About Us
Empowering our students to make their own moves, succeed in college and career, and become leaders in their community
Academic Chess is a partnership between CPS Academic Competition Department and the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation.
At Academic Chess we are more than a chess league, we provide students from diverse communities across the city with the opportunity to learn, play, and compete in chess at no cost. Our program focus on the integration of social, emotional, and academic development to give students a better chance of thriving in school, career, and life.
Our students participate in after school chess clubs, play in tournaments, attend summer learning, and go on exploration trips around their city and across the country.
Remember, it’s not just about winning, it’s the joy of learning, playing and being apart of our chess community.
Programs
Learn. Play. Grow. Transform. Lead.
Students play in local, regional, national, and inter-national tournaments
After-School chess clubs and competitive chess tournaments for K-12 students
Promoting non-violence and increase positive relationships with youth and police
Through summer programing we are able to extend the work we do during the summer
Bridging the gender divide in chess and empowering female high school chess leaders
In the classroom chess program for 2nd and 3rd grade students during the school day
Impact
Changing students lives on and off the board
60,000+ Students Taught
250+ Schools Engaged
250+ Tournaments Held
School Year 23-24
CPS Academic Chess Programs
- 110 Schools
- 2360 K-12th grade students
- 85 elementary schools
- 25 high schools
- 600+ students participated in the regional Greater Chicago K-12 Chess Championship
- 100+ Students from 24 schools played the US Chess Federation’s High School National Championship
- 50+ CPS students participated in the KCF All-Girls National Chess Championship –
- 60+ CPS students participated in the inter-national Pan American Youth Chess Championship
Cops & Kids Chess Initiative
- 25 Schools
- 310 5- 12th grade students
- 25 weekly classes between October – March
- 92 students from 11 schools, and 9 police officers played in the December event
- 140 students from 16 schools, and 14 police officers participated in the year end event
Summer Programing
- 3-week camp for 25 High School students
- 2-week camp for 30 5-8th graders
- 1-week camp for 16 5-12th grade girls
- Two 1-week intercession camps for 34 5-12th graders
Tournaments
- 3849 participants at in-person tournaments
- 1087 participants in online tournaments
- CPS All-Stars – 344 players from 46 schools
- CPS Jr Prep Bowl – 258 players from 36 schools
- Cops & Kids Holiday Tournament – 92 students from 11 schools
- CPS Kings & Queens – 294 players from 56 schools
- CPS High School Championship – 190 players from 16 schools
- CPS K-8 Playoffs – 535 students from 62 schools
- CPS K-8 Championship – 108 players from 23 school
- Cops & Kids Year End Event – 140 players from 16 schools
- Weekly online Blitz Oct – May
- Monthly online rapid Oct – April
African-American standouts reap benefits of chess
Why Chess
There is nothing like chess to help students improve academically and socially, enhance STEM skills, develop critical thinking, improve concentration, and build self-confidence, while building their confidence and learning to win and lose in a safe environment.
We believe in the power of chess to change lives. To date, we have taught more than 60,000 of Chicago’s most underserved children, inspiring them to greater achievement. Each day, we are proud to help kids grow, one move at a time. Our impact is demonstrated by classroom teachers and student responses to our annual surveys:
- 94% Chess had a meaningful positive impact on students.
- 91% Chess developed students’ analytical and logical skills.
- 89% Chess improved students’ math skills.
- 94% Chess helped my students concentrate better.
- 91% Girls and boys are equally interested in chess in my class.
- 97% Off students want to participate in chess next year.
- 93% Chess enhanced my students’ cooperation skills.
Our Team
David Heiser
Chess Consultant
Executive Director
Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation
daheiser@cps.edu
c: 773-844-0701
Darrell Ivy
Academic Competition Coordinator for Chess
Office of Student Support & Engagement
divy10@cps.edu
c: 773-414-2619
Arlecia Taylor
Director Academic Competitions
Office of Student Support & Engagement
ajtaylor@cps.edu
Contact Us
Thanks for your interest in the CPS Chess programs.
- If you’re interested in participating in one of our programs, please contact Darrel Ivy.
- If you’re interested in participating in our tournaments, please contact David Heiser.
- If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact David Heiser or Darrel Ivy.
- For assistance with ASPEN, please contact Markus Payne.
- If you’re interested in donating, please click here.
- For all other inquiries, please contact David Heiser.
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Events
Event | Date | Time | Location | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Nov 19, 2024 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Nov 26, 2024 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Dec 03, 2024 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Cops & Kids December Tournament | Saturday - Dec 07, 2024 | 9:00 AM | TBA | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Dec 10, 2024 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Dec 17, 2024 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Winter K-12 Online Tournament | Monday - Dec 23, 2024 | 10:00 AM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Jan 07, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Jan 14, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
MLK Day K-12 Online Tournament | Monday - Jan 20, 2025 | 10:00 AM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Jan 21, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
High School Championship | Saturday - Jan 25, 2025 | 8:30 AM | Simeon High School | |
Kings & Queens K-8 Tournament | Saturday - Jan 25, 2025 | 8:30 AM | Simeon High School | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Jan 28, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Feb 04, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Greater Chicago K-12 Championship | Saturday - Feb 08, 2025 | 10:00 AM | McCormick Place West Building | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Feb 11, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Presidents Day K-12 Online Tournament | Monday - Feb 17, 2025 | 10:00 AM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Feb 18, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Feb 25, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Elementary K-8 North & South Playoffs | Saturday - Mar 01, 2025 | 9:00 AM | Senn High School | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Mar 04, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Mar 11, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Elementary K-8 Championship | Saturday - Mar 15, 2025 | 9:00 AM | TBA | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Mar 18, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Mar 25, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Spring K-12 Online Tournament | Monday - Mar 31, 2025 | 10:00 AM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Apr 01, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
All-Girls National Championships | Friday - Apr 04, 2025 - Apr 06, 2025 | 2:00 PM | McCormick Place West Building | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Apr 08, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Apr 15, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Apr 22, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Cops & Kids Culminating Tournament | Saturday - Apr 26, 2025 | 9:00 AM | TBA | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - Apr 29, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - May 06, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
SuperNationals Trip | Thursday - May 08, 2025 - May 12, 2025 | 12:00 AM | ||
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - May 13, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - May 20, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com | |
Tuesday Knights Rapid | Tuesday - May 27, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Online At ChessKid.com |