Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett attended the opening of the new Back of the Yards high school, which will include a rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The City of Chicago is adding IB Diploma Programs to ten additional high schools, with at least one in each CPS region, to increase access to quality education options.
A recent study by the University of Chicago Consortium of School Research showed that IB students are 50 percent more likely to attend a highly-selective college than their peers who did not participate in the IB program.

In a first of its kind collaboration, the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Schools have combined resources and created a full-service, public library for the community inside the school. The library will offer neighborhood children access to early literacy programs, and CPS students will have the opportunity to mentor younger children and gain community service hours within their school building.

The newly completed Back of the Yards Wall-to-Wall IB High School and Community Library will open to its first class of ninth grade students and the community at large on August 26th.
The investment in Back of the Yards is on the heels of other recent investments the Mayor has made in education by cutting almost $700 million from the central office budget. Also, starting this school year, for the first time ever, the full, 7 hour day of kindergarten will be available for every single CPS student.