collage of six CPS graduates enrolled in college

Class of ‘?’ Graduating in four (or more) years

From the moment students enroll, colleges immediately group students based on their 4-year track to graduate. Although colleges advertise getting a bachelor's degree in four years, research shows that more than half of students need more time to graduate. This disconnect drove us to interview six CPS alums on their timeline through college. As first-generation students, they share their lessons and hopes for how schools can adapt to support students to graduate on their own timeline. 

Want to share these stories with students? Download a lesson plan that includes versions of their stories adapted for high schoolers as well as a slide deck.

picture of cps graduate

Roxanne's Story

Roxanne grew up on the southeast side of Chicago and proudly identifies as a Peruvian trans woman. She graduated from her neighborhood high school and was a part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Roxanne is the first in her family to graduate high school and college. She took a 5 year track to graduate with her bachelors at Chicago public institution in 2022.

picture of cps graduate with their name on the right side

Ilyas' Story

Ilyas is Ethiopian and grew up in Rogers Parks. He graduated from his neighborhood high school in 2018 and enrolled in an associate degree program at a private university. After receiving his Associate Degree, he is now enrolled at an Illinois public institution pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree. Ilyas is currently on a 6+ year academic track to a Bachelor’s Degree, and will graduate in winter of 2024 with a major in sports management.

picture of cps graduate with their name on the right side

Marshai's Story

Marshai is a Black first-generation college student and grew up on the west side of Chicago. She graduated from her neighborhood high school in Roseland in 2020 and now attends a historically Black college in Arkansas. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in industrial technology and is set to graduate on a 4.5 year track. Marshai hopes to one day build a football field for her high school. 

picture of cps graduate with their name on the right side

Nicole's Story

Nicole is a Mexican-American first-generation college graduate from the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Since she was little, her heart was set on entering the world of science and becoming a doctor. She attended a public bachelor’s degree granting institution in Chicago and graduated in six years in 2021. 

picture of cps graduate with their name on the right side

Allan's Story

Allan is a Black first generation college student who grew up in Morgan Park. He graduated from CPS magnet high school in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood in 2015. He later attended a private bachelor-granting college in the south side of Chicago. He loves creating and spent a lot of his free time in undergrad in a studio. He majored in Critical Race and Ethnic studies (CRES) and Media Arts and Design. Allan graduated in 4 years thanks to getting financial aid for a summer quarter.

picture of cps graduate with their name on the right side

Karla's Story

Karla is a Honduran-American first-generation college student from Humboldt Park on the west side of Chicago. Her time in CPS was marked by a lot of change and transferring of schools. She faced the challenges of both the 2013 school closures and a difficult high school selection process. She attended a liberal arts college in rural Indiana through a cohort model scholarship program where she got her bachelor’s degree studying Sociology and Spanish with a minor in Latin and Caribbean. Karla felt heavily pressured and graduated in 4 years because of the strict full-tuition 4 year scholarship she received.