Charles H Wacker Elementary School
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
On the 5Essentials survey, the school’s supportive environment and family involvement were both rated ‘Very Strong’ (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). In 2025–26, 19 applications were recorded for 8 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- Family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 21% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic performance
- 23% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the middle 50% of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025). Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the middle 50% of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic fit
- Instruction was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). On the 5Essentials survey, school leadership was rated ‘Strong’ and teacher collaboration was rated ‘Very Strong’.
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade. How the adjusted view works
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 9746 S MORGAN ST
- Neighborhood
- Washington Heights
- Phone
- (773)535-2821
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://wackerwildcats.org
- Before and after care
Supplemental care not found.
SchoolNav searched the school’s website and the main care providers’ pages in Sep 2026 and found no before or after care. Some programs are never posted online, so ask the school office or on a tour.
- Arts and creative
Drawing, Modern/Hip-Hop Dance, Painting, Plays/Acting, Crochet, Student Art Club, Photography, Talent Show, Drama, Sketching
From the school’s CPS profile, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Sports
Cheerleading, Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Volleyball, Boys' Track, Chess, Boys' Basketball, Girls' Cross Country, Basketball, Girls' Track, Volleyball
From the school’s CPS profile, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Climate survey
- Involved families
- Very Strong
- Supportive environment
- Very Strong
- Ambitious instruction
- Very Strong
- Effective leaders
- Strong
- Collaborative teachers
- Very Strong
- Safety (student-reported)
- Strong
- 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
Quality of Student Discussion, Emotional Health, and Parent Supportiveness are rated above the CPS average; Reflective Dialogue, Teacher-Principal Trust, and Collaborative Practices are 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
70 ▲ above the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported88 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
60 ▲ above the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported56 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported64 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported56 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
48 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported55 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported46 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported41 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported52 ▬ about the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
48 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported52 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported36 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
62 ▲ above the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported87 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported81 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported77 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported39 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported46 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported58 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported53 ▬ about the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported57 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
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: limited availability, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Enrollment (general program, seats by lottery) Open enrollment | K–8 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
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
- Ekaterini A Panagakis · Principal
- Williams Michelle · Parent
- Ashlee Powell · Parent
- Antoine Marion · Parent
- Anika Marion · Parent
- Kyerra LaCour · Parent
- Angela Williams · Community member
- Michelle Danielley · Teacher
- La Conya McKinney · Teacher
- Felicia Gardner · School staff (non-teaching)
- Skye Coleman · Student
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.