As school holidays begin again across the greater Chicago area, some are wondering when Chicago Public Schools students will return to the classroom.
For CPS students, the days are numbered.
The new school year begins on Monday, August 26, according to the 2024-2025 school year calendar. According to CPS officials, that day will be the first full day of school for the district’s more than 300,000 students.
“We have been to the schools and I tell you – the excitement is so great. We are ready to receive our children on Monday,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said Friday, noting that teachers returned to classrooms this week to prepare for the new year.
Martinez said that despite the statewide shortage of school bus drivers, the district is seeing more children use the bus service. In past years, the district has had about 700 drivers. This year, CPS has about 900 drivers.
“We’re having more success than ever before,” he said. “There’s still a national shortage, but I’m very optimistic about the progress we’re making.”
Over the past few weeks, CPS has hosted a series of free back-to-school parties where families and students have had the opportunity to reconnect, ask questions about the coming year, receive a backpack of school supplies, and eat something to eat.
To help students and families prepare for the first day and beyond, CPS has compiled a list of resources on its website, including information about transportation to and from school, student lunches, and school supply lists.
If you have questions about district policies, student conduct regulations, and attendance information, you can find all of that and more on the district website.
