5 Charter Schools Make CPS' Underperforming Schools List

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 31, 2013 9:30PM

Five charter schools have been put on notice by Chicago Public Schools they need to improve their academic performance by the end of the school year or face closure.

The five schools placed on CPS’ Charter Academic Warning List are Catalyst Schools' Howland Charter in Lawndale and Circle Rock Charter on the West Side; Chicago International Charter Schools Longwood campus on the South Side; EPIC Academy on the Southeast Side and Rufino Tamayo Charter School in Gage Park. Tamayo is a school in the United Neighborhood Organization network. All five schools made the list for failing to show progress the previous two academic years based on the guidelines in their academic contracts with the school district, and rank in the bottom third of charter schools in performance.

The clout-heavy and troubled charter school group released a statement from CEO Juan Rangel acknowledging Tamayo’s low standing while trumpeting that three schools in the group’s system were among the highest-performing elementary charter schools in Chicago.

"Tamayo missed achieving the Tier 2 threshold by one point, placing the school on a watch list. This is unacceptable, as we are committed to ensuring a high level of performance at all UNO schools," Rangel said.

CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett said in a statement every school doing business with CPS must be held accountable. “"We expect each charter school on this year's warning list to improve their academic performance or we will take appropriate action to close those schools.”