Parents worry new CPS high school on Near South Side will drain resources from others

CHICAGO (WLS) — The parcel of land at twenty fourth and South State Road has been the topic of controversy for months, as Chicago Public Faculties hopes to construct a model new highschool there, not too removed from traditionally Black faculties like Phillips and Dunbar.

“I really feel just like the funding ought to go to these faculties and construct these faculties up and make these faculties what they’re in search of,” stated mum or dad Earlene Braggs.

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Braggs is the mom of 4 CPS elementary college students, and fears a brand new South Facet college will take enrollment away from neighboring Black excessive faculties, draining sources from faculties that proceed to battle.

“Philips is a giant highschool and solely 50% is getting used,” she stated. “When you’ve got that a lot room in that college for our neighborhood and group kids, why construct one other one?”

CPS needs to construct the brand new college to fill a necessity for South Loop, Bridgeport and Chinatown communities, which all have rising populations,

“We have all the time wished a college shut by, particularly for the latest immigrants who want specialised bilingual providers,” stated David Wu of Pui Tak Middle.

Chinatown advocates have been pushing for a brand new highschool for many years. Wu stated his group has provided CPS completely different choices for websites. If the college board approves the land buy at twenty fourth and State location, Wu stated CPS should not neglect faculties like Phillips and Dunbar.

“We do not need it to break one other college, so CPS ought to discover a strategy to strengthen their faculties and applications,” he stated.

The State Road location is owned by the Chicago Housing Authority, the location has additionally drawn criticism from housing advocates who stated the land must be used to meet a CHA promise to construct extra reasonably priced housing.

The Chicago Academics Union shares the issues with dad and mom and housing advocates, however has stopped in need of asking CPS to not construct a brand new highschool.