Introduction to the Crisis
Chicago Public Schools informed parents Friday that Epic Academy, a small Southeast Side charter high school, plans to close and might not even last through this school year. Epic Charter School in South Chicago with about 250 students informed CPS on Aug. 21 that it was facing “persistent enrollment declines and rising operational costs,” according to the district. The board of the privately managed, publicly funded school is expected to formally vote on the closure at its meeting Wednesday.
The Impact on the Community
Epic teacher Andrew Escalante said the school was a tight-knit community where teachers stay for a long time and are deeply committed to serving the students and community. “Staff were definitely really sad to hear this news,” he said. “Students were also shocked. Overall, definitely a sense of disappointment and sadness.”
Background of Epic Academy
Students in a hallway after school at Epic Academy on the South Side on Monday. Epic was started in 2009 by former teachers who saw the charter school movement as an opportunity to create a strong school in an area that did not have many. Three years ago, it bought an old Catholic school that it planned to renovate and expand.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Concerns Over Abrupt Closure
Several charter schools have closed in recent years, but, if it happened, this would be the first mid-year closure in recent years, maybe ever. “That would be incredibly detrimental to students and families and to the staff,” said Jen Conant, who runs the charter division for the Chicago Teachers Union, which represents Epic teachers. “Can you imagine the chaos?” The Chicago school board voted in May to renew Epic’s contract for two years. Conant and others are bewildered that the school district wasn’t made aware that Epic was in trouble during the renewal process.
Financial Struggles and Systemic Issues
Epic was started in 2009 by former teachers who saw the charter school movement as an opportunity to create a strong school in an area that did not have many. Yet its enrollment has been declining since the pandemic. CPS funds charter schools based on how many students they enroll. Epic operations director Victor Taylor said the school struggled when the district implemented a new high school assignment system in 2017, which he said prioritized district-run schools over charter schools. As a single-site charter school faced with enrollment declines, it has become more and more difficult to balance its books, said Taylor, who has worked there for 12 years. “So the funding is unfair, and the system itself is unfair,” he said.
Efforts to Prevent Closure
Parents, he said, choose the school because it consistently has better graduation and college enrollment than nearby high schools. Taylor said juniors and seniors were planning to attend the board meeting Wednesday to try to prevent its closure.
Conclusion
The potential closure of Epic Academy highlights the challenges faced by charter schools, particularly those in areas with declining enrollment. The impact on students, families, and staff would be significant, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
Sarah Karp covers education for WBEZ. Follow her on X @WBEZeducation and @sskedreporter.
FAQs
- Q: Why is Epic Academy facing closure?
A: Epic Academy is facing closure due to persistent enrollment declines and rising operational costs. - Q: How many students are affected by the potential closure?
A: Approximately 250 students are enrolled at Epic Academy. - Q: What efforts are being made to prevent the closure?
A: Juniors and seniors are planning to attend the board meeting to try to prevent the closure, and the school community is advocating for support. - Q: What are the concerns about the potential mid-year closure?
A: The potential mid-year closure would be incredibly detrimental to students, families, and staff, causing chaos and disruption. - Q: What is the background of Epic Academy?
A: Epic Academy was started in 2009 by former teachers who saw the charter school movement as an opportunity to create a strong school in an area that did not have many.
