How has debate helped to minimize the achievement gap in Chicago’s public schools?
A recent national study published by researchers at the University of Missouri documents that urban debaters from Chicago improved their scores on standardized literacy exams by 25% more than non-debaters after one year of participation. CDL students improve their grade-point average and class rank by an average of 8% each year that they debate. CDL students have nearly a 90% graduation rate and a 75% college matriculation rate. Five university partners support the CDL. CDL students have received more than $1.5 million in college scholarships. CDL students have won the prestigious Crown Scholarship at the University of Chicago each year it has been offered and have earned six debate scholarships to Northwestern University in the last five years. Argumentation and Debate is a course taught in the regular school day at 23 CPS high schools, expanding the reach of the academic debate project to another 500 students.
