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Big Shoulders Fund supported schools enroll 25,000 students in 76 elementary schools and 17 high schools in the city of Chicago.  

See a map of the schools supported by Big Shoulders for the 2007-08 school year. See a list of all the Big Shoulders Fund schools.

As part of the larger educational system, our inner-city Catholic schools have proven to be an important resource for children and families that are at risk and are facing many challenges in life.

The schools supported by the Big Shoulders Fund are the poorest and oldest Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The criteria that are used to designate a Big Shoulders Fund supported school include:

  • The school is located in the City of Chicago;

  • Title I eligibility and participation; and

  • School has 20 percent or more of its students receiving free and reduced luncheons through the school's lunch program.

Over half of the students attending Big Shoulders supported schools come from families who live at or below the poverty level. By educating these students, we are helping to break the cycle of poverty in our inner-city neighborhoods.

The ethnic composition of the students enrolled in supported schools for the 2006-07 school year was:

  • 37.8% Hispanic

  • 34.6% African American

  • 20.3% White Non-Hispanic

  •   4.3% Multi-Racial

  •   2.8% Asian

  •   0.1% Native American

* Note: Families interested in scholarship support need to contact the principal of the Catholic elementary school or the financial aid office of the Catholic high school where their child/children are enrolled.  Big Shoulders works directly with schools for applications and awards.


 

Big Shoulders Fund
309 W. Washington, Suite 550
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(312) 751-8337
info@bigshouldersfund.org