Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 7% 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). In 2021–22, 2 applications were recorded for 2 offers (GoCPS, 2021–22 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 52% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (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
- 18% 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
- 955 W GARFIELD BLVD
- Neighborhood
- Englewood
- Phone
- (773)535-9025
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- http://owholmes.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
Band/Orchestra, Violin/Strings, Guitar, Choir/Chorus, Piano/Keyboard
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, Basketball, 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
- 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
Academic Engagement, Academic Personalism, and Academic Press are rated above the CPS average; Rigorous Study Habits, Human & Social Resources in the Community, and Student Peer Relationships 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
50 ▼ below the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported48 ▼ below the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Supportive Environment
48 ▬ about the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported58 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported33 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- School Commitment· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Effective Leaders
- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Program Coherence· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Involved Families
- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported49 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported42 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported28 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported60 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported47 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported27 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported46 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported40 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reportednot enough responses
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 (1)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Enrollment (general program, seats by lottery) Open enrollment | K–8 | 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
- Diedre K Coleman · Principal
- Andrea Bledson · Parent
- Aaron Banas · Community member
- Amberly Krol · Teacher
- Erika Wallace-Thurman · Teacher
- Clarence Scott · School staff (non-teaching)
- Israel Turner · 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.