Based on the west side of Chicago near the Austin neighborhood, Catalyst Schools bring a holistic approach to education for children from kindergarten through 12th grade. Catalyst Schools promote a trusting relationship between children and their teachers.

1. RAVINIA AND
CATALYST SCHOOLS
BRING ARTS TO
CHICAGO

2. INTRODUCTION
 Based on the west side of Chicago near the Austin
neighborhood, Catalyst Schools bring a holistic approach to
education for children from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Catalyst Schools promote a trusting relationship between
children and their teachers.
Arts education is an important part of the Catalyst Schools’
focus, and teachers regularly work to expose children to music,
theater, visual arts, dance, and more. With active partnerships in
place with arts organizations in the community, the schools can
offer regular enrichment opportunities to help develop
students’ talents. The schools’ partners include the Chicago
Children’s Choir, the Ravinia Festival, and May I Have This
Dance? Ballroom Dancing.

3. EDUCATION
 The Ravinia Festival’s Women’s Board began sponsoring the
Circle Rockets Orchestra in October 2012, and since then, more
than 90 Catalyst students have become members of the
Sistema Ravinia Orchestra. The largest African-American
elementary school orchestra in the country, this group uses the
El Sistema model of teaching.
El Sistema uses an immersive and collaborative style of
instruction and helps create music programs by providing
instruments and instructors to schools that do not have them.
Many of the students who have performed with the Circle
Rockets and Sistema Ravinia Orchestra have gone on to attend
the Chicago High School for the Arts and prestigious national
music festivals.