Nicholas Senn High School
CPS choice · 9-12
At a glance
On the 5Essentials survey, Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages), while school leadership was rated ‘Very Weak’ and teacher collaboration was rated ‘Weak’. In 2025–26, 22 applications were recorded for 1 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- Family involvement was rated ‘Weak’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
- Social-emotional fit
- There is 1 school counselor per 250 students (ISBE Report Card 2025). 56% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - about what's typical for CPS high schools.
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 5900 N GLENWOOD AVE
- Neighborhood
- Edgewater
- Phone
- (773)534-2365
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://www.sennhs.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
Drawing, Film and Video, Modern/Hip-Hop Dance, Painting, Plays/Acting, Step Dance, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Ethnic/Folk Dance, Fundamentals/Theory of Music, Knitting, Mosaics, Pottery, Rock Band, Student Art Club, Animation/Cartoon, Bookmaking, Fashion, Graphic Design, Murals, Percussion, Student Music Club, Violin/Strings, Art Studio, Ceramics, Dance, Guitar, Media and Production Workshops, Musicals, Photography, Talent Show, Web Design, Choir/Chorus, Drama, Improv, Mixed Media, Piano/Keyboard, 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
Bowling, Boys' Tennis, Cheerleading, Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Soccer, Girls' Volleyball, Step Dance, Wrestling, Boys' Baseball, Boys' Track, Fast Pitch, Girls' Softball, Tennis, Baseball, Boys' Soccer, Conditioning and Fitness, Fitness Basics, Girls' Cross Country, Basketball, Boys' Water Polo, Dance, Girls on Track, Soccer, Boys' Swimming, Softball, 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
- Weak
- Supportive environment
- Neutral
- Ambitious instruction
- Strong
- Effective leaders
- Very 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
Inquiry-Based Science Instruction, Classroom Rigor, and Collaborative Practices are rated above the CPS average; Teacher-Principal Trust, Instructional Leadership, and Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools 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
57 ▬ about the CPS average (60)- Academic Press· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- English Instruction· students-reported65 ▬ about the CPS average (65)
- Math Instruction· students-reported68 ▬ about the CPS average (69)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported41 ▼ below the CPS average (50)
Supportive Environment
52 ▼ below the CPS average (56)- Expectations for Postsecondary Education· teachers-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (56)
- Safety· students-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- School-Wide Future Orientation· students-reported61 ▬ about the CPS average (62)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (56)
Collaborative Teachers
47 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (63)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported40 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (43)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported46 ▬ about the CPS average (49)
Effective Leaders
31 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported26 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported40 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported42 ▼ below the CPS average (50)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported16 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
41 ▼ below the CPS average (50)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported34 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (50)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported64 ▼ below the CPS average (70)
- Academic Personalism· students-reported49 ▼ below the CPS average (58)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported39 ▬ about the CPS average (42)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Course Clarity· students-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported42 ▲ above the CPS average (38)
- Importance of High School for the Future· students-reported64 ▬ about the CPS average (67)
- Innovation· teachers-reported51 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported40 ▬ about the CPS average (41)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported59 ▬ about the CPS average (61)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- School Connectedness· students-reported53 ▼ below the CPS average (58)
- School Safety· students-reported40 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported40 ▬ about the CPS average (40)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported60 ▼ below the CPS average (65)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported32 ▼ below the CPS average (38)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported36 ▼ 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 (6)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dance Magnet This program requires an audition. | 9 | Screening | Yes | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Music Magnet | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
MYP Diploma Program IB Your child must take the HSAT to apply. No IB middle school is needed. CPS picks students by HSAT score and 7th-grade grades, with 35 bonus points for living in the school's area. | 9 | Point-based | Yes | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
SENN HS - General Education Neighborhood | 9-9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
Theatre Magnet This program requires an audition. | 9 | Screening | Yes | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Visual Arts Magnet This program requires a portfolio review. | 9 | Screening | Yes | 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
- Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM
- Wednesday, January 20, 2027 at 6:00 PM
- Wednesday, February 17, 2027 at 6:00 PM
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Holly A Dacres · Principal
- Edward Hitchcock · Parent
- Sean Andrews · Parent
- Katie Denny · Parent
- Jason Menard · Parent
- Rocio Carbajal · Parent
- Amon Kouame · Parent
- Seth Torres · Community member
- Diana Smith · Community member
- Alex R Forgue · Teacher
- Erin Riordan · Teacher
- Simeona Witty · School staff (non-teaching)
- Mojib Sayed Neameh · Student
- Sarah Perez · Student
- Lola Zimmerman · 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.