Academic Chess Program

We know that chess teaches children important academic & life skills and that schools across Chicago’s diverse communities have the interest in chess but don’t have the funding for it or the resources to start a program. This is why we partnered with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) over 15 years ago.

We have been able to grow chess in Chicago’s schools from less than 20 schools serving under 300 students into a thriving program that teaches chess after school at 88 elementary, middle, and high schools across the city. Annually, 1200+ students have the opportunity to learn, play, and compete in chess at no cost.

The administration of chess in CPS switched to Academic Competition Department 4 years ago and was renamed Academic Chess. Academic Competition has invested heavily in chess breaking our 3-year expansion plan in the first year. Today, Academic Chess provides schools with a generous coaches stipend, organizes 6 tournaments during the chess season, provides breakfast and lunch at the tournaments as well as busing to the tournaments, and takes students to outside tournaments including the Greater Chicago Championship, the All-Girls National Championship, and the grade level National Championships.

Many of the Academic Chess Programs at schools offer tiered coaching, in which instruction is offered at multiple levels of difficulty. The expansion of the Academic Chess Program along with expanded coaching has contributed to the competitive excellence seen CPS schools at local, state and national competitions.

CPS Inner city schools such as Earle Stem have won first place at national competition. And the powerhouse chess team at Whitney Young High School places in the top 3 high schools in chess competitions across the nation year after year.

Interested in having your school participate in the Academic Chess Program? contact us by email at dheiser@cps.edu.