Three Chicago Schools Get Expensive STEAM Makeovers. Can the Effort Reverse Declining Enrollment?

Published: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 10:00 am

Chicago Schools Invest in STEAM Programs to Combat Enrollment Decline

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is investing at least $40 million to transform three under-enrolled schools in North Lawndale into science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) academies. This initiative aims to reverse declining enrollment trends in the area, where schools have struggled with low student numbers and a history of closures and underfunding. The project includes building upgrades, professional development for teachers, and new technology.

The North Lawndale initiative is seen as a community-led approach, with CPS hoping to attract families back to neighborhood schools. The district is partnering with local communities to find solutions to under-enrollment, and it is being touted as a model for other Chicago neighborhoods facing similar challenges.

However, the success of this project is uncertain. The district has faced challenges in the past with similar programs, and the city's overall school-age population continues to shrink. The district is also grappling with the need to balance the needs of neighborhood schools with the existing system of school choice, including magnet and charter schools.

The initiative is a response to a decade of declining enrollment, driven in part by past policies that favored charter schools and led to the closure of neighborhood schools. The new STEAM programs are intended to offer high-quality education and attract families back to the neighborhood schools.

BNN's Perspective: While the investment in STEAM programs is a positive step, the long-term success of this initiative hinges on several factors. The district must ensure sustained funding, address the underlying issues that led to the enrollment decline, and build trust with families who may have lost faith in neighborhood schools. It remains to be seen whether this approach can effectively reverse the trend and serve as a model for other struggling communities.

Keywords: Chicago Public Schools, CPS, North Lawndale, STEAM, schools, enrollment, education, funding, community, charter schools, magnet schools, STEM, technology, engineering, art, math, under-enrollment, neighborhood schools, school choice, student outcomes.

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