders are driving academic success for more than 60,000 students in Chicago. Chicago is the third largest school district in the United States and comprises nearly 20 percent of the student population in the state of Illinois.
The need for transformative leaders throughout school systems in Chicago remains urgent. While there has been progress made in increasing student achievement levels since we began our work in 2001, the gap in proficiency levels in CPS is still prevalent in 2011:
- 20 percent fewer students who are on free or reduced lunch met or exceeded standards on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT)
- Only 10 percent of Black male students exceeded standards on the ISAT in 2011, compared to 40 percent of White male students.
We believe that great schools start with great leaders who seize the amazing opportunity to turn around these kinds of statistics and students’ life opportunities.
Chicago New Leaders
Chicago’s New Leaders serve children from some of the city’s most low-income neighborhoods – 84 percent of the students who attend schools led by a New Leader receive free and reduced lunch.
Chicago’s New Leaders make a difference in the lives of children. Two-thirds of K-8 schools in Chicago led by a New Leader for three or more years have outperformed the district over the course of that tenure, making greater gains on average in reading and math combined. In 2010, five New Leader schools ranked in the top 25 highest gaining schools in proficient/advanced out of more than 500 K-8 schools in Chicago. In 2010, New Leader high schools in Chicago averaged higher freshmen on-track rates and graduation rates than the district average, minus selective enrollment high schools.
