The Project included the finance the acquisition and adaptive reuse of a former church building for Great Lakes Academy (GLA), which included the installation of an athletic field and play structure as well as the renovation of their currently leased building. The new facility provides students with essential resources that are conducive to academic success, including Chromebook laptops, a state-of-the-art STEM facility with an integrated library infrastructure, as well as additional teachers in each classroom.

Students who attend public schools within Chicago’s Southside neighborhood have faced systemic challenges for many years, and this project contributes to the alleviation of these issues. GLA students on average enter the school with math and reading scores below the national average and show a 20% increase in scores by year three at the school. The expansion of GLA’s facilities has allowed its scope to expand to reach and impact 156 additional students each year in Southside Chicago.

Not only are the students who attend GLA educated in the core subjects, but they also have the opportunity to participate in more holistic learning experiences. Spaces in the school’s expanded facilities are dedicated to music and the arts. Additionally, GLA provides students with teams of social and emotional learning professionals, space dedicated to social and emotional development infrastructure, and provides its staff with training on trauma informed therapeutic response. Additionally, GLA provides students with 20% more instructional time annually than a Chicago Public School school. Further, GLA realizes the importance of parents taking an active role in their child’s education has on learning outcomes and communicates with families daily, provides multiple avenues through which parents are engaged, including parent groups, monthly workshops, and an open door policy. The result of which is a theme of support for the well-being and future of GLA students beyond the classroom.

Community Alignment

McCaffery’s successful investment in GLA’s expansion led to the project’s receipt of the 2022 Merit Award for Renovation and Adaptive Reuse from the Chicago Building Congress. This award is an example of the project’s alignment with the community’s future goals. Cook County’s Consolidated Plan lists early childhood and elementary education as key areas for the promotion of equitable outcomes for the area’s most disadvantaged residents. The project received 1,500 signatures from community residents and 65 local business owners. Through this project, McCaffery is participating in the creation of a brighter future for Chicago’s Southside neighborhood in collaboration with its long-standing community members.