Chicago spends $639.6 million on migrants while local schools face funding gaps
A pastor highlights that Chicago allocated roughly $639.6 million to migrant services from August 2022 to 2024, while Dulles Elementary receives about $16,200 per student, far below the district average.
CPS data reveal that Dulles Elementary School, located near the pastor’s church, spends roughly $16,200 per student, while the district’s overall spending ranges from $27,000 to $32,000 per pupil. Proficiency rates at the school are low, with 13.7% in English language arts and 3.9% in math. Meanwhile, Chicago’s inspector general found that about $639.6 million in city and grant money was used for migrant and asylum-seeker services from August 2022 through 2024.
The pastor contends that the city’s budget, already facing a $732 million deficit and recent layoffs, should prioritize local schools and special-education support. He urges Mayor Brandon Johnson to address the funding imbalance and focus on the children who have long been underserved in South Side neighborhoods.
Why it matters
It shows how city budget choices may affect education quality for local children.
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