Joshua D Kershaw Elementary School
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ (78 of 99) on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2026 survey - benchmarked levels relative to spring 2024 results, not percentages). On the 5Essentials survey, school leadership was rated ‘Strong’ and teacher collaboration was rated ‘Strong’. 17% 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). In 2025–26, 5 applications were recorded for 3 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 25% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - about what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Family involvement was rated ‘Strong’ (63 of 99) on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2026 survey - benchmarked levels relative to spring 2024 results, not percentages).
- Academic performance
- Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the middle 50% of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2025). 28% 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).
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
- 6450 S LOWE AVE
- Neighborhood
- Englewood
- Phone
- (773)535-3050
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://kershawmagnet.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
Modern/Hip-Hop Dance, Student Art Club, Graphic Design, Dance, Choir/Chorus, Drama
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, Girls' Soccer, Girls' Volleyball, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Girls' Cross Country, Flag Football, Boys' Cross Country, 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 (63 of 99)
- Supportive environment
- Neutral (59 of 99)
- Ambitious instruction
- Strong (78 of 99)
- Effective leaders
- Strong (66 of 99)
- Collaborative teachers
- Strong (65 of 99)
- Safety (student-reported)
- Neutral (57 of 99)
UChicago 5Essentials, spring 2026 survey, verified 2026-09-23. Each score runs from 1 to 99 and is compared with spring 2024 results; the level uses the survey site’s own bands (Neutral is 40 to 59, Strong 60 to 79). These are not percentages. A school can answer mostly positively and still score below typical.
5Essentials - the latest survey in detail
Math Instruction, Quality Professional Development, and Classroom Rigor are rated above the CPS average; Emotional Health, Classroom Disruptions, and Human & Social Resources in the Community 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. The levels above come from this same survey.
Show all measures ▸Hide measures ▾
Ambitious Instruction
78 ▲ above the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported81 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported91 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
59 ▲ above the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported57 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
65 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported77 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported55 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported81 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported62 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
66 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported39 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported78 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported60 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported39 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported59 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported79 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported53 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported50 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported56 ▬ 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 Gold Circle of Quality
Apply through Chicago Early Learning · How Pre-K applications work
Programs (2)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IB Middle Years Programme IB No earlier IB program is needed to apply. | 6–8 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
IB Primary Years Programme IB No earlier IB program is needed to apply. | K–5 | 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
- Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
- Tuesday, February 16, 2027 at 8:45 AM
- Tuesday, April 13, 2027 at 8:45 AM
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Jennifer D Clayton · Principal
- Shameka Turner · Parent
- Unique Gathings · Parent
- Nichelle Moore · Parent
- Malikah Ladner · Parent
- Peniel Nelson · Parent
- Tionta Mercer · Parent
- Danielle Thomas · Community member
- Latoya Lindberg · Teacher
- Angela M Mckinney · Teacher
- Tobias Foreman · School staff (non-teaching)
- Djoulissa Moise · 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.