The Innovators
5 schools and districts that are leading the way
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How We Ranked the Schools
The research nonprofit RTI International calculated these rankings using data and methodology provided by Chicago. The data are the most recent available from CPS and the Illinois State Board of Education. Because the type of data available for Chicago charter schools differs from that for noncharters, we ranked city charters separately. What the Measures Mean … Read more
How Bad Is Jason Heyward's Contract?
He’s been one of the worst-hitting regulars in baseball, but his superlative defense means he’s still been a decent player—far from the worst contract of the offseason.
Study Casts Doubt on Chicago Police's Secretive "Heat List"
Police say they know who is most likely to be involved in shootings, but in the first study of its kind, researchers found the department’s big data project to be unreliable.
Would Automatic Voter Registration Change Elections in Illinois?
Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill that had garnered bipartisan support in the legislature, but some studies say greater turnout doesn’t necessarily change outcomes.
Mike Pence’s Border War
Forget Donald Trump’s threatened wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The Indiana governor, his VP pick, has long tried to poach Illinois businesses.
A Day in the Life of a Lincoln Towing Driver
We go on the prowl with Lincoln Towing Service, the most notorious impounding outfit in town.
Here Are This Week’s 10 Must-Read Stories
High-art video games, what really works to police violent crime, and where have the CPS librarians gone?
Where Illinois's Fiscal Crisis Came From
A Chicago Fed study finds that Illinois tried, and failed, to be a low-tax, low-spending state, and we’re now paying the bill.
Three Years of Nights
Violence convulses the city after dark. Reporting on it leaves its own scars.