Renaissance Knights - Chicago's premier chess organization

Changing Lives On And Off The Board

2024 – 2025 Academic Chess Key Dates

2024-2025 Key Dates for Chess * dates and location may change, see events calendar for latest event details DATEEVENT LOCATIONSEP 11COACHES MEETI...

April 4-6, KCF All-Girls National Championships

The Kasparov Chess Foundation, the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, and the United States Chess Federation, are pleased to invite girls from acro...

February 8, Greater Chicago K-12 Championship

The Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, the Kasparov Chess Foundation, the Chicago Public Schools’ Academic Chess program, and SBB Research Gr...

August 24, PCS Back 2 School Community Giveback

We are teaming up with Project sWish to provide a chess area at their Back 2 School Community Giveback taking place at Dusable Black History Museum on...

Who We Are

Renaissance Knights is a nonprofit organization bridging the educational opportunity gap for Chicago Public School (CPS) students by providing them with chess centered programs that supports their academic, social, career, and leadership success.

Mission

To inspire youth, create critical thinkers, and foster their intellectual and social development one move at a time.

Vision

We envision a world in which Chicago youth are empowered to make their own moves, succeed in college and career, and become leaders in their community.

Why We Do It

Chess is a transformational activity that helps young people make the right moves on and off the board, while preparing them for college and career success.

There is nothing like chess to help students improve academically and socially, enhance STEM skills, develop critical thinking, improve concentration, and build self-confidence, while building their confidence and learning to win and lose in a safe environment.

At Renaissance Knights, we believe in the power of chess to change lives. To date, we have taught more than 60,000 of Chicago’s most underserved children, inspiring them to greater achievement. Each day, we are proud to help kids grow, one move at a time. Our impact is demonstrated by classroom teachers and student responses to our annual surveys:

Program Survey

94% Chess had a meaningful positive impact on students.

91% Chess developed students’ analytical and logical skills.

89% Chess improved students’ math skills.

94% Chess helped my students concentrate better.

91% Girls and boys are equally interested in chess in my class.

97% Off students want to participate in chess next year.

93% Chess enhanced my students’ cooperation skills.

Studies

Summary of CPS SES provider impacts

Literature Review of Chess Studies

Chess and Standardized Test Scores

A Chess Program for African-American Male Adolescents

Impact

60,000+ Students Taught

150+ Schools in Chicago

15+ Tournaments Annually

School Year 24

CPS Academic Chess Programs

110 Schools
2360 K-12th grade students
85 elementary schools
25 high schools
Participation in weekly classes between October – March
190 players from 16 schools played in the CPS High School Championship
395 players from 48 schools played in the CPS K-8 Playoffs
535 students from 62 schools played the City Championship
100+ Students from 24 schools played the US Chess Federation’s High School National Championship

Cops & Kids Chess Initiative

25 Schools
310 5- 12^th grade students
25 weekly classes between October – March
92 students from 11 schools, and 9 police officers played in the December event
140 students from 16 schools, and 14 police officers participated in the year end event