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Ellen H Richards Career Academy High School

CPS choice · 9-12

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

91% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). 35% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - below what's typical for CPS high schools. In 2025–26, 172 applications were recorded for 25 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Cultural fit
76% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - about what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Family involvement was rated ‘Neutral’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
Social-emotional fit
35% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - below 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
5009 S LAFLIN ST
Neighborhood
New City
Phone
(773)535-4945
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
https://richards.cps.edu
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

Film and Video, Student Art Club, Murals, Student Music Club, Art Studio, Dance, Media and Production Workshops, Talent Show, Mixed Media

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

16” Softball, Bowling, Cheerleading, Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Soccer, Girls' Volleyball, Boys' Track, Fast Pitch, Girls' Softball, Baseball, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Boys' Volleyball, Girls' Cross Country, Basketball, Girls on Track, Soccer, Boys' Cross Country, Softball, 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
Neutral
Supportive environment
Neutral
Ambitious instruction
Neutral
Effective leaders
Neutral
Collaborative teachers
Weak
Safety (student-reported)
Very Weak
Overall organization
Partially 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-Principal Trust, Teacher Influence, and Quality Professional Development are rated above the CPS average; Rigorous Study Habits, Expectations for Postsecondary Education, and Teacher-Teacher Trust 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 ▸

Ambitious Instruction

58 ▬ about the CPS average (60)

Supportive Environment

49 ▼ below the CPS average (56)

Collaborative Teachers

54 ▬ about the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

63 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

46 ▼ below the CPS average (50)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 61%, teachers 63%, parents 0%Full 2026 measures report (UChicago)

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 (3)

ProgramEntry gradesHow seats are offeredTest requiredEvidence

Culinary & Hospitality Management

Career & technical

Your child must take the HSAT to apply.

9Lottery
NoCPS-published · verified Oct 2026

Entrepreneurship

Career & technical

Your child must take the HSAT to apply.

9Lottery
NoCPS-published · verified Oct 2026

General Education

Neighborhood

9Lottery
NoCPS-published · verified Oct 2026

Local School Council

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

The 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

  • Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 11:30 AM
  • Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 11:30 AM
  • Thursday, January 14, 2027 at 11:30 AM

CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Ellen M Kennedy · Principal
  • Maria Moreno · Parent
  • Lakeesha Newton · Parent
  • Lamar Bruce · Parent
  • Sara Villagran · Parent
  • Michelle Gutierrez · Parent
  • Andres Villegas · Community member
  • Guadalupe Rendon Guzman · Teacher
  • Shawon Gray · Teacher
  • Taryn Miller · School staff (non-teaching)
  • Jonathan Rivera · Student
  • Ruby Pena · Student
  • Mariah M Conley · 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.