Polaris Charter Academy
Charter · K-8
At a glance
On the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages), the school’s supportive environment and instruction were both rated ‘Very Strong.’ Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the lower quarter of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Cultural fit
- 49% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic fit
- Instruction was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
- Social-emotional fit
- The school’s supportive environment was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 85% 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. How the adjusted view works
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 620 N SAWYER AVE
- Neighborhood
- Humboldt Park
- Phone
- (773)534-0820
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://pcachicago.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, Painting, Plays/Acting, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Fundamentals/Theory of Music, Dance, Musicals, Talent Show, Choir/Chorus, Drama, 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
Cheerleading, Exercise, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Volleyball, Wrestling, Boys' Baseball, Boys' Track, Chess, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Volleyball, Conditioning and Fitness, Fitness Basics, Girls on the Run, Girls' Cross Country, Basketball, Flag Football, Boys' Cross Country
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
- Neutral
- Supportive environment
- Very Strong
- Ambitious instruction
- Very Strong
- Effective leaders
- Neutral
- Collaborative teachers
- Neutral
- Safety (student-reported)
- Very Strong
- 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
Safety, Rigorous Study Habits, and Student-Teacher Trust are rated above the CPS average 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
92 ▲ above the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
99 ▲ above the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
67 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported60 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
69 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported85 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported64 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
60 ▲ above the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported59 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported45 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported67 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported85 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported48 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported99 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
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 (1)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General enrollment Charter | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | CPS-published · verified Nov 2024 |
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.
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