Tools You Can Use

By leveraging research, data, and innovative partnerships, we’re setting the standard for excellence and equity in Chicago Public Schools.

  • 96,000

    More Students have Access to Excelling Schools in 2023-24 than in 2012-13

  • 12 Years

    of Arts Education Data Collection & Reporting

  • 400

    Arts Organizations Partnering with 600 CPS Schools

Let Data Move You—And Move the Work Forward

These tools exist to support you—educators, administrators, artists, advocates, and decision-makers—who are building a stronger, more creative future for CPS students. Below are highlights of key tools from our data and professional learning initiatives.

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District Reports

Custom report to explore district-specific data and insights

These custom reports allow you to revisit district-specific State of the Arts data and compare data from selected schools alongside data from the entire CPS school district. The insights provided in these reports and in the State of the Arts report can be used to help develop and deploy strategies to close the gaps in arts education quality and access.

Download District Reports

Use it to:

  • Explore arts education data using the same filters available in the State of the Arts Dashboard

  • Compare data for selected schools with districtwide CPS data to identify trends, strengths, and gaps in arts education access and quality

  • Generate insights, ask critical questions, and inform advocacy, planning, and decision-making efforts

  • Identify opportunities to advance equitable access to high-quality arts education for all CPS students

artlook®

A public-facing platform for current and historical CPS arts education school and organization data

artlook® is Ingenuity’s online hub for arts education data for staffing, programs, and more. Creative Schools Certification ratings for schools are also displayed.

Explore artlook®

Use it to:

  • Find information on school and arts organization arts programming

  • Discover partnerships opportunities for schools and cultural organizations

  • Understand the landscape of arts education

Data Snapshots

Focused analyses on specific topics that complement the State of the Arts

These publications take various forms, including reports and interactive data visualizations.

View Snapshots

Use it to:

  • Dive into data on specific topics in addition to the State of the Arts

  • Find data on residency program costs and teaching artist compensation

State of the Arts

The most comprehensive landscape analysis of arts education

The State of the Arts Report, Dashboard, and Toolkit are published annually to provide sector-level analyses on arts education access, quality, and equity.

Explore the State of the Arts

Use it to:

  • Understand the landscape of arts education in CPS and opportunities that remain

  • Use the Dashboard to dive into trends specific to a community area, CPS network, and more

  • Use the Toolkit to leverage and apply findings to your own work

Creative Schools Certification

CPS school-level arts education indicator on access and quality

This shared measurement system has been used by CPS since 2012-13 and provides a comprehensive quantitative summary of access and quality of arts education in each CPS school. Ingenuity collects and measures data for the Certification on behalf of CPS.

Learn About the Certification

Use it to:

  • Understand metrics and benchmarks used to measure arts education access and quality in CPS schools

Learning Plan Quizzes

Reflective guidance for stronger, more equitable arts partnerships

This interactive quiz helps schools and arts partners assess their alignment with Ingenuity’s Arts Partner Standards of Practice (APSP), offering clear next steps for growth and collaboration.

Browse Quizzes

Use it to:

  • Identify partnership strengths and areas for improvement

  • Align with equity-centered standards in arts education

  • Inform strategic planning and professional learning

Creative Schools Roadmaps

Custom reports to help schools understand and improve arts access and quality

Creative Schools Roadmaps are tailored reports that detail a school’s Creative Schools Certification (CSC) rating, performance on each metric, and opportunities and available supports.

Learn about Roadmaps

Use them to:

  • Understand how your school performs across CSC metrics, and in comparison to network and district peers

  • Identify specific areas for growth

  • Learn about available supports

CPS Arts Education Plan

A bold, five-year vision to ensure every student in every school has access to quality arts education

Chicago Public Schools’ Arts Education Plan 2.0: Cultivating Creativity is grounded in equity and creative growth, the plan focuses on expanding access, deepening quality, strengthening the arts educator workforce, and fostering meaningful community partnerships across the city.

View the plan

Use it to:

  • Understand the current landscape of arts education in CPS—and the opportunities that remain

  • Align your work with CPS’s district-wide goals for access, equity, and quality in the arts

  • Explore tools and data that can help you better serve CPS students and schools through the arts

When we invest in the arts, we invest in the future.

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