LEARN Charter School Network was formed in 2001 to provide the academic foundation and ambition for children to receive a college degree. Since 2001, LEARN has grown from one school serving 110 students to a thriving network of eight elementary schools serving nearly 3,100 students in the Chicagoland area, including the city of North Chicago. With a rigorous academic program, small class sizes, and highly differentiated instruction, LEARN graduates attend Chicago’s most selective private and public schools. In 2012, 79% of LEARN scholars met or exceeded state standards on the ISAT and 16% exceeded them. To date, 95% of LEARN alumni have graduated high school and 75% have matriculated to a four-year college. The remaining 23% attend a two-year college or technical school.

With support from PCG, LEARN was able to construct a sixth elementary school in the Auburn Gresham community, where there is a lack of high quality public education. Many of LEARN’s students come from nearby. These students are almost 100% minority and 92% low-income. LEARN used almost 40% local hiring on the construction project, and many local unemployed citizens were put to work renovating a former church for the school’s campus.