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Ernst Prussing Elementary School

CPS choice · K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

90% of teachers stayed from one year to the next, above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). On the 5Essentials survey, the school’s supportive environment was rated ‘Weak’ (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).

Cultural fit
36% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - about what's typical for CPS elementary 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).
Academic performance
37% 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). Year-over-year student growth was at the 48th percentile statewide in ELA and the 54th in math.
Academic fit
90% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Instruction was rated ‘Weak’ on the 5Essentials survey (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
4650 N MENARD AVE
Neighborhood
Portage Park
Phone
(773)534-3460
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
http://prussing.cps.edu
Before and after care

Before care from 6:45 AM. After care until 6:00 PM. Run by Right At School. After care costs $258 a month for 5 days a week.

From the program’s own page. Checked Sep 2026. Hours, prices and space change, so confirm with the school.

Arts and creative

Painting, Plays/Acting, Fundamentals/Theory of Music, Mosaics, Pottery, Student Art Club, Dance, Media and Production Workshops, Musicals, Web Design, Choir/Chorus

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, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Volleyball, Girls' Cross Country, Soccer, Boys' Cross Country, Girls' Track

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
Weak
Ambitious instruction
Weak
Effective leaders
Weak
Collaborative teachers
Weak
Safety (student-reported)
Weak
Overall organization
Not Yet 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

Collaborative Practices is rated above the CPS average; Academic Personalism, Innovation, and Math Instruction 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

43 ▼ below the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

37 ▼ below the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

45 ▼ below the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

41 ▼ below the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

44 ▼ below the CPS average (53)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 88%, teachers 75%, 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 (1)

ProgramEntry gradesHow seats are offeredTest requiredEvidence

World Language

Magnet cluster

K–8Lottery
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

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

  • Alexander M Zalar · Principal
  • Rachel McDermott · Parent
  • Rege Jordan · Parent
  • Melissa Grant · Parent
  • Jennifer Belda · Parent
  • Darryl Baety · Parent
  • Aneta Kuchta · Parent
  • Mary Simone · Community member
  • Jane Hearrin · Community member
  • Verna Flores · Teacher
  • Jessica Chavez · Teacher
  • Ramona Rojas · School staff (non-teaching)
  • Elijah Zahnle · 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.