Slightly fewer Chicago students enrolled in four-year colleges and universities last fall despite the pandemic’s pressures — but two-year institutions saw a troubling dip in both new arrivals and in students returning for their second year on campus.

William Delgado is a Senior Research Analyst at the UChicago Consortium. Previously, he was a Research Assistant Professor at Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. He is an applied microeconomist with research interests in the economics of education, labor economics, and behavioral economics. His overarching goal is to understand and address inequality in opportunities and to foster human potential.

Key Findings

• CPS graduates from the class of 2020 were about as likely to enroll in a four-year college as previous cohorts: 41.8 percent in 2019 vs. 40.8 percent in 2020.
• CPS graduates from the class of 2019 were slightly more likely than previous cohorts to remain in four-year colleges between spring and fall 2020: 81.5 percent in 2019 vs. 84.1 percent in 2020.
• CPS graduates from the class of 2020 were less likely to enroll in a two-year college: 20.0 percent in 2019 vs.

The divide among education researchers over how COVID-19 is impacting students isn’t just a matter of whether they see the glass as half-filled or half emptied. It’s whether the glass is still in one piece or been slammed against the wall and shattered.

We are beyond thrilled to announce that UCW High School senior Moses Corona was accepted to Johns Hopkins University’s Class of 2025! Moses is among the fewer than 5% of students who were accepted to Johns Hopkins through the regular decision application round.

Over the next five years, the UChicago Consortium has chosen to pursue an agenda that centers equity and student experience at its core.

Elaine Allensworth discusses how high school GPAs (HSGPAs) are often perceived to represent inconsistent levels of readiness for college across high schools, whereas test scores are seen as comparable...

For students and colleges alike, the changes wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic have affected virtually every facet of the educational process. It’s tougher to teach. It’s certainly tougher to learn. Many campuses have sat largely empty. And the idea of extracurricular activity has, for all intents, dried up.