About Us

The Chicago Debate League (CDL) serves to advance the Mission of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS): to be the premier urban school district by providing high quality instruction, outstanding academic programs, and development supports to prepare its students for tomorrow's challenges. The CDL is one of the nation's oldest, largest, and very best Urban Debate Leagues. It instructs student participants in reading, speaking, writing, and listening -- all of the language arts. With a rigorous critical thinking component, it is an outstanding and challenging academic program. In university campus classrooms and on electronic research databases, CPS debaters are preparing for their future success. Debate empowers all participating students, and thereby helps create school-wide norms and expectations of academic excellence.

The CDL and the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
The Chicago Debate League is an affiliate of the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL). The NAUDL's purpose is, "to improve urban public education by empowering youth to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities."

CDL League Administration

Our Members:
There are 50 middle and high schools in the Chicago Debate League, which are divided into three league conferences: Regional Circuit, “A” Conference and “AA Conference.”

2008/09 Chicago Debate League Conference Roster

Regional Circuit Conference (7)

Kelly H.S.
Lane Tech H.S.
Marmion Academy
Morgan Park H.S.
Northside College Prep H.S.
Walter Payton College Prep
Whitney Young Magnet H.S.

“A” Conference (17)

Brooks College Prep High School
Dunbar High School
Evanston Township High School
Farragut High School
Hope College Prep High School
Jones College Prep High School
Juarez Community Academy High School
Kelvyn Park High School
Kenwood Academy
King College Prep High School
Lincoln Park High School
Noble Street Charter School
Phoenix Academy High School
Raby High School
Schurz High School
Taft High School
Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center High School

“AA” Conference (33)

Amundsen High School
Chicago Agricultural Sciences High School
Chicago Military Academy -- Bronzeville
Chicago Vocational Career Academy
Corliss High School
Michele Clark High School
Frederick Douglass Academy
DuSable Campus High School
Dyett High School
Foreman High School
Harlan High School
Hirsch Metro H.S.
Hubbard High School
Hyde Park High School
Lake View High School
Leo Catholic High School
Lindblom Math and Science
Manley High School
Marshall Metro High School
Mather High School
North Grand High School
North Lawndale College Prep
Orr High School
Perspectives Calumet Charter High School
Phillips Community Academy
Prosser Career Academy High School
Paul Robeson High School
South Shore High School
Steinmetz Academic Center
Urban Prep Charter Academy
Washington High School
Young Women’s Leadership Academy Charter H.S.

Middle School Conference (10)
Louisa May Alcott Elementary School
Brighton Park Elementary School
Burke Elementary School
Harlan Academy
Kellogg Elementary School
Lincoln Elementary School
McCutcheon Elementary School
Morgan Park Academy
Owen Scholastic Academy
Smyser Elementary School

New Schools in 2008/09
Guest Schools (3)
Charter Schools (5)
(Prospectively) ASM-Funded Schools (3)

If you are interested in joining or organizing a team, please contact Les Lynn, the Chicago Debate League Director, at leslynn@urbandebate.org.