SchoolNav
Sign in
← All schools

Louisa May Alcott College Preparatory ES

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

On the 5Essentials survey, family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). On the 2025 IAR, 77% of students met or exceeded standards, placing the school in the top 10% of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025). From one year to the next, 33% of teachers stayed - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools. For 2025–26, 223 applications were recorded for 5 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Cultural fit
Family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 14% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Academic performance
77% 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
Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 33% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Social-emotional fit
72% 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
2625 N ORCHARD ST
Neighborhood
Lincoln Park
Phone
(773)534-5460
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
https://alcottelementary.net
Before and after care

Before care. After care. Run by Apollo.

From the school’s own website. Checked Sep 2026. Hours, prices and space change, so confirm with the school.

Arts and creative

Clay Creations, Drawing, Painting, Plays/Acting, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Fundamentals/Theory of Music, Mosaics, Student Art Club, Bookmaking, Murals, Percussion, Student Music Club, Violin/Strings, Art Studio, Dance, Guitar, Media and Production Workshops, Musicals, Photography, Quilting, Talent Show, Choir/Chorus, Drama, Piano/Keyboard, Recorder, 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
Unknown - the sources could not be checked. Ask on a tour.
Climate survey
Involved families
Very Strong
Supportive environment
Neutral
Ambitious instruction
Strong
Effective leaders
Neutral
Collaborative teachers
Strong
Safety (student-reported)
Neutral
Overall organization
Well 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, School Safety, and Collaborative Practices are rated above the CPS average; Academic Engagement, Course Clarity, and Academic Personalism 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

51 ▼ below the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

44 ▼ below the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

60 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

62 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

72 ▲ above the CPS average (53)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 92%, teachers 83%, 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

Open Enrollment (general program, seats by lottery)

Open enrollment

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 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday, January 13, 2027 at 8:00 AM
  • Wednesday, February 10, 2027 at 4:00 PM

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

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Barbara L Karrel · Principal
  • Michelle Cancilla · Parent
  • Wil Matthews · Parent
  • Megan Stulberg · Parent
  • Michael Letizia · Parent
  • Melanie Snow · Parent
  • Samuel Zuckert · Community member
  • Michelle Knight · Teacher
  • Kit Shores · Teacher
  • Jessica Rivera · 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.