CICS - Northtown
Charter · 9-12
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). In 2025–26, 974 applications were recorded for 300 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). 39% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- 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). Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey.
- Social-emotional fit
- 71% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - above what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 3900 W PETERSON AVE
- Neighborhood
- North Park
- Phone
- (773)478-3655
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://cicsnorthtown.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, Film and Video, Modern/Hip-Hop Dance, Painting, Plays/Acting, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Fundamentals/Theory of Music, Student Art Club, Culinary Classes, Graphic Design, Art Studio, Dance, Guitar, Musicals, Talent Show, Drama
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
Soccer, Flag Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Track and Field, Softball, Baseball, Wrestling, Bowling
From the school’s Illinois High School Association entries and its athletics pages, 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
- Neutral
- Ambitious instruction
- Strong
- Effective leaders
- Very Strong
- Collaborative teachers
- Very Strong
- Safety (student-reported)
- Weak
- 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
Teacher-Teacher Trust, Reflective Dialogue, and Innovation are rated above the CPS average; Teacher Influence, Math Instruction, and Program Coherence 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
63 ▬ about the CPS average (60)- Academic Press· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- English Instruction· students-reported64 ▬ about the CPS average (65)
- Math Instruction· students-reported60 ▼ below the CPS average (69)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Supportive Environment
56 ▬ about the CPS average (56)- Expectations for Postsecondary Education· teachers-reported60 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- Safety· students-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (49)
- School-Wide Future Orientation· students-reported58 ▼ below the CPS average (62)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (56)
Collaborative Teachers
65 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (63)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported47 ▲ above the CPS average (43)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported82 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
Effective Leaders
41 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (56)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported24 ▼ below the CPS average (50)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported40 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
58 ▲ above the CPS average (50)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported52 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported72 ▬ about the CPS average (70)
- Academic Personalism· students-reported57 ▬ about the CPS average (58)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported56 ▲ above the CPS average (42)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported57 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Course Clarity· students-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported59 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported45 ▲ above the CPS average (38)
- Importance of High School for the Future· students-reported63 ▼ below the CPS average (67)
- Innovation· teachers-reported85 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported44 ▬ about the CPS average (41)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported93 ▲ above the CPS average (61)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- School Connectedness· students-reported57 ▬ about the CPS average (58)
- School Safety· students-reported53 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (40)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (65)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported55 ▲ above the CPS average (38)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
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.
Programs (1)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NORTHTOWN HS-General Education Charter | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
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.