Our Opportunities

Welcome CPS Students and Parents to the Academic Works tool! The application cycle for the 2022-23 school year is OPEN (as of August 22, 2022). To begin your scholarship application process, follow these steps:

    1. Sign in using your CPS log in credentials. Ensure accuracy in the spelling of your user email account and ensure the account is checked frequently.
    2. Complete your General Application (a series of preliminary questions to outline your accomplishments) to begin reviewing scholarship applications.
    3. Your application may be Submitted; however, you must check the “Status” bar on your “My Applications” dashboard to ensure that all required references are “Submitted”. If the Status bar displays no additional submissions then your file is incomplete.
    4. Review both “Ours” (embedded applications) and “External” (apply on the scholarship provider website) opportunities by switching your view when you hover your mouse cursor over the “Opportunities” tab.
    5. Scholarships are being updated each week, please make sure you consistently visit the site for new deadlines.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Scholarships are NOT guaranteed, they are a gift. Students/families must have a financial plan to pay for college. Chicago Public Schools encourages all academically eligible students to apply for strategic scholarships that are offered through our Academic Works tool to help with college costs. Scholarship applications will require closer review for actual eligibility; thoroughly review/read scholarship criteria for best contact, content and instructions on applying. Additionally, please note the following:

  • MOST of the opportunities are for high school senior students (most urgent student group).
  • Some of the opportunities are seeking specific applicants related to the following categories: gender, race/ethnicity, financial need and academic merit.
  • CPS strategic scholarships are offered by an organization, company, institution, foundation, individual or family that specifically targets and awards CPS high school, Chicago, or Illinois students.

CPS Scholarship Resources:

If you have any questions please contact CPS Scholarship Manager at CollegeScholarships@cps.edu.

Opportunities Table
Award Name Actions
$50,000 ($12,500 dispersed over 4 years) ALDI Lasting Change Scholarship
Organization & Scholarship Overview: At ALDI, we believe that...
Deadline03/31/2023
$2,500 Chicago Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Academic Scholarship
Organization & Scholarship Description: The Chicago Metropolitan Alumnae...
Deadline03/31/2023
$1,000 Gread "Lefty" McKinnis Memorial Scholarship
Organization & Scholarship Overview: The Gread “Lefty” McKinnis Memorial...
Deadline03/31/2023
$3,000 - $5,000 IPLAC Educational Foundation Scholarship
Organization & Scholarship Overview: The IPLAC Educational Foundation...
Deadline03/31/2023
$5,000 Phi Beta Kappa Association of the Chicago Area (PBKACA)
Organization & Scholarship Description: The Phi Beta Kappa Association...
Deadline03/31/2023
$0.00 Delta Sigma Chicago Alumnae Chapter
Welcome to the 2022 – 2023 Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma...
Deadline04/01/2023
Up to $2,000 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. - Iota Chapter Scholarship
Organization & Scholarship Overview: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is...
Deadline04/01/2023
$1,000 NAAIA Chicago Scholarship
NAAIA Chicago was founded on the principal need to positively exploit...
Deadline04/02/2023
Varies Chicago Public Schools Student Science Fair, Inc. Scholarships
Scholarship Overview: Since 1956, the CPS Student Science Fair, Inc.,...
Deadline04/14/2023
$5,000 ($1,250 disbursed annually over 4 years) Edward G. Irvin Scholarship Foundation
Organization & Scholarship Description: The Edward G. Irvin Scholarship...
Deadline04/14/2023
$5,000 Shirley Flowers Scholarship (for Jones College Prep High School ONLY)
Scholarship Overview: A scholarship for a graduating student of Jones...
Deadline04/15/2023
$10,000 Archie Kelly Smith Lake View Scholarship (For Lake View High School Only)
Scholarship & Organization Description: This scholarships is intended...
Deadline04/30/2023
$2,500 ($10,000 over 4 years) Daisy E. Smith Scholarship (For Schurz High School)
Scholarship & Organization Description: This scholarships is intended...
Deadline04/30/2023
$1,000 Sally Curtin Lowing Scholarship for Young Women
Organization & Scholarship Overview: This scholarship will be offered to...
Deadline05/01/2023
$2,500 Lakeside Bank "Write On!" Creative Writing Challenge
Overview of Scholarship & Description: Lakeside Bank is pleased to offer...
Deadline05/05/2023
$1,000 Chi-Town Goodfellas, Inc. - Antwain Jones "For The Culture" Scholarship
Organization & Scholarship Overview: The Chi-Town GoodFellas are all...
Deadline05/30/2023
$1,000 - $2,500 CPS Dream Fund Scholarship
Scholarship Overview: In 2011, CPS Scholarship Manager Marcia Boyd...
Deadline06/02/2023
$0.00 “No Sweat” Scholarship
This is a quarterly scholarship of $2,500 with a generic theme of*_...
Ended