Sarah Karp

Reporter, Education

Sarah Karp is a reporter at WBEZ. A former reporter for Catalyst-Chicago, the Chicago Reporter and the Daily Southtown, Karp has covered education, and children and family issues for more than 15 years. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She has won five Education Writers Association awards, three Society of Professional Journalism awards and the 2005 Sidney Hillman Award. She is a native of Chicago.

Stories by Sarah Karp

- Education
Staffing grows in Chicago Public Schools even while enrollment drops

The increase is meaningful in a district that has often had to do without. But vacancies are still a challenge, especially in schools with many low-income students.
Oct. 28 read more
- Education
Chicago Public Schools to take over celebrated Chicago all-boys charter school

The two Urban Prep campuses will stay open for students but CPS took the charter away from its leaders, citing a litany of issues.
Oct. 26 read more
- Education
Lauded all-boys charter school faces Chicago Public Schools takeover

CPS wants to take over Urban Prep Academies in an unprecedented move to wrest control from its troubled leaders while trying not to displace students.
Updated Oct. 25 read more
- Education
Chicago Public Schools’ graduation rate reaches a record high

This comes as national test results showed that years of growth in CPS test scores were wiped away during the pandemic.
Oct. 24 read more
- Education
The COVID-19 pandemic thwarts years of academic improvement for Chicago students

The Nation’s Report Card scores released Monday show historic declines in math and reading, and a widening achievement gap for Black and Latino students.
Oct. 24 read more
- Education
Declining enrollment bumps Chicago Public Schools out of its slot as the nation’s third-largest school district

With enrollment down to 322,000 students this year. CPS now trails Miami-Dade County Public Schools, which enrolled 325,000 students this fall.
Sept. 29 read more
- Education
CPS advances plans for a Near South high school despite opposition, threat to withhold state funding

CPS said area teens travel too far for school now and growth justifies the school. Opponents said the plan is irresponsible and lacks local input.
Sept. 28 read more
- Education
State rep. says she will block $50 million for a proposed Near South Side school until critical voices are heard

Rep. Theresa Mah says opposition is ignored. Top CPS leaders last year warned the new school would undermine historically Black schools.
Updated Sept. 27 read more
- Education
- Race, Class & Communities
A new Near South Side school won’t harm neighboring schools, officials say. Not everyone is convinced.

In a confidential memo last year, top CPS officials said a new high school would undermine nearby historically Black schools.
Sept. 26 read more
- Education
The number of students in Chicago Public Schools continues its decadelong slide

Preliminary data shows the school district is down to 321,000 students this year. Chicago has lost about 82,000 students over the past decade.
Sept. 22 read more