CHICAGO, IL (WBBM Newsradio) - Since 2022 the non-profit Hope Chicago has been able to support about 2,600 Hope Scholars and Hope Parent Scholars, partnering with 5 Chicago Public Schools on the South and West sides of the city to encourage higher education.
“So many students and parents are already completing their degrees,” said Michelle Howard, Hope Chicago’s Chief Program Officer, “We’ve already seen students that have completed their 4-year degree early.”
According to Howard, the organization will now be able to invest in 700 more families for the class of 2026.
“We’re seeing the cultures change at these high schools, we’re seeing families wanting to grab for more.”
Hope Chicago’s mission is to eliminate barriers to educational and economic opportunities for Chicago families. Hope Scholars and Hope Parent Scholars are given the opportunity to pursue a debt free postsecondary path, whether that be 2 or 4 year degrees at a college or university or workforce credential through a trade school.
Howard adds that partner high schools in Chicago have seen steady increases in college enrollment, “Which really means that they’re going to college, and higher persistence rates, what that means is they’re staying.”, said Howard.
According to Hope Chicago, notable results include:
College enrollment has increased from 53% in 2021 to 83% in 2024.
25% more Hope Scholars are staying in college into their 2nd year, now nearly matching the national average.
More than 300 Parent Scholars are pursuing new degrees or credentials through Hope Chicago, with 70% of Hope Parent Scholars remaining enrolled after one year, beating out the national average of 45% for students 25+ years of age.
At the start of Hope Chicago’s 4th year, 140 Hope Scholars and Hope Parent Scholars have completed programs to date, with hundreds more expected to complete their studies over the next 12-18 months.
About Hope Chicago:
Hope Chicago is a bold, multi-generational economic mobility initiative that removes systemic barriers to postsecondary education for Chicago Public Schools families. Partnered with five high schools on the city’s South and West Sides, the organization invests in two generations of families—students and their parents—by providing opportunities to earn a postsecondary or workforce credential of value without the burden of debt.
Partnered with 29 Illinois-based institutions, Hope Chicago is guided by the belief that every family deserves the opportunity to build generational wealth and contribute meaningfully to the civic and economic future of their communities.
Hope Chicago is building a new model to transform higher education outcomes for low-income, first-generation families—one that can be scaled and replicated to transform lives across Illinois and beyond. HopeChicago.org