Horizon Science Academy Southwest Chicago Charter
Charter · K-12
At a glance
16% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the top 20% of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2025). 73% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools. In 2025–26, 338 applications were recorded for 41 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 16% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Family involvement was rated ‘Weak’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
- Academic fit
- 73% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Social-emotional fit
- The school’s supportive environment 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. How the adjusted view works
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 5401 S WESTERN AVE
- Neighborhood
- Gage Park
- Phone
- (773)498-3355
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://www.hsaswchicago.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
Music
From the school’s own website, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Sports
Soccer, Cross Country, Volleyball, Wrestling, Basketball, Track and Field
From the school’s Illinois High School Association entries, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Climate survey
- Involved families
- Weak
- 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
School Safety, Teacher-Principal Trust, and Student Responsibility are rated above the CPS average; Innovation, Math Instruction, and Academic Engagement 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
47 ▼ below the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported42 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported51 ▼ below the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
44 ▼ below the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported40 ▼ below the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported47 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported46 ▼ below the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
47 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported60 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported39 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported49 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
52 ▬ about the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported48 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported53 ▬ about the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported58 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
46 ▼ below the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported48 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported46 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported42 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported51 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported36 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported41 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported36 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported41 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported51 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported51 ▬ 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.
Programs (1)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SOUTHWEST 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.