Neal F Simeon Career Academy High School
CPS choice · 9-12
At a glance
Instruction received a ‘Very Strong’ rating on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 33% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms, below what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). In 2025–26, 2,172 applications were recorded for 485 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 61% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - about what's typical for CPS high 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
- 8147 S VINCENNES AVE
- Neighborhood
- Chatham
- Phone
- (773)535-3200
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://simeonca.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, Plays/Acting, Band/Orchestra, Percussion, Dance, Media and Production Workshops, Web Design, Choir/Chorus, 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, Bowling, Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Volleyball, Pom-Pon, Wrestling, Boys' Baseball, Boys' Track, Fast Pitch, Girls' Bowling, Girls' Softball, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Volleyball, Girls' Cross Country, Girls' Swimming, Basketball, Boys' Softball, Flag Football, Girls on Track, Boys' Swimming, Girls' Track
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
- Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
- Supportive environment
- Neutral
- Ambitious instruction
- Very Strong
- Effective leaders
- Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
- Collaborative teachers
- Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
- Safety (student-reported)
- Very 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
Academic Press, English Instruction, and Math Instruction are rated above the CPS average; Student Peer Relationships, School Safety, and Safety 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
68 ▲ above the CPS average (60)- Academic Press· students-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- English Instruction· students-reported77 ▲ above the CPS average (65)
- Math Instruction· students-reported80 ▲ above the CPS average (69)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported47 ▬ about the CPS average (50)
Supportive Environment
49 ▼ below the CPS average (56)- Expectations for Postsecondary Education· teachers-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (56)
- Safety· students-reported35 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- School-Wide Future Orientation· students-reported58 ▼ below the CPS average (62)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported48 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
Collaborative Teachers
49 ▬ about the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (63)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported51 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported47 ▲ above the CPS average (43)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported40 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
Effective Leaders
48 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported50 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (52)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (50)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
47 ▬ about the CPS average (50)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported47 ▬ about the CPS average (50)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported79 ▲ above the CPS average (70)
- Academic Personalism· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (58)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported39 ▬ about the CPS average (42)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported67 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Course Clarity· students-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported37 ▬ about the CPS average (38)
- Importance of High School for the Future· students-reported70 ▬ about the CPS average (67)
- Innovation· teachers-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported49 ▲ above the CPS average (41)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (61)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported62 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- School Connectedness· students-reported52 ▼ below the CPS average (58)
- School Safety· students-reported39 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported36 ▼ below the CPS average (40)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported46 ▼ below the CPS average (65)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported37 ▬ about the CPS average (38)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
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.
Programs (3)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Career Academy Career & technical CPS requires a GPA of at least 2.50. | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Significantly Modified Curriculum w/ Intensive Supports (IEP) Special education | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Significantly Modified Curriculum w/ Moderate Supports (IEP) Special education | 9 | 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
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
- Tamarah N Ellis · Principal
- Chermell Ellis · Parent
- Traci Kellie · Parent
- Kenvin Ivory-Kennedy · Parent
- Dave Jordan · Parent
- Tomeiko Windham · Parent
- Ciera Whitaker · Parent
- Donald Ingram · Community member
- Jillian Carew · Community member
- Joy Dickson · Teacher
- Eddie Taylor · Teacher
- Luis Reyes · School staff (non-teaching)
- Armani Sanders · Student
- Ronnail T Peterson · 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.