The following schools were awarded an Exemplary School Status!

SY 23-24

SY 24-25                                                                        SY25-26

What is an Exemplary School?

Exemplary Schools are those in which program standards are being implemented with fidelity across grade levels and upheld by members of the school community.  Additionally, an Exemplary School has the strong site conditions needed to sustain program implementation over time. Click here to see contact information for Exemplary STE(A)M Schools.

An Exemplary Designation: 

• allows schools to publicly demonstrate exemplary program implementation

• provides schools with actionable feedback from stakeholders and Central Office teams

• allows the Office of Teaching and Learning to develop robust, data-driven supports for schools 

• supports the identification of schools that can serve as mentors for schools with similar programs

• ensures that all schools with specialty programs are moving toward consistent, high-quality program implementation

Who is eligible to apply?

Schools are invited to apply based on a review of data obtained through the completion of site conditions and programmatic self-assessment that school staff and families complete each fall. Here is the SY25 staff and family self-assessment as a reference. 

What are the steps to becoming an Exemplary School?

To become an Exemplary School, schools are invited to apply; they must complete an application, and if found eligible, participate in a school site visit.  The school site visit includes focus groups with teachers, students, parents, and administrators, as well as observations of four classrooms using the following STEM/STEAM rubrics. 

Information from the site visit will be used alongside previously collected program implementation data to make a final determination.

Questions?

For questions, contact STEM Program Support Specialists, Araceli Buenrostro at abuenrostro3@cps.edu or Tracy Sevier at tlsevier@cps.edu