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James G Blaine Elementary School

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

In 2025, 9% of students were chronically absent - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025), and 81% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the top 10% of CPS elementary schools with published results.

Cultural fit
9% 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
81% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the top 10% of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025). The state's 2025 summative designation is Exemplary - the highest of the four levels.
Academic fit
92% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
Social-emotional fit
71% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - above 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.

Basics

CPS-published · verified Nov 2024

Address
1420 W GRACE ST
Neighborhood
Lake View
Phone
(773)534-5750
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
https://blaine.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

Ballroom Dancing, Painting, Plays/Acting, Mosaics, Student Art Club, Violin/Strings, Guitar, Musicals, Drama, 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, Football, Basketball, 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
Strong
Effective leaders
Neutral
Collaborative teachers
Neutral
Safety (student-reported)
Neutral
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, Quality of Student Discussion, and Teacher-Parent Trust are rated above the CPS average; Inquiry-Based Science Instruction, Academic Personalism, 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

63 ▲ above the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

63 ▲ above the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

72 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

75 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

89 ▲ above the CPS average (53)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 100%, teachers 86%, 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.

Pre-K

CPS-published· verified Sep 2026

This 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.

Quality rating
ExceleRate Gold Circle of Quality

Apply through Chicago Early Learning · How Pre-K applications work

Programs (1)

ProgramEntry gradesHow seats are offeredTest requiredEvidence

Fine & Performing Arts

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

  • Andrew D Russell · Principal
  • Erin Hall · Parent
  • Shari Keiser · Parent
  • Elizabeth Khorana · Parent
  • Michael Cohen · Parent
  • lourdes duran · Parent
  • Jennifer Mihalek · Parent
  • Kenton Foutty · Community member
  • Jason Adrian · Community member
  • Jennifer Campagna · Teacher
  • Jessica Kirksey · Teacher
  • Denise Rivas · School staff (non-teaching)
  • Ava Kozera · 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.