Voices Blog and Spotlights - Chicago International Charter School

A Milestone Year for Biliteracy at CICS Northtown Academy

Written by Apoorva Katikaneni on May 19, 2026. Posted in Voices Blog and Spotlights.

This spring, CICS Northtown Academy is celebrating a remarkable achievement: 82 students have earned the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy or Commendation of Biliteracy, more than double last year's 40 recipients. These scholars demonstrated proficiency across 11 languages, from Spanish and Arabic to Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Hindi. And for the first time in CICS Northtown Academy's history, students have earned these prestigious awards in multiple languages.

Expanding Horizons: Two CICS Wrightwood Students Accepted to The Academy Group

Written by Apoorva Katikaneni on May 13, 2026. Posted in Voices Blog and Spotlights.

Carter R. and Sahni B., two CICS Wrightwood scholars, have been accepted to The Academy Group, a highly selective program whose ultimate goal is to “empower young people to build successful careers that will lead to generational wealth”.

CICS Ralph Ellison Academy Awarded $1.2 Million Grant to Launch New School Model

Written by Meaghan Jennings on April 03, 2026. Posted in Voices Blog and Spotlights.

CICS Ralph Ellison Academy has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the US Department of Education through the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS), marking a major investment in the Auburn Gresham community and the future of its students.

This funding recognizes both the strong foundation already in place at Ellison and a bold, forward-looking vision for what high school can and should be. Earlier this year, Principal Jacob Morgan and his team—working in partnership with CICS and Meridian leadership—put forward a plan to deepen student engagement and more intentionally align the school experience with students’ interests, identities, and long-term goals. That vision is now being brought to life.

Building a Network-Wide Performance System at CICS

Written by Apoorva Katikaneni on March 12, 2026. Posted in Voices Blog and Spotlights.

Anyone working in Chicago's public school landscape understands the challenge of fragmented data. Attendance, assessments, and academic performance often live in separate systems, making it difficult for school leaders to see a complete picture of student outcomes in real time. By the time a trend is visible, the window to act has often already closed.

Chicago International Charter School

11 E. Adams, Suite 600
Chicago, IL, 60603

312-651-5000
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