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Rachel Carson Elementary School

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the top 20% of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2025). 17% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). 69% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools. In 2025–26, 10 applications were recorded for 5 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Academic performance
Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the top 20% of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2025). 39% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the top quarter of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Academic fit
69% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Social-emotional fit
63% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - about what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). There is 1 school counselor per 367 students.

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
5516 S MAPLEWOOD AVE
Neighborhood
Gage Park
Phone
(773)535-9222
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
https://carson.cps.edu
Before and after care

Before care from 6:30 AM. After care until 5:45 PM. Run by Right At School. After care costs $484 a month for 5 days a week.

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

Arts and creative

Drawing, Painting, Band/Orchestra, Ethnic/Folk Dance, Student Art Club, Art Studio, Dance, Guitar, Photography, Talent Show, Choir/Chorus

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

Boys' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Boys' Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, 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
Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
Supportive environment
Neutral (54 of 99)
Ambitious instruction
Neutral (59 of 99)
Effective leaders
Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
Collaborative teachers
Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
Safety (student-reported)
Neutral (45 of 99)

UChicago 5Essentials, spring 2026 survey, verified 2026-09-23. Each score runs from 1 to 99 and is compared with spring 2024 results; the level uses the survey site’s own bands (Neutral is 40 to 59, Strong 60 to 79). These are not percentages. A school can answer mostly positively and still score below typical.

5Essentials - the latest survey in detail

English Instruction, Student-Teacher Trust, and Math Instruction are rated above the CPS average; Parent Supportiveness, Human & Social Resources in the Community, and School 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. The levels above come from this same survey.

Show all measures ▸

Ambitious Instruction

59 ▬ about the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

54 ▬ about the CPS average (51)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 93%, teachers 41%, 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

Dual Language

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

  • Friday, November 6, 2026 at 9:00 AM
  • Friday, December 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM
  • Friday, January 8, 2027 at 9:00 AM

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

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Javier Arriola-Lopez · Principal
  • Marina Perez · Parent
  • Elizama Maldonado · Parent
  • Carlos Del Rosario · Parent
  • Emma Vanegas · Parent
  • Maria Gonzalez · Parent
  • Reina Montufar · Parent
  • Olivia Gonzalez · Community member
  • Adelina Rodriguez · Community member
  • Melisa Rodriguez · Teacher
  • Adalid E Martinez · Teacher
  • Daynisse Irizarry-Lopez · School staff (non-teaching)
  • Kaelyn Gonzalez · 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.