In 2002, CICS received a $4 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a small high school initiative. The CICS Ralph Ellison Campus is the second of four high schools to open with the Gates funding. The first Gates funded CICS campus, CICS Northtown, opened in 2003.

CICS' vision took root in 1989 when a socially conscious group of business leaders began awarding scholarships to a handful of disadvantaged eighth graders to attend prominent high schools. As the scholarship program blossomed, its founders realized that they could only support a small portion of the bright, talented youth who needed their help to get into college. When Illinois passed a charter law, CICS was created to provide, through innovation and choice, a rigorous, college-preparatory program for thousands more of Chicago's youth. The first CICS campus opened in 1997.

CICS campuses are located throughout the city of Chicago, including the neighborhoods of: Avalon/South Shore, Belmont/Cragin, Englewood, Logan Square, Northtown, Roseland, Washington Heights, Washignton Park, and Wrightwood/Ashburn.