Introduction to Hubbard High School Expansion
WEST LAWN — Before possibly expanding a Southwest Side high school, local and Chicago Public School officials will need to refine plans and find funds, officials said Monday.
The Overcrowding Crisis at Hubbard High School
Hubbard High School has an “overcrowding crisis” with more students enrolled than the 1,226-person capacity building can accommodate, leaving students and teachers crammed and having to use common areas and offices as classrooms, Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) previously said. The school has 1,527 students and 114 teachers, according to CPS data.
Plans for Expansion
For years, Southwest Side officials and school staff have worked on plans to expand the high school by building an annex in an empty lot on 3710 W. 63rd St. The lot, a block southeast of the high school, could be bought using tax-increment financing funds, and state funds are available to support the building construction, Tabares said.
Refining Plans and Identifying Funds
After touring the high school and the vacant lot Monday morning, Sean Harden, Board of Education president, said the total cost and funding for a new building need to be identified before the project is brought up for a vote. “There’s no doubt that there’s a need. The question for me and the board becomes, ‘How do we responsibly respond to it?’” Harden said.
Evaluating the Project’s Feasibility
The Board of Education must evaluate whether the school district has funds for the annex before approving plans for expanding the high school, Harden said. While CPS has participated in discussions about Hubbard, it has not identified plans to expand it, a CPS spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “At this time, no capital project has been proposed. Any future investment would require a thorough multi-departmental review and assessment, community engagement, and formal approval by the Chicago Board of Education,” the spokesperson said.
CPS’s Financial Constraints
Calls for expanding the majority Latino Southwest Side high school come as CPS could face a financial deficit and has yet to complete “critical” maintenance to existing school buildings that would cost at least $3 billion. CPS has identified an additional $11 billion in long-term priorities, including repairs to aging roofs, plumbing, mechanical systems, building upgrades, and ADA accessibility, a CPS spokesperson said.
The Impact of Overcrowding on Students and Teachers
Students and teachers at Hubbard use offices as small classrooms, service providers use closets as offices and classes are taught inside the library, auditorium and cafeteria outside of lunch hours, school principal Angelica Altamirano told the Board of Education in 2023. The lack of space also raises safety concerns as the school could not get through a fire safety drill, Tabares previously said.
Enrollment Trends and Career Education
Although Hubbard has experienced overcrowding, enrollment has decreased nearly 13 percent since the 2022-203 school year due to “CPS’s intentional and targeted access and enrollment measures” that ensure students outside school boundaries have plenty of school options, a CPS spokesperson said. Officials want the annex to be used to provide career and technical education classes for seniors. Beyond providing needed space, an annex could prepare high school students to enter stable, well-paying jobs upon graduation if they choose not to go to college, Tabares said.
Proposed Solution and Funding
Southwest Side officials, Chicago Public Schools discuss expansion plans with Board of Education president Sean Harden and member Angel Gutierrez after a tour of Hubbard High School, as seen on April 14, 2025. Credit: France Garcia Hernandez/Block Club Chicago Building an annex could cost about $100 million, CPS officials said Monday. That would be significantly higher than state and local officials previously estimated. “I don’t think it’s a function of whether or not we’re supportive. It’s just a function of how do we responsibly do it, given all the demands that we have across the entire city,” Harden said.
Securing Funding for the Project
State officials have set aside $10-$14 million for expanding Hubbard High School, Guerrero-Cuellar previously said. Tabares and Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) have committed tax-increment financing funds to buy the empty lot. State funds are at risk of being dedicated to fund other projects in the next state budget cycle if there is no indication that the school district could soon move to expand Hubbard High School, Guerrero-Cuellar said. Yet, they will continue to work together and develop plans to build the annex.
Conclusion
The expansion of Hubbard High School is a pressing issue that requires careful planning and funding. While there is a clear need for more space, the project’s feasibility and cost must be thoroughly evaluated. Officials must work together to secure funding and ensure that the project is completed responsibly.
FAQs
- What is the current enrollment capacity of Hubbard High School?
Hubbard High School has a capacity of 1,226 students, but it currently has 1,527 students enrolled. - What is the proposed solution to address the overcrowding issue?
The proposed solution is to build an annex in an empty lot on 3710 W. 63rd St, which could provide additional space for career and technical education classes. - How much would the annex cost?
The estimated cost of building an annex is around $100 million. - What are the next steps for the project?
The next steps involve refining plans, identifying funds, and evaluating the project’s feasibility before bringing it up for a vote. - What are the potential benefits of the annex?
The annex could provide needed space, prepare high school students for stable, well-paying jobs, and address safety concerns related to overcrowding.
