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Ralph H Metcalfe Elementary Community Academy

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

91% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). 23% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools. 16% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the lower quarter of CPS elementary schools with published results. In 2021–22, 0 applications were recorded for 0 offers (GoCPS, 2021–22 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Cultural fit
23% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Family involvement was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
Academic performance
16% 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).
Academic fit
91% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
Social-emotional fit
36% 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 390 students.

Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.

Basics

CPS-published · verified Nov 2024

Address
12339 S NORMAL AVE
Neighborhood
West Pullman
Phone
(773)535-5590
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
https://metcalfe.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

Ballroom Dancing, Drawing, Film and Video, Modern/Hip-Hop Dance, Painting, Plays/Acting, Rhythm Group, Step Dance, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Student Art Club, Animation/Cartoon, Culinary Classes, Fashion, Graphic Design, Murals, Student Music Club, Violin/Strings, Art Studio, Dance, Guitar, Media and Production Workshops, Musicals, Photography, Talent Show, Drama, Mixed Media, 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, Exercise, Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Volleyball, Step Dance, Boys' Baseball, Boys' Track, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Conditioning and Fitness, Girls' Cross Country, Basketball, Dance, Girls on Track, 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
Strong
Supportive environment
Neutral
Ambitious instruction
Strong
Effective leaders
Neutral
Collaborative teachers
Strong
Safety (student-reported)
Not published - too few responses or not surveyed
Overall organization
Well 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, Course Clarity, and Emotional Health are rated above the CPS average; Teacher-Parent Trust, Classroom Disruptions, and Student Responsibility 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 ▸

Ambitious Instruction

61 ▲ above the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

53 ▬ about the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

40 ▼ below the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

42 ▼ below the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

36 ▼ below the CPS average (53)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 67%, teachers 60%, 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

Open Enrollment (general program, seats by lottery)

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

  • Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday, December 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday, January 19, 2027 at 4:00 PM

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

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Stephen T Fabiyi · Principal
  • Loretta Jones · Parent
  • Kevin Davis · Parent
  • Stacy Owens Ward · Parent
  • Joseph Freeman · Parent
  • Nikita Davis · Parent
  • Carmanleatha Meeks · Parent
  • Crystal Grant · Community member
  • Sheronda Edwards · Teacher
  • Nyla Wells · Teacher
  • Mark T Shaffer · School staff (non-teaching)

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.