Abstract: New school models and academic programs have enriched the public school landscape in Chicago. Currently, 47 charters, 21 small high schools, 12 vocational high schools, eight math and science academies, four military academies and dozens of selective, magnet and new
Renaissance schools serve the city's children. Catalyst Chicago, a monthly journal that tracks school reform issues in Chicago, offers this series of articles which reports on the progress the city is making to improve student performance and increase school choice. The report finds that charter schools perform better than their neighborhood schools and are doing a better job at reducing the number of dropouts.