Willie Wilson Calls for DOJ Investigation Into Educational Inequities at Under-Enrolled CPS Schools (Chicago, IL) — Businessman and Chicago mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether students at some of Chicago Public Schools’ most severely under-enrolled high schools are being denied equal educational opportunities.
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Wilson raised concerns about enrollment levels, academic performance and absenteeism at several CPS high schools. He argues that the continued operation of schools with extremely small student populations may contribute to disparities in the educational opportunities available to predominantly Black and Latino students.
Wilson characterized the issue as a potential civil rights concern rather than simply a question of school utilization or enrollment.
“This is not simply a question of how many students are sitting in a school building. This is a civil rights issue,” Wilson said. “When children in predominantly Black and Latino communities are attending severely under-enrolled schools and do not have access to the same educational opportunities as students elsewhere, we have a responsibility to act.”
The call for a federal review follows reporting based on CPS enrollment data that identified 13 Chicago high schools that were at least 80% under capacity during the last school year. Among the schools cited were Frederick Douglass Academy High School, which had fewer than 30 students enrolled, as well as Austin College and Career Academy and John Marshall High School.
Wilson contends that the consequences of extremely low enrollment extend beyond the number of students attending a particular campus. According to his letter, schools with very small populations can have fewer electives, extracurricular activities and other programs than larger schools, potentially limiting the range of opportunities available to students.
He also pointed to absenteeism and academic performance as areas that he believes warrant closer examination.
Wilson is asking the Justice Department to determine whether policies or decisions involving severely under-enrolled CPS schools have resulted in unlawful discrimination or violations of students’ civil rights. His request places the issue within the broader debate over educational equity and the distribution of resources and opportunities among Chicago students.
The former mayoral candidate also criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Teachers Union leadership and the Chicago Board of Education, arguing that city and school officials have not adequately addressed the effects of maintaining schools with very low enrollment.
“We cannot continue to allow another generation of Black and Latino children to move through a system that is failing to provide them the education they deserve,” Wilson said. “Every child in Chicago deserves a real opportunity to learn, succeed and build a better life, regardless of their ZIP code or the neighborhood where they were born.”
The request comes as Chicago continues to grapple with questions surrounding school enrollment, capacity and educational opportunity. CPS has faced longstanding challenges involving declining enrollment at some campuses while other schools and programs continue to serve substantial student populations.
Under-enrollment can also create challenges for schools seeking to offer a broad range of academic and extracurricular programs. With fewer students, schools may have less ability to support a wide variety of courses, teams, clubs and other activities, potentially affecting students’ overall school experience.
Wilson’s letter does not establish that CPS or individual schools have violated federal civil rights laws. Rather, he is asking federal officials to investigate whether the circumstances surrounding severely under-enrolled schools warrant federal action.
The Justice Department would have to determine whether to conduct an investigation and what, if any, legal or administrative action could follow.
Wilson, a businessman and philanthropist, is a candidate for mayor of Chicago in the 2027 election. His campaign has previously focused on issues including economic opportunity, public safety and conditions affecting Chicago neighborhoods.
The Justice Department had not announced an investigation based on Wilson’s request as of the release of his statement.
Wilson said the central issue is ensuring that Chicago students receive meaningful educational opportunities regardless of where they live.
“Every child in Chicago deserves a real opportunity to learn, succeed and build a better life,” Wilson said.
Willie Wilson Calls for DOJ Investigation Into Educational Inequities at Under-Enrolled CPS Schools
