Stephen T Mather High School
CPS choice · 9-12
At a glance
93% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). The state's 2025 summative designation is Targeted - ISBE has identified the school for additional support. In 2025–26, 291 applications were recorded for 40 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 62% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - about what's typical for CPS high schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Family involvement was rated ‘Neutral’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).
- Academic performance
- The state's 2025 summative designation is Targeted - ISBE has identified the school for additional support (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Social-emotional fit
- There is 1 school counselor per 279 students (ISBE Report Card 2025). 51% 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
- 5835 N LINCOLN AVE
- Neighborhood
- West Ridge
- Phone
- (773)534-2350
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://matherhs.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, Theater, Band/Orchestra, Crochet, Ethnic/Folk Dance, Knitting, Pottery, Rock Band, Student Art Club, Graphic Design, Percussion, Student Music Club, Violin/Strings, Art Studio, Ceramics, Dance, Guitar, Musicals, Photography, Talent Show, Web Design, Choir/Chorus, Drama
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, Cheerleading, Football, Pom-Pon, Wrestling, Tennis, Baseball, Conditioning and Fitness, Karate, Basketball, Girls on Track, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Flag football, Cross country, Badminton
From the school’s CPS profile and its athletics pages, 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
- Neutral
- Ambitious instruction
- Neutral
- Effective leaders
- Neutral
- Collaborative teachers
- Neutral
- Safety (student-reported)
- Very Weak
- Overall organization
- Moderately 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
Student Responsibility, Classroom Disruptions, and Teacher Influence are rated above the CPS average; Instructional Leadership, Math Instruction, and Parent Involvement in School 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
53 ▼ below the CPS average (60)- Academic Press· students-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- English Instruction· students-reported58 ▼ below the CPS average (65)
- Math Instruction· students-reported56 ▼ below the CPS average (69)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Supportive Environment
48 ▼ below the CPS average (56)- Expectations for Postsecondary Education· teachers-reported48 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- Safety· students-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- School-Wide Future Orientation· students-reported53 ▼ below the CPS average (62)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (56)
Collaborative Teachers
52 ▬ about the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported66 ▬ about the CPS average (63)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported49 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported47 ▲ above the CPS average (43)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
Effective Leaders
48 ▼ below the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported42 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported46 ▼ below the CPS average (52)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported58 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
43 ▼ below the CPS average (50)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (50)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported65 ▼ below the CPS average (70)
- Academic Personalism· students-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (58)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported51 ▲ above the CPS average (42)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported51 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Course Clarity· students-reported50 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported51 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported37 ▬ about the CPS average (38)
- Importance of High School for the Future· students-reported59 ▼ below the CPS average (67)
- Innovation· teachers-reported51 ▼ below the CPS average (56)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported55 ▼ below the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported34 ▼ below the CPS average (41)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported60 ▬ about the CPS average (61)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported50 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- School Connectedness· students-reported51 ▼ below the CPS average (58)
- School Safety· students-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported39 ▬ about the CPS average (40)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported64 ▬ about the CPS average (65)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported49 ▲ above the CPS average (38)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported38 ▼ 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 (5)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital Media Career & technical Your child must take the HSAT to apply. | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Game Programming & Web Design Career & technical Your child must take the HSAT to apply. | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
General Education Neighborhood | 9 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Pre-Engineering Career & technical Your child must take the HSAT to apply. | 9 | Point-based | Yes | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Pre-Law Career & technical Your child must take the HSAT to apply. | 9 | Point-based | 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
- Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM
- Tuesday, December 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM
- Tuesday, January 12, 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
- Gary J Tesinsky · Principal
- Mark Williamson, Sr. · Parent
- Norma Gomez · Community member
- Leslie Okamura · Community member
- Bruce James · Teacher
- Sarah Hill · Teacher
- Aida Hernandez · School staff (non-teaching)
- Elizabeth G Georgas · Student
- Ibrahim Abbadi · Student
- Ryder C Young · 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.