Catalpa Early Childhood Center
CPS choice · PK
At a glance
On the 5Essentials survey, family involvement, school leadership, and teacher collaboration were each rated ‘Very Strong’ (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
- Academic fit
- On the 5Essentials survey, school leadership was rated ‘Very Strong’ and teacher collaboration was rated ‘Very Strong’ (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 5252 N LONG
- Neighborhood
- Jefferson Park
- Phone
- (773)534-8380
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://catalpa.cps.edu
- Before and after care
- Unknown - SchoolNav found no before or after care listed for this school. Ask on a tour.
- Arts and creative
None listed. The school’s CPS profile and the other sources SchoolNav checked name none. Ask on a tour.
- Sports
None listed. The school’s CPS profile and the other sources SchoolNav checked name none. Ask on a tour.
- Climate survey
- Involved families
- Very Strong
- Supportive environment
- Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
- Ambitious instruction
- Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
- Effective leaders
- Very Strong
- Collaborative teachers
- Very Strong
- Safety (student-reported)
- Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
- Overall organization
- Well Organized
UChicago 5Essentials levels from the spring 2024 survey (CPS Progress Reports SY2425, verified 2026-09-25) - benchmarked categories relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages. A school can answer mostly positively and still rate below the benchmark typical.
5Essentials - the latest survey in detail
Program Coherence, Teacher Influence, and School Commitment are rated above the CPS average; Collaborative Practices is rated below it this year.
From the 2026 CPS 5Essentials survey (25-26). Scores are benchmarked 1–99 (not percentages) - higher is stronger, and each is shown against the CPS average that same year. This is a newer survey on a different benchmark than the component levels above, so the two aren’t directly comparable.
Show all measures ▸Hide measures ▾
Ambitious Instruction
- Academic Press· students-reportednot enough responses
- English Instruction· students-reportednot enough responses
- Math Instruction· students-reportednot enough responses
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Supportive Environment
- Academic Personalism· students-reportednot enough responses
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reportednot enough responses
- Safety· students-reportednot enough responses
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reportednot enough responses
Collaborative Teachers
66 ▲ above the CPS average (59)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported57 ▼ below the CPS average (61)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported62 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (69)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
Effective Leaders
79 ▲ above the CPS average (62)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported74 ▲ above the CPS average (63)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported96 ▲ above the CPS average (67)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported86 ▲ above the CPS average (67)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
Involved Families
75 ▲ above the CPS average (62)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported88 ▲ above the CPS average (72)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reportednot enough responses
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Classroom Rigor· students-reportednot enough responses
- Course Clarity· students-reportednot enough responses
- Emotional Health· students-reportednot enough responses
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reportednot enough responses
- Innovation· teachers-reported74 ▲ above the CPS average (65)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reportednot enough responses
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reportednot enough responses
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported64 ▲ above the CPS average (60)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reportednot enough responses
- School Connectedness· students-reportednot enough responses
- School Safety· students-reportednot enough responses
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported44 ▬ about the CPS average (46)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reportednot enough responses
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported83 ▲ above the CPS average (68)
UChicago Consortium — the 2026 cycle (school year 25-26) is re-benchmarked to spring 2024 (SY25+); it is NOT level-comparable to the spring-2013-benchmarked component levels shown elsewhere.
Pre-K
CPS-published· verified Sep 2026This school has Pre-K. Families apply for Pre-K through Chicago Early Learning, not GoCPS.
Full-day Pre-K · for children age 4
Seats: full, with a waitlist, as of Sep 24, 2026.
Half-day Pre-K · for children age 3 and age 4
Seats: full, with a waitlist, as of Sep 24, 2026.
- Quality rating
- ExceleRate Gold Circle of Quality
Apply through Chicago Early Learning · How Pre-K applications work
Programs (1)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General enrollment Other | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | CPS-published · verified Nov 2024 |
Local School Council
CPS-published· verified Oct 2026The Local School Council is a group of parents, staff, and neighbors who help run this school. They vote on the budget and the school plan. Their meetings are open to the public, so you can go and listen.
Next meetings
CPS has not posted any upcoming meetings for this council yet.
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Dana D Galati · Principal
CPS keeps the official list of council meetings and members. See the CPS council list.
Parent questions & conversation
What parents and people who know this school are asking, answering, and talking about - their own words, experiences and opinions rather than verified facts.
Parent notes on this school are visible to signed-in Chicago families. Sign in to read and ask.
SchoolNav is not affiliated with CPS. Details change - each fact above shows when it was last verified. Application decisions should always be confirmed in GoCPS.