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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) celebrated the graduation of 98 students from the Chicago Builds program, marking the highest number of graduates in its history. The ceremony took place at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134. These students are part of approximately 14,000 CPS students enrolled in Career and Technical Education classes.
CPS CEO Pedro Martinez expressed pride in the graduates' achievements, stating, "Our District is continuing to strengthen our early college and career education offerings to ensure that students have choices for success beyond high school, and Chicago Builds is a wonderful example of these efforts."
Chicago Builds offers pre-apprenticeship training where students can explore various career paths in construction while earning industry-recognized certifications. ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones highlighted the importance of preparing young people for future infrastructure jobs, saying, "To build the cities of tomorrow, we will need young people who are ready to work hard to gain the skills and qualifications it takes to be hired for these important jobs."
Students like Layla Bonilla from Whitney Young High School benefited from this program by gaining hands-on experience in trades such as electricity. Bonilla plans to major in construction management at Eastern Illinois University. She shared her positive experience: “I’m learning a lot of new things, not just about electricity but also about the world, and the experience is really invaluable.”
The program provides training that integrates construction with math and literacy skills. It prepares students for union entrance exams and certifications through internships, visits to union training facilities, capstone projects, and preparation for pre-apprenticeship exams.
A partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity allows 60 graduates to continue advancing their skills through grants provided by the Illinois Works Construction Pre-apprenticeship Program.
CPS offers over 34 Career and Technical Education pathways across more than 80 high schools. This includes programs focused on construction trades such as carpentry, electricity, welding, and HVAC. Through collaboration with City Colleges of Chicago under the Chicago Roadmap initiative, CPS aims to support students toward post-secondary training leading to their chosen careers.
