The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) School Quality Rating Policy (SQRP) features an emphasis on academic growth in elementary/middle school, and long-term outcomes in high school. It is primarily used for system management and accountability but also aims to play a role in families’ school choices.
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System Summary:
The SQRP is a five-point rating system. The current iteration of the SQRP has been in place since 2013. CPS uses the SQRP to measure school performance annually across all schools. The SQRP shapes school oversight, particularly the level of control given to local school councils. SQRP results also guide decision-making processes around citywide strategy, charter school renewals, and central office interventions in schools.
Key Metrics:
Elementary/middle school ratings emphasize growth and performance on assessments, closing gaps for priority student groups such as English learners, and attendance. High school ratings emphasize graduation and post-secondary readiness and outcomes.
Use Cases:
The SQRP was primarily designed to serve system management and accountability purposes.
It was not designed for school continuous improvement, but CPS has taken steps in recent years to help school leaders understand SQRP results and translate them into action.
The SQRP also serves as a family-facing information tool, integrated into online school profiles that stand out for readability and accessibility. But some aspects of the system, such as the rating scale (1+, 1, 2+, 2, and 3) are not intuitive for families.
The SQRP has remained largely stable through changes in district leadership and state policy but faces criticism due to correlations between ratings, school demographics, and school segregation, despite its emphasis on academic improvement. This has prompted a planned reexamination of the tool.
The collection of images below is a sample of the Chicago SQRP public-facing school reports, documents, and family school finder as of 2018-19. Click on each image to view an enlarged version.
Details
SPF Creator:
Chicago Public Schools
Number of Schools Included:
644
Types of Schools Included:
All district-run, charter, and contract schools in Chicago
School Quality Rating Policy