EPIC Academy set to close by end of school year, maybe sooner

CHICAGO — A school on the city’s South Side is set to close — and it could happen before the end of the school year.

It was a somber day and a packed board meeting Wednesday at EPIC Academy, located at 4638 West Diversey Avenue in South Chicago.

Students were even in attendance, advocating for keeping the doors of their school open.

The board tearfully decided Wednesday the charter high school is now on a path to closure — but when that happens, it will be in the hands of Chicago Public Schools.

The facility was built in 1902. It doesn’t have the modern bells and whistles like computer labs, or even a kitchen or library. 

The plan has been to build a new facility, with EPIC already investing $1.6 million in that project — including the purchase of an Archdiocese facility and adjacent properties.

However, a significant drop in enrollment over the last five years has led to a loss of funding, making it harder to get those new facility plans off the ground. 

In fact, WGN News was told that in the 2021 school year there were 520 kids enrolled. This year, that number is down to just 242. 

WGN News spoke with students and members of the board on Wednesday, all of them devastated that it’s come to this. 

“It’s brutal, this is not what anyone wants. Not the families, Not the students. Not the teachers, the board or even CPS. No one wants to see this school close down. The reduction in students across this entire area is a problem across many schools. We don’t want to see this happen. You saw the outpouring of the students and the heartwrenching statements about how important EPIC is. We couldn’t agree more, this is not what anyone wants. The financial pressures are too great,” said Andrew Annacone, member of the board.

CPS released the following statement, saying in part:

“…Epic Academy leadership has acknowledged that financial pressures may even force the school to close sooner than June 2026. These challenges are unique to Epic Academy and are not connected to the budget adjustments CPS has made this year.”

The Chicago Board of Education just approved a two-year renewal for Epic in May with CPS telling WGN News Wednesday morning, these decisions are based on examination of past financial activities and transactions, not an assessment of future fiscal health. 

Now, CPS could step in and take over. 

The next meeting is on the Sept. 25, so we may learn more then about the future of the school.