3 Chicago charter schools will be closing down
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - Three charter schools in Chicago are set to close, and a fourth school's fate will be determined next month.
One of the schools that must close is Lighthouse Academy in Bronzeville, where more than 400 students attend grades kindergarten through 8th.
“The teachers are lovely here and it hurts my heart that Bronzeville is closing," said parent Patricia Miller.
Lighthouse Academy is the only school that has a contract with CPS that will not be renewed.
"It's sad because I've been going here since kindergarten and they teach us a lot and make us grow," said student Cierra Washington.
Two other schools, Amandla High school and Betty Shabazz-Barbara A. Sizemore Academy, are getting their contracts revoked due to underperformance. The board apparently gave them time to right their wrong, but voted Wednesday to cut all three loose.
A fourth, Larry Hawkins High School, will have its fate determined next month.
Bronzeville parents that FOX 32 talked to are outraged and say they didn't have the same opportunities to fix things like the other schools did. They also say that they have better test scores than the board is giving them credit for.
This comes at a time where the public school system is down $480 million in their operating budget and newly appointed CPS CEO Forrest Claypool is warning of layoffs.