CICS Ralph Ellison Academy has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education through the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS), marking a major investment in the Auburn Gresham community and the future of its students.
This funding recognizes both the strong foundation already in place at Ellison and a bold, forward-looking vision for what high school can and should be. Earlier this year, Principal Jacob Morgan and his team—working in partnership with CICS and Meridian leadership—put forward a plan to deepen student engagement and more intentionally align the school experience with students’ interests, identities, and long-term goals. That vision is now being brought to life.
As CICS Ralph Ellison Academy approaches its twentieth year, the school stands at an important inflection point. For nearly two decades, CICS Ralph Ellison Academy has been grounded in rigorous instruction and strong, supportive relationships. Today, it boasts the highest postsecondary enrollment rate among public schools in its neighborhood. And yet, there is more to be done to ensure that every student leaves with a clear, supported pathway to what comes next.
This investment will support the relaunch of CICS Ralph Ellison Academy as a career-connected high school, using students’ interest in athletics as a gateway to academic rigor, workforce preparation, leadership development, and long-term economic mobility.
Importantly, this model is not about producing professional athletes. Instead, it leverages the sports industry as a powerful and relevant context for learning—opening doors to in-demand, sports-adjacent careers in healthcare, fitness and human performance, coaching, facilities and event operations, communications, media, and technology.
At its core, this work is rooted in a belief that has defined CICS Ralph Ellison Academy since its founding: students are whole, complex individuals whose identities, aspirations, and lived experiences must be affirmed and nurtured. The new model builds on that foundation by expanding access to athletics and extracurricular programming, strengthening relationships with trusted adults, and ensuring students develop the skills, confidence, and clarity needed to pursue postsecondary pathways shaped by choice—not chance.
This is more than a grant—it is an investment in what is possible for young people in Auburn Gresham.
Please join us in congratulating Principal Morgan and the entire CICS Ralph Ellison Academy team on this well-deserved recognition and exciting next chapter.
due to the forecast of dangerously low temperatures and wind chills. The safety and well-being of our students, families, and staff are always our highest priority.
