February
1, 2005 —
Chicago
Public Schools plans to close four schools -- three elementary schools and one
high school -- as part of its ambitious Renaissance 2010 plan. CEO Arne Duncan
announced the closings Tuesday.
Mayor Daley's Renaissance 2010 plan calls for 100 new schools in the next five years. Before the new schools can open, other school must close. CEO Duncan announced four closings on Tuesday: Englewood High School, Howland Elementary School, Bunche Elementary and Grant Elementary. Englewood will close to freshmen students this year and be phased out of the system in the next three years. The others will close in June.
Low attendance and poor
performance are two of the reasons why CPS wants to close Grant Elementary and
two other elementary schools in June and eventually phase out Englewood High School. Arne Duncan, chief executive officer of Chicago Public
Schools, said Englewood ranks last in test scores for the city, and less than 5
percent of its students meet state testing
standards.
"By every measure...these
four schools have struggled with chronic underperformance...from test scores
over time to student gangs. While so many other schools in the system are
improving, these schools have shown little, if any, progress," said CEO Arne
Duncan, Chicago Public Schools.
Parents said they were
concerned about where their students would go, but Duncan said most of the kids
will be able to attend "better quality schools within
walking distance" of their homes. He said students also could opt to
attend other high-performing schools that have space, thanks to provisions in
the No Child Left Behind Act.
Chicago
Public Schools will hold at least one more public hearing next week before the
closure recommendations are made final. The board is expected to vote on the
proposal Feb. 23.