A recent win at the All-Girls National Chess Tournament in Chicago last month could earn the five students the opportunity to shake hands with the president.
The team saw its budget slashed as Chicago Public Schools cut budgets around the district earlier this year.
At the tournament, competed against 64 schools from across the country. They were one of only two African-American teams. The win was the first national championship team trophy for the school.
Meeting the president is "something the kids and coach are very excited about," the team said on a GoFundMe page set up to help the team with expenses.
The team has raised more than $15,000 of its $17,000 goal.
Last month's win came after the team took 5th place at the National Junior High School Championship in Indianapolis in mid-April. They competed against 2,000 other students.