James B McPherson Elementary School
CPS selective (SEES) · PK,K-8
At a glance
On the 2025 IAR, 44% of students met or exceeded standards, placing the school in the top 20% of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025). In 2025, 23% of students were chronically absent and 32% of students with IEPs spent most of the school day in general classrooms—both below what's typical for CPS elementary schools. In 2025–26, 476 applications were recorded for 25 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 23% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Family involvement was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
- Academic performance
- 44% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the top 20% of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025). Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the lower quarter of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic fit
- 84% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - about what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Average class size is 25.3; about 12.2 students per teacher, computed from all-teacher staffing.
- Social-emotional fit
- 32% 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).
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
- 4728 N WOLCOTT AVE
- Neighborhood
- Lincoln Square
- Phone
- (773)534-2625
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://mcpherson.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
Drawing, Film and Video, Painting, Plays/Acting, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Ethnic/Folk Dance, Student Art Club, Graphic Design, Murals, Percussion, Student Music Club, Violin/Strings, Ceramics, Dance, Guitar, Musicals, Talent Show, Choir/Chorus, Drama, Mixed Media, Piano/Keyboard, Sketching
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, Exercise, Football, Girls' Soccer, Wrestling, Chess, Conditioning and Fitness, Girls on the Run, Basketball, Dance, Soccer, 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
- Strong
- Supportive environment
- Neutral
- Ambitious instruction
- Neutral
- Effective leaders
- Neutral
- Collaborative teachers
- Neutral
- Safety (student-reported)
- Weak
- Overall organization
- 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
Parent Involvement in School, Human & Social Resources in the Community, and Student Responsibility are rated above the CPS average; Teacher-Principal Trust, Collaborative Practices, and Reflective Dialogue 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-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
47 ▼ below the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported36 ▼ below the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported52 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported48 ▬ about the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
40 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported30 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported45 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
34 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported39 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported34 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported24 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
58 ▲ above the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported57 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported53 ▬ about the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported48 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported55 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported61 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported34 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported45 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported33 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported53 ▬ about the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported48 ▼ below 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: full, with a waitlist, as of Sep 24, 2026.
Half-day Pre-K · for children age 3 and age 4
Seats: full, with a waitlist, as of Sep 24, 2026.
- Quality rating
- ExceleRate Gold 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Regional Gifted Center Selective enrollment | K–6 | Screening | Yes | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Cutoff history
What it took to receive an initial offer here in each cycle CPS has published - by tier for Selective Enrollment, and on the citywide points line for points-based Choice programs. History is context - it can’t predict a future cutoff.
What is knowable right now
This cycle’s cutoffs are not published yet. CPS posts cutoff scores only after offers go out.
CPS-published · verified Jul 2026
Elementary offers go out to every family on the same day: March 12, 2027.
CPS-published · verified Oct 2026
| Cycle | Rank min | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 242.5 | 152.5 | 182.5 | 222.5 | 235 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2025-26 | 247.5 | - | 205 | 212.5 | 235 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
| 2024-25 | 245 | 162.5 | 182.5 | 210 | 237.5 | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
Minimum point totals from CPS’s published initial offers - waitlist movement can lower what it actually took, and cutoffs move year to year. Within the current-test cycles above, a tier’s minimum has shifted by as much as 22.5 points from one cycle to the next - treat any single year as a snapshot, not a target.
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
- Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 5:15 PM
- Tuesday, December 8, 2026 at 5:15 PM
- Tuesday, January 12, 2027 at 5:15 PM
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Erik J Olson · Principal
- Jessica L Wozniak · Parent
- Jeff Hulbert · Parent
- Claudia Santiago · Parent
- Rachel Haupt · Parent
- Lisa Myers · Parent
- Alejandra Martinez · Parent
- Erin Brooks · Community member
- Christina Rivero · Community member
- Laura S Raspante · Teacher
- Jasiman T Dosch · Teacher
- Cecilia Sosa · School staff (non-teaching)
- Naima C Lassio-Bueno · 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.