Charles Silas is concerned that his children, Cadence and Daniel, are not being sufficiently challenged at their neighborhood school, Johnnie Colemon Elementary, due to large class sizes and the need for individualized attention. Despite their academic success, Silas is seeking enrollment in gifted or classical schools, which provide advanced classes and better preparation for top high schools in Chicago. The Chicago Board of Education is reexamining the admissions process for these elite schools, but there is limited focus on the gifted elementary schools that feed into them. These schools have selective admissions, often starting with high-stakes tests for young children, and the data shows a significant racial and socioeconomic disparity in access. Only a small percentage of low-income, Latino, and Black students are enrolled in these programs compared to their white and Asian American peers.
For Chicago Students, Path to a Top CPS High School Often Begins at 4 and is Filled with Disparities
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