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18m ago

Chicago Students Return for Full Day as Leaders Mark New School Year

Mayor Brandon Johnson marked the opening bell in Uptown; transit agencies provided free rides, with nonprofits distributing backpacks to students.

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Mayor Brandon Johnson, interim CPS CEO Dr. Macquline King, appointed school board member Karen Zaccor, students, and district and union officials ring in the first day back to school at Mary E. Courtenay Language Arts Center in Uptown on Aug. 18, 2025.
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Overview

  • Roughly 300,000 K–12 students reported for their first full day of classes on August 18, with pre-K programs beginning the following day.
  • Chicago Teachers Union leaders joined Mayor Brandon Johnson and interim CEO Macquline King for site visits at Courtenay Elementary and Austin High School.
  • Austin High School opened under its new Sustainable Community School designation, bringing smaller class sizes, added teaching assistants and expanded support services under the CTU–CPS contract.
  • The CTA, Metra and PACE offered free rides for all students on the first day to help ensure timely arrival at schools across the city.
  • CPS faces a $734 million budget gap and must secure a balanced spending plan by August 28, a process that could lead to further cuts in staff and student services.