Academic Chess

We know that chess teaches children important academic and life skills, and many schools across Chicago’s diverse communities are interested in chess but lack the funding or resources to start a program. This is why we partnered with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) over 15 years ago.

Since then, we have grown chess in Chicago’s schools from less than 20 schools serving under 300 students into a thriving program that teaches chess after school at over 100 elementary, middle, and high schools across the city. Annually, more than 2,500 students have the opportunity to learn, play, and compete in chess at no cost.

Today, Academic Chess provides schools with a coaching stipend, organizes in-person and online tournaments, provides players with breakfast and lunch at the tournaments, and arranges busing to the tournaments. We also take students to outside tournaments, including the Greater Chicago Championship, the All-Girls National Championship, and grade-level National Championships.

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

Chicago’s inner-city schools such as Earle STEM have won first place at national competitions, and the powerhouse chess team at Whitney Young High School consistently places in the top three 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.