A new study released today says that 44 percent of CPS freshman don't graduate, and 73 percent of those drop-outs were "over age" when they started high school. While there's no one reason students drop out, there are a lot of factors that indicate how at-risk a kid is. From the Sun-Times: more ›

++ Only 34 percent of Illinois sex ed teachers talk about condom use, 68 percent talk about birth control, and 30 percent have never been trained to teach sexual health courses, according to a study commissioned by the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health. The authors of the study blame abstinence-only federal funding. more ›

Several members of the Chicagoist staff are proud graduates of the Chicago Public Schools system, K-12, the whole 9 yards. We also dream of some day being super wealthy so the Tribune’s look at private donations to CPS really hits home. Private grants are up to a total of $23 million last year from $2 million five years ago. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation even gave $9 million! We wonder if they count... more ›

In its largest single grant ever awarded to a local school district, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given 21 million buckeroos to the Chicago Public Schools system. What for? The grant is to set up a more challenging curriculum in high school English, math, and science so that kids will be able to better prepare for college. Also, teachers will get better training. Woot!! The foundation money is a big part of the... more ›

Chicago Public Schools are like an alcoholic uncle that can't keep a job, feed his kids, or get them to school. And now Bill Gates is like the grandma that, because she feels bad for the kids, continues to enable her son by lending him money and buying grocery store gift certificates for the family. The uncle has four kids and only two of them have enrolled in college—one of them didn't even graduate. more ›