Chicago Academic Chess – providing CPS students the opportunity to learn, play, & compete in chess

Welcome to the Chicago Academic Chess website. This website provides information on our programs to players, coaches, parents and schools.

2025 – 2026 Academic Chess Key Dates

Dates and location may change, see events calendar for latest event details DATEEVENT LOCATIONSEP 15NEW COACHES/SCHOOLS PRESENTATIONONLINESep 18A...

2025 – 2026 Chess Program Offerings

The Department of Academic Competitions is pleased to announce its SY 2025-2026 program offerings. We are delighted to afford these dynamic programm...

Tuesday Knights Online Rapid – Season Concluded!

Thank you to every coach, player, and parent who joined us for another fantastic season of Tuesday Knights Online Rapid! Your energy, sportsmanship, a...

Space Still Available in the West Side Summer Knights Camp

Calling all CPS students entering grades 5–12 this fall! Our West Side Summer Knights Camp still has space available. Here’s what you need to kn...

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.

TOURNAMENTS & EVENTS

Students play in local, regional, national, and inter-national tournaments

ACADEMIC CHESS

After-School chess clubs and competitive chess tournaments for K-12 students

COPS & KIDS

Promoting non-violence and increase positive relationships with youth and police

SUMMER CAMP

Through summer programing we are able to extend the work we do during the summer

CHESS QUEENS

Bridging the gender divide in chess and empowering female high school chess leaders

FIRST MOVES

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- 12^th 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 Darrel Ivy.
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
High School Summer Knights Chess Camp	Monday - Jun 30, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025	9:00 AM	Whitney Young High School
Middle School Summer Knights Chess Camp	Monday - Jul 07, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025	9:00 AM	Whitney Young High School
Queens Summer Knights Chess Camp	Monday - Jul 07, 2025 - Jul 11, 2025	9:00 AM	Whitney Young High School
Westside Summer Knights Chess Camp	Monday - Jul 21, 2025 - Aug 01, 2025	9:00 AM	Manley HS