Another year brings another wave of Catholic school closings. These closures aren’t happening because of poor performance or low satisfaction, but because working families can’t afford both property taxes and private school tuition. The lack of affordable, high-quality school choices is devastating to the city.
It’s no coincidence that the golden era for public education in Chicago coincided with the height of the parochial school system. And the decline of both systems mirrors Chicago’s broader demographic collapse — driven largely by the outmigration of middle-income families with children.
Chicago has seen a massive exodus of middle-income residents, who now make up only 16% of the city’s population, down from 50% in 1970. The greatest losses have been among Black families — an estimated 350,000 Black residents have left since 1980.
Most parents in Chicago can’t afford private school tuition. Of the approximately 315,000 Chicago Public Schools students, the vast majority come from low-income or economically disadvantaged households. In Chicago, that often means a household income below about $38,000 — making even modest private school tuition an impossible burden. Without scholarships or tax credit programs, lower- and middle-income families who seek a better option are effectively locked out.
Private schools, particularly Catholic schools, have demonstrated extraordinary success — even in communities struggling with poverty. In the 2024-25 school year, 75% of Archdiocese of Chicago students meet grade level in reading compared with just 41% of Illinois students per i-Ready, and 67% of Catholic school students are at grade level in math compared with 28% of Illinois students. Chicago Archdiocese schools had 10 National Blue Ribbon recipients in 2025, the most by a single school system in a single year in the history of program.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic schools again proved their resilience. While CPS remained closed for extended periods — among the longest shutdowns in the nation — Catholic schools in the archdiocese reopened for in-person learning in the fall of 2020. As a result, their students experienced minimal learning loss and fewer social-emotional setbacks; public school students saw devastating declines in achievement and well-being.
Critics claim that when students receive scholarships or state aid to attend private schools, this influx of money robs public schools. That’s false. Student-centered funding means dollars follow the child to the school providing their education. In fact, taxpayers save money when students use scholarships or vouchers because the average cost per voucher student is significantly lower than the per-pupil cost in district schools. According to estimates from the Illinois Policy Institute, public schools save roughly $12,000 per student who received an Invest in Kids scholarship — one reason per-pupil funding in CPS has risen as enrollment has fallen.
Union leaders also argue that public funds should be used only to improve traditional public schools. But this is a false dilemma. Policymakers can strengthen public schools and expand choice. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Another common myth is that private schools have an unfair advantage because they don’t have to serve challenging students. Yet large districts, including Chicago’s, operate selective enrollment and magnet schools that screen by test scores or other factors. Research consistently shows that competition from private schools encourages public schools to improve communication with families, replace ineffective staff and innovate instruction. A 2021 analysis cited by the Fordham Institute found that 26 out of 28 empirical studies on school choice programs showed positive or neutral effects on public schools — including better graduation rates and college enrollment, especially for Black students.
In the long term, the city could invite state-recognized parochial and private schools to become “contract schools,” allowing CPS to include those students in state aid counts. Catholic schools facing closure might also be converted into charter schools, preserving their academic legacy while aligning with state accountability systems.
The pandemic exposed how fragile and unresponsive the traditional public education system can be in times of crisis. In contrast, many Catholic and independent schools showed agility, leadership and community connection.
Strong public schools and thriving private schools are not enemies. They are the two lungs of a healthy civic body. If one collapses, the entire city — its families, workforce and moral core — will eventually suffocate.
Paul Vallas is an adviser for the Illinois Policy Institute. He ran against Brandon Johnson for Chicago mayor in 2023 and was previously budget director for the city and CEO of Chicago Public Schools.
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