Programs

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Chicago Public Schools

The CPS CTE program was established by the Cook County President’s and the City of Chicago Mayor’s offices to increase the number of Chicago’s youth recruited into Chicago’s healthcare workforce. Students in this program will take part in an honors program that will prepare them for a variety of careers in the healthcare field. Students will get an overview of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, allied health technology, systems management, optometry, and dentistry.

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Program Components

Primary Areas of Focus
  • Academic preparation (e.g., increasing STEM knowledge
  • Retention or completion of health professions degree programs (support for those currently enrolled)

Program Location

Settings: In-person

County: Cook County / Chicago, IL

Program Components
  • Mentoring (e.g. pairing with current health profession student)
    ush student and faculty volunteers provide mentorship and activities to facilitate the Crane students’ efforts to successfully pursue their interest in health careers. CPS CTE activities are all focused on awareness, exploration, and application of the health sciences.
  • Professional skills development (e.g. teamwork, ethical conduct)

Program Information

Education Levels
Health Professions

Program Sustainability

Affiliated Organizations and Networks

This program consists of a partnership between the Chicago Public Schools (Richard T. Crane Medical Preparatory Academy and Sullivan, Dunbar, Westinghouse, North Grand and Kelvyn Park High Schools), the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, several area hospitals (Rush University Medical Center, Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, St. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, and St. Joseph Hospital) and the Michael Reese Health Trust. The partner school for Rush’s Office of Community Engagement is the Richard T. Crane Medical Preparatory Academy. Through CPS CTE, Rush student and faculty volunteers provide mentorship and activities to facilitate the Crane students’ efforts to successfully pursue their interest in health careers. CPS CTE activities are all focused on awareness, exploration, and application of the health sciences.

Eligibility Criteria and How to Apply

Eligibility Criteria
  • Academic
  • Underrepresented racial and/or ethnic background

Contact Information

Rhonda Patterson
Email: rpatterson@cps.edu

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