A new study reveals that nearly one-third of Chicago’s public-school teachers, including the head of the teachers' union, send their children to private schools—raising questions about the state of the city's education system and the union's ongoing demands.
Nearly one-third of Chicago's well-paid public-school teachers choose to send their children to private schools instead of enrolling them in the Chicago Public School System (CPS), according to a recent study.
The Illinois Policy Institute, a Chicago-based think tank, found that about 31 percent of Chicago’s public-school teachers opt for private education for their children. This data, drawn from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample by the U.S. Census Bureau, highlights a significant trend among CPS educators.
Among those sending their children to private schools is Stacy Davis Gates, the current leader of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). Despite her public advocacy for CPS, Gates sends her son to a private school, a choice that has drawn criticism given her role in the union.
Gates led the CTU in a successful campaign to dismantle a state voucher program that provided 15,000 low-income students with access to private education opportunities—options similar to what her own son enjoys, supported by her $289,000 annual salary.
Despite these controversies, Gates and the CTU are pushing for a new contract that demands an unprecedented $10.2 billion or more, a figure that would consume more than one-fifth of Illinois’ total tax revenue, which stands just above $50 billion.
The union's demands include a 9-percent pay increase for teachers, which would raise the starting salary to $61,990 and push the average Chicago teacher’s salary to $92,500, well above the state average of $86,148. Currently, Chicago teachers are already among the highest-paid in Illinois, yet the city’s schools are struggling with performance issues.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute, over 21,000 of Chicago’s 323,000 students lack basic proficiency in math, science, and reading for their grade levels. In February, it was reported that 55 of the city’s schools have no students proficient in these core subjects.
Despite these challenges, Gates has called for the Illinois state government to contribute $1 billion to Chicago public schools, dismissing concerns that this would be a "bailout." The CTU also proposed that the school system take out a high-interest, $300 million payday loan, which would have cost the city $700 million over 20 years—a proposal the school system ultimately rejected.
The contract negotiations, which began after the previous contract expired on June 30, are ongoing, with no resolution in sight. As the new school year approaches, school administrators are preparing for the possibility of a teachers’ strike.
Meanwhile, the CPS system continues to lose students. In 2022 alone, the district saw a decline of 8,300 students, marking the 11th consecutive year of enrollment losses. This trend has led to the closure of numerous schools, many of which remain abandoned since then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel shut down 50 schools across the city in 2013.
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