Empowering Chicago students through the transformative power of chess
ABOUT
About
What We Do
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 club, 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.
History
Our Story
In 2007, Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation partnered with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to launch and manage the CPS Academic Chess Program, which was originally part of the CPS Sports Department. The program quickly expanded into a districtwide league, providing thousands of students with access to after-school chess clubs and competitive opportunities.
In 2014, chess was transitioned from Sports to the Academic Competitions Department, recognizing its value as an academic enrichment activity rather than solely a competitive sport. This shift highlighted the educational impact of chess—its role in building critical thinking, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills.
Since then, the CPS Academic Chess Program has grown into the largest district-run scholastic chess league in the nation, supporting over 125 after-school chess clubs across elementary, middle, and high schools. Each year, more than 2,500 students participate in weekly instruction, citywide tournaments, summer programs, and special initiatives like the Cops & Kids Chess Program.
What began as a sports-based activity has become a fully integrated academic program, using chess as a tool to promote intellectual growth, educational equity, and community engagement throughout Chicago.