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Laura S Ward Elementary School

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

The school’s supportive environment and instruction were both rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 8% 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 2021–22, 14 applications were recorded for 12 offers (GoCPS, 2021–22 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Cultural fit
46% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Academic performance
10% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the lower quarter of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Academic fit
Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). On the 5Essentials survey, school leadership was rated ‘Weak’ and teacher collaboration was rated ‘Weak’.
Social-emotional fit
The school’s supportive environment was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 8% 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.

Basics

CPS-published · verified Nov 2024

Address
646 N LAWNDALE AVE
Neighborhood
Humboldt Park
Phone
(773)534-6440
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
https://lwardstem.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, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Dance, Web Design, Drama, Mixed Media, Piano/Keyboard, Recorder

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
Unknown - the sources could not be checked. Ask on a tour.
Climate survey
Involved families
Weak
Supportive environment
Strong
Ambitious instruction
Strong
Effective leaders
Weak
Collaborative teachers
Weak
Safety (student-reported)
Very Weak
Overall organization
Partially 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

Peer Support for Academic Work, Academic Engagement, and English Instruction are rated above the CPS average; Socialization of New Teachers, Classroom Disruptions, and Teacher-Teacher Trust 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

54 ▬ about the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

47 ▼ below the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

49 ▬ about the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

54 ▬ about the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

51 ▬ about 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 64%, 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

STEM

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

  • Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, January 13, 2027 at 2:00 PM

CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Shenann M Finley-Jones · Principal
  • Yvette Dyer · Parent
  • Nicole Haynes · Parent
  • Joy Johnson · Parent
  • Tia Scott · Parent
  • Areial Love · Parent
  • Jeanette Ferguson · Community member
  • Jamaal K Mattox · Teacher
  • Donella James · Teacher
  • Keyatta Batton · School staff (non-teaching)

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.