2016-17 State of the Arts Report

State of the Arts Report Reflects Five Years of Progress in Arts Education Implementation in CPS.

After five years of implementation of the Arts Education Plan, Chicago Public Schools have reason to celebrate. According to the State of the Arts Report, principals and educators across the city are not only embracing the arts as a “nice to have,” but as a “must-have” in their school day.

 

Key Findings

With 97% participation in the survey (the highest participation rate to date), the data show:

  • The percentage of schools rated Strong or Excelling in the arts increased by 128%, from 29% in 2012-13 to 66% in 2016-17
  • The number of known arts instructors continued to increase (from 1,402 in 2015-16 to 1,491.5 in 2016-17), and the overall arts staffing ratio in every CPS network was better than the 1 instructor per 350 student goal set forth in the Arts Education Plan
  • The percentage of elementary schools providing 120 minutes of weekly arts instruction increased by 50%, (from 40% in 2012-13 to 60% in 2016-17)
  • Community arts partnerships per school increased by 41% (from 4.7 in 2012-13 to 6.7 in 2016-17)
  • The estimated community and district investment in the arts totaled $158 million in 2016-17

What People Are Saying

“I applaud Ingenuity for the release of the new State of the Arts in CPS report, a vital resource to the youth arts community. Reports like these provide an important benchmark for progress and a reminder of why investment in arts education is so critically important. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and DCASE have designated 2018 as the ‘Year of Creative Youth.’ Chicago should be very proud of its innovative youth arts organizations and arts educators committed to unleashing the creative potential of our teens and young adults.”

—Mark Kelly, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)

“This report is a testament to Chicago’s success in expanding arts education, sparking our children’s imaginations and inspiring their creativity. The arts are inseparable from a well-rounded education, and Chicago will continue to invest in programs that are proven to develop vital critical thinking skills and help all of our children realize their limitless potential.”

– Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Click here to view the full report!