Harold Washington Elementary School
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 31% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Cultural fit
- 43% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic performance
- 19% 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 39th percentile statewide in ELA and the 47th in math.
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 9130 S UNIVERSITY AVE
- Neighborhood
- Burnside
- Phone
- (773)535-6225
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://www.hwespacers.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
- Unknown - the sources could not be checked. Ask on a tour.
- Sports
Chess, Basketball
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
- Strong
- Effective leaders
- Neutral
- Collaborative teachers
- Neutral
- Safety (student-reported)
- Weak
- Overall organization
- Moderately 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
Math Instruction, Classroom Rigor, and Academic Press are rated above the CPS average; Innovation and Teacher Influence 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
85 ▲ above the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported89 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported83 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported97 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
66 ▲ above the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported76 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
58 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported55 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported67 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported56 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported55 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
58 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported48 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported52 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
55 ▬ about the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported62 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported47 ▬ about the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported56 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported82 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported73 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported92 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported77 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported57 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported77 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported60 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported76 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported45 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported54 ▬ about 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 Silver 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fine & Performing Arts Magnet cluster | 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
- Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Thursday, January 21, 2027 at 9:00 AM
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Keyonna L Payton · Principal
- NATASHA HALL · Parent
- Candice Washington · Parent
- Danielle Harris · Parent
- Keaira Labon · Parent
- Brieonna Gunn · Parent
- Destinee Starr · Parent
- Kimberly McCommon · Community member
- Danielle D White · Teacher
- Isham Daivs · School staff (non-teaching)
- Taylour Potts · 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.