When in Your State: A petition grows as Lincoln Park moves to phase out Arabic for new students
By: John Ghost | When In Your State
Lincoln Park High School choice
Chicago, Illinois, students are turning a class schedule change into a bigger fight. Lincoln Park High School said it will no longer offer Arabic to incoming first-year students, citing low enrollment and budget pressure.
The school’s Arabic language program has become the pressure point because students and families see it as more than an elective. To them, it represents culture, belonging, and real-world language skills.
Lincoln Park High School pushback
Lincoln Park High School leaders said the Arabic program had only 20 students this year, and that the Arabic track was the school’s lowest-performing IB language option based on test scores.
That explanation has not quieted the backlash. Students, parents, alumni, and community members argue that low enrollment may reflect weak promotion rather than low value. They want the school to rethink the decision before the program fades out for future classes.
Lincoln Park High School petition
The Lincoln Park High School petition is now the loudest pressure point. Fox 32 reported that an online petition protesting the Arabic program’s cancellation had gained more than 1,500 signatures.
That number matters because school decisions often feel final once schedules are built. A large petition can force leaders to keep answering questions, explain the budget math, and show whether community voices still have room to change the outcome.
Budget pressure shapes the cut
The fight over Arabic is happening amid a broader economic squeeze. FOX 32 reported that CPS faces a projected $732.5 million deficit, citing a Chicago Tribune report, leading to district-wide staffing and program cuts.
That makes the decision harder for everyone. School leaders say they must protect core needs with limited dollars. Families say cutting a rare language option sends the wrong message, especially in a city that celebrates diversity.
Little-known fact: Chicago Public Schools serves students across one of the nation’s largest city school systems.'
Low enrollment drives debate
Low enrollment is the school’s strongest argument. If only a small group signs up, administrators may struggle to justify a full language sequence, especially when budgets are tight.
Students see it differently. Some who spoke at the Local School Council meeting said the program was not promoted enough to new students, according to Fox 32. That turns the debate into a simple question: did Arabic fail, or was it never given enough visibility?
A grant could not carry it
Lincoln Park High School tried for outside support. In 2022, the school received a one-time $100,000 grant spread over three years from Qatar Foundation International, according to Fox 32’s reporting on the school discussion.
But one-time money does not solve a long-term staffing problem. Local School Council co-chair Amy Zemnick said the program had value, but the school lacked the funds and students to keep it going.
CAIR-Chicago joins the fight
The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also criticized the decision. Jordan Esparza-Kelley of CAIR-Chicago argued that language programs offer practical skills, much like Spanish instruction.
That support gave the student campaign a larger public voice. For advocates, Arabic is not only about one classroom. It is about whether less common language programs survive when schools face budget stress and enrollment pressure.
Current students get a path
The cut is aimed at incoming students, not everyone already enrolled. CPS said the 16 Lincoln Park students currently in the Arabic track will be allowed to finish their fourth and final year.
That softens the immediate impact but does not solve the future question. Once new first-year students stop entering a sequence, a language program can shrink year by year until it disappears from the school’s identity.
Little-known fact: LPHS’s Arabic teacher page states that the instructor also teaches Spanish and serves as the chapter lead of the LPHS Arabic Honors Society.
Other CPS schools still offer it
CPS said nine other schools across the district still offer Arabic as a world language. That detail is important, but it may not comfort Lincoln Park families.
A language option across town is not the same as one inside a student’s own school. Travel, schedules, admissions boundaries, and program fit all matter. For many families, losing Arabic at Lincoln Park still feels like losing access to it.
The IB angle raises the stakes
Lincoln Park High School is known for strong academic programs, including International Baccalaureate options. That makes the Arabic cut feel especially sensitive for students who picked the school for a broad course menu.
When a language track disappears, the school may still offer strong academics. But the menu becomes narrower. For students who wanted a less common language with global value, the loss can change how welcoming the school feels.
Depositphotos
Lincoln Park High School choice
Chicago, Illinois, students are turning a class schedule change into a bigger fight. Lincoln Park High School said it will no longer offer Arabic to incoming first-year students, citing low enrollment and budget pressure.
The school’s Arabic language program has become the pressure point because students and families see it as more than an elective. To them, it represents culture, belonging, and real-world language skills.
Depositphotos
Lincoln Park High School pushback
Lincoln Park High School leaders said the Arabic program had only 20 students this year, and that the Arabic track was the school’s lowest-performing IB language option based on test scores.
That explanation has not quieted the backlash. Students, parents, alumni, and community members argue that low enrollment may reflect weak promotion rather than low value. They want the school to rethink the decision before the program fades out for future classes.
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Depositphotos
Lincoln Park High School petition
The Lincoln Park High School petition is now the loudest pressure point. Fox 32 reported that an online petition protesting the Arabic program’s cancellation had gained more than 1,500 signatures.
That number matters because school decisions often feel final once schedules are built. A large petition can force leaders to keep answering questions, explain the budget math, and show whether community voices still have room to change the outcome.
Depositphotos
Budget pressure shapes the cut
The fight over Arabic is happening amid a broader economic squeeze. FOX 32 reported that CPS faces a projected $732.5 million deficit, citing a Chicago Tribune report, leading to district-wide staffing and program cuts.
That makes the decision harder for everyone. School leaders say they must protect core needs with limited dollars. Families say cutting a rare language option sends the wrong message, especially in a city that celebrates diversity.
Little-known fact: Chicago Public Schools serves students across one of the nation’s largest city school systems.
Depositphotos
Low enrollment drives debate
Low enrollment is the school’s strongest argument. If only a small group signs up, administrators may struggle to justify a full language sequence, especially when budgets are tight.
Students see it differently. Some who spoke at the Local School Council meeting said the program was not promoted enough to new students, according to Fox 32. That turns the debate into a simple question: did Arabic fail, or was it never given enough visibility?
Depositphotos
A grant could not carry it
Lincoln Park High School tried for outside support. In 2022, the school received a one-time $100,000 grant spread over three years from Qatar Foundation International, according to Fox 32’s reporting on the school discussion.
But one-time money does not solve a long-term staffing problem. Local School Council co-chair Amy Zemnick said the program had value, but the school lacked the funds and students to keep it going.
kasto/Depositphotos
CAIR-Chicago joins the fight
The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also criticized the decision. Jordan Esparza-Kelley of CAIR-Chicago argued that language programs offer practical skills, much like Spanish instruction.
That support gave the student campaign a larger public voice. For advocates, Arabic is not only about one classroom. It is about whether less common language programs survive when schools face budget stress and enrollment pressure.
Depositphotos
Current students get a path
The cut is aimed at incoming students, not everyone already enrolled. CPS said the 16 Lincoln Park students currently in the Arabic track will be allowed to finish their fourth and final year.
That softens the immediate impact but does not solve the future question. Once new first-year students stop entering a sequence, a language program can shrink year by year until it disappears from the school’s identity.
Little-known fact: LPHS’s Arabic teacher page states that the instructor also teaches Spanish and serves as the chapter lead of the LPHS Arabic Honors Society.
Buurserstraat38/Depositphotos
Other CPS schools still offer it
CPS said nine other schools across the district still offer Arabic as a world language. That detail is important, but it may not comfort Lincoln Park families.
A language option across town is not the same as one inside a student’s own school. Travel, schedules, admissions boundaries, and program fit all matter. For many families, losing Arabic at Lincoln Park still feels like losing access to it.
Chinnapong/Depositphotos
The IB angle raises the stakes
Lincoln Park High School is known for strong academic programs, including International Baccalaureate options. That makes the Arabic cut feel especially sensitive for students who picked the school for a broad course menu.
When a language track disappears, the school may still offer strong academics. But the menu becomes narrower. For students who wanted a less common language with global value, the loss can change how welcoming the school feels.
Depositphotos
Culture is part of the classroom
For some students, Arabic class is not only about vocabulary and grammar. It can connect them to family, music, food, history, faith traditions, travel, and a wider world.
That is why the petition’s language has connected with many supporters. They argue that Arabic helps students build understanding across cultures. In a city like Chicago, a class can become a bridge between school life and community identity.
The next move is pressure
The petition may not automatically save the program, but it keeps pressure on school leaders. Families can ask for stronger outreach, fundraising options, district help, or a plan to rebuild enrollment.
That next step matters because a cut can become permanent if no one pushes back early. The strongest argument for saving Arabic may be practical: show that more students want it, that funding is possible, and that the program can grow.
For another school funding story tied to classroom budgets, find out more about why Louisiana may shift $150 million to help avoid teacher-pay cuts.
A language fight gets bigger
Chicago, Illinois, students are fighting over one Arabic program, but the story reaches beyond one course list. It asks what schools protect when money gets tight.
Lincoln Park High School says costs and declining interest drove the decision. Students and supporters say the language still deserves a future. The petition has become the pressure point because it turns a quiet school decision into a public test of priorities.
For another school funding debate tied to New York City priorities, find out more about why Jeff Bezos is criticizing Mamdani over spending and management concerns.
Do you think Chicago students can save Arabic at Lincoln Park High as the petition gains pressure? Share your thoughts and drop a comment.