Chicago Public Schools’ Budget Balloons to $10 Billion Despite Plummeting Enrollment

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) board has approved another controversial budget, drawing sharp criticism for raising local property taxes while failing to address declining enrollment and poor academic performance. According to a detailed analysis by the Chicago Contrarian, the district’s financial strategy continues to prioritize institutional growth over educational outcomes.

Under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration, the school board has approved an additional $300 million in property taxes, pushing the total property tax increases during his term to $725 million. This comes despite a stark 11 percent drop in student enrollment since 2019. Rather than scaling back, CPS has added 8,250 net full-time positions during that same timeframe, resulting in a ratio of one full-time employee for every 6.9 students. The district now employs more non-teaching staff—over 22,000—than teachers.

Critics point out that funding is not the issue. The CPS budget has ballooned by $4.2 billion since 2019, reaching more than $10 billion. Per-pupil spending has surged by 44 percent, and is projected to exceed $32,000 per student in the upcoming school year. Furthermore, state aid to CPS has increased by $527 million under Governor JB Pritzker, even as student numbers dwindled.

Despite these historic funding levels, academic performance remains stagnant, and charter schools—which serve predominantly low-income minority students—receive up to 38 percent less funding per pupil than traditional district-managed schools. Observers argue that the current board’s agenda remains focused on shielding underperforming schools and blocking educational alternatives, such as the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, rather than reforming a system in clear financial distress.

Sources

• chicagocontrarian.com