Greatness Takes Time.

We Start Early & Stay the Course.

The Chicago Pre-College Science and Engineering Program (ChiS&E) gives your child a multi-year pathway to STEM success.

2025 Fall Session Is Here!

4th through 12th Grade Saturday Class registration day is Saturday September 27th 9am In-Person at Kenwood Academy!

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A STEM Program Like No Other

Algebra in kindergarten. Engineering design in 4th grade. Real-world coding by middle school. ChiS&E’s curriculum isn’t a one-time spark. It’s a math-first multi-year progression built to stretch young thinkers year after year.

Students can start at any age and GROW with ChiS&E . Every grade builds on the last. Every project has a purpose. And every child is supported by a structure that’s designed for real growth, both academically and personally.

Want to see what a math-first journey looks like?

A young man wearing a yellow polo shirt and beige pants giving a presentation with a microphone in front of a large screen displaying a blue slide with bullet points about grade presentations.

Young people are naturally curious. They constantly try to figure out everything around them. After all, their favorite question is “Why?”

ChiS&E uses the global language of math to unleash their quest for knowledge. Bright minds get the tools they need to just answer questions but understand the answers.

And by building on new skills and knowledge each year, students retain more and advance faster. This progression — or “scaffolding” — is why ChiS&E grads are college-ready.

What Students Learn and How They Grow

Saturdays during the school year.
Weekdays during summer.

ChiS&E is a welcoming and rigorous environment for all students who are curious about STEM and parents who are dedicated to their child’s success.

    • 4 Saturdays | 9am to 12:30pm | 4th and 5th graders | Meet at select Langston Hughes Elementary

    • 8 Saturdays | 9am to 12:30pm | 6th graders | Meet at select Langston Hughes Elementary

    • 4 Saturday | 9am to 12:30pm | Kenwood Academy High School

    • 4 Saturdays | 9am to 12:30pm | 4th and 5th graders | Meet at Chicago Public School or University

    • 8 Saturdays | 9am to 12:30pm | 6th graders | Meet at Chicago Public School or University

    • 4 Saturday | 9am to 12:30pm | Meet at Chicago Public School or University

  • Week days 4 weeks | 9am - 3pm | Weekly Field trips | Meet at a Chicago Public School or University

When is the next Parent Information Session?

A classroom filled with students working on laptops and tablets, with a teacher standing and talking to a student near the window. The room has colorful walls and a large monitor with code displayed.

ChiS&E Impact Over the Years

3,972

Students served since ChiS&E’s founding

100%

College Acceptance Rate

A young girl with dark curly hair in puffy buns, wearing a beige sweater with pink hearts, sitting at a table in a library. She has a name tag that says 'Rachel' and is working with small white model bones and a model of a molecule. There are bookshelves filled with colorful books in the background.

“ChiS&E helped my daughter find her voice — and her future. She left with a full scholarship and a plan.”

— Parent of Angelise, now studying Biology

A young boy sitting at a table in a classroom, holding a molecular model made of marshmallows and toothpicks, with papers and a pencil on the table.
A young girl with a pink sleeveless top, smiling and holding a structure made of marshmallows and toothpicks, seated at a table in a classroom or workshop setting.
A young girl sitting at a table in a library, holding a homemade model or craft project made of straws and other materials. Other children are working at tables in the background.
Girl in a library holding a atom model made of marshmallows.
A young boy with glasses and a name tag shows two molecular models made of cotton balls and toothpicks at a library table, with other children and books in the background.

From ChiS&E to College and Beyond

From day one, ChiS&E students are on a multiyear track toward college. Every lesson, every experiment prepares young minds for university life. Students get top instruction from highly trained teachers. STEM college grad students are there to lend a hand. Experiments take place in world-class facilities, like Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory.

Students aren’t the only ones getting ready for college. Parents partner with ChiS&E at every step, with guidance on picking and applying to a school.That partnership starts right away. ChiS&E requires parents of early-grade students to join their kids in class, doing the same assignments.

Group of diverse children and adults wearing sunglasses and colorful T-shirts, some with

What College Readiness Looks Like at ChiS&E

Family Support for the Long Game

ChiS&E helps families navigate every step: scholarship applications, personal statements, and the strategy behind getting to college.

Rigorous Academics, Year by Year

From algebra in kindergarten to advanced problem-solving in high school, students build the habits and skills to thrive at the next level.

An Alumni Network That Gives Back

ChiS&E alumni return to mentor, inspire and open doors for the next generation because they’ve been there.

Mentorship & Career Exposure

From STEM career days to university partnerships and mock interviews, students see what’s possible—and who’s already doing it.

Presentation & Communication Skills

ChiS&E students learn to speak with purpose, present their ideas clearly, and lead in collaborative settings—starting early.

ChiS&E Students Attend Top Universities

  • Yale University logo in blue text on a white background.
  • North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University logo

“Chi&SE really helped me in my pre-med courses as I'm now a senior psychology major graduating from Spelman College”

Why Families Choose ChiS&E

You Want a Program That Grows With Your Student

ChiS&E starts in kindergarten—and stays through high school. It's not a one-off class or a weekend boost. It’s a full academic path that builds momentum year after year.

Four people, including two children, gathered around a table working on a math activity with a protractor and markers at an indoor setting.

Algebra in Kindergarten, Physics in 7th Grade and Bioengineering by 11th

  • A curriculum that builds each year—no gaps, no guessing

  • Parents attend early classes with children and learn too

  • Presentation and teamwork start early

  • Built to support college and career success

‘Happy Learning, Everyone’

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson welcomes parents and students to ChiS&E.

Two children inside a small autonomous vehicle. One child is sitting on the driver's seat giving a thumbs-up, and the other is standing next to the open door making a peace sign. They are in an indoor workshop or lab environment.

Ready to Start Your Student on the Road to a STEM Career?

Enrollment at ChiS&E is free, but it’s a commitment. If you’re ready to grow alongside your child, ChiS&E is ready to help them go further than you imagined.