Austin Berg, Vice President of Marketing | https://www.illinoispolicy.org/our-story/?team-filter=staff#team
Austin Berg, Vice President of Marketing | https://www.illinoispolicy.org/our-story/?team-filter=staff#team
In Chicago, a significant portion of property taxes paid by homeowners is allocated to the city's public schools. According to recent data, approximately 52% of an average homeowner's $3,952 property tax bill, amounting to $2,059, is directed towards funding Chicago Public Schools (CPS).
Despite this financial contribution from residents, there has been little improvement in student performance within CPS. State test scores for 2024 reveal that less than one-third of students are proficient in reading and fewer than one-fifth meet grade-level expectations in mathematics.
Patrick Andriesen from the Illinois Policy Institute commented on the situation: “Chicagoans have been feeling the pressure of rising property taxes, and a big reason is a growing financial demand from CPS. The result is homeowners are paying more and getting less.” He also noted that this trend might persist due to a new costly contract coming into effect.
The financial requirements for operating CPS have increased significantly over the years. Between 2009 and 2024, local property and other related taxes needed for school operations more than doubled. Meanwhile, student enrollment in the district decreased by over 83,000 during the same period.
For further details on Chicago schools' property taxes, additional information can be found at illin.is/cpsptax.
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