Charter schools are public schools operated by independent companies. Civitas Schools receives a per pupil allocation from the Chicago Public School (CPS) system to educate students enrolled in one of its schools. Charter schools in Chicago receive, on average, 82 cents for every dollar given to a traditional public school. In combination with other strict academic accountability measures, charter schools are therefore called upon to provide enhanced educational services, and to do it with less money.

To meet the additional costs of a longer school day and longer school year, and fill the gap from the reduced public dollars, private funding must make up approximately 6-10% of each school’s budget. As new program initiatives are developed at each school, additional support will be needed for those.

Civitas Schools has received generous support from the following foundations:

Field Foundation of Illinois
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust
Walton Family Foundation

View our latest Annual Report Download file.

The Civitas Schools Foundation serves as the fundraising branch of Civitas Schools. Civitas Schools Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity. Donations to Civitas Schools Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

For more information about how to get involved with Civitas Schools, or to arrange a tour of one our schools, please contact Sharma Shackleford, Manager of External Affairs, email or 312.850.4345.

Why Invest in Civitas Schools?

• Charter schools are called to provide educational opportunities and choices that fulfill needs unmet by local neighborhood schools. Civitas Schools provides a college preparatory education for all of its students, regardless of academic ability.
• Despite its new beginnings, Civitas Schools is already demonstrating admirable achievement. Preliminary test results indicate that Civitas Schools is impacting all of its students, and particularly students typically underserved in college prep programs.
• Civitas Schools employs an extremely dedicated and winning faculty and staff. Teachers routinely give additional time and support, above and beyond the extra duties required of them, in our extended school day and extended school year program.
• Civitas Schools values accountability and dedicates itself to producing academic achievement results.
• As the charter school movement continues to carry forward, investors have the opportunity to be part of an organization that is effecting change and has the ability to be national in scope. The Civitas Schools curriculum can be replicated.