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Thomas J Waters Elementary School

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

Family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 66% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the top 10% of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025). In 2021–22, 331 applications were recorded for 10 offers (GoCPS, 2021–22 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Cultural fit
Family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 14% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Academic fit
82% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - about what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Average class size is 27.2; about 15.5 students per teacher, computed from all-teacher staffing.
Social-emotional fit
69% 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.

Basics

CPS-published · verified Nov 2024

Address
4540 N CAMPBELL AVE
Neighborhood
Lincoln Square
Phone
(773)534-5090
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
http://www.waterselementary.org
Before and after care

After care until 6:00 PM. Run by Right At School. After care costs $377 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

Film and Video, Rock Band, Fashion, Dance, Musicals, Sewing, Talent Show, 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

None listed. The school’s CPS profile and the other sources SchoolNav checked name none. Ask on a tour.

Climate survey
Involved families
Very Strong
Supportive environment
Neutral
Ambitious instruction
Neutral
Effective leaders
Neutral
Collaborative teachers
Neutral
Safety (student-reported)
Neutral
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

Human & Social Resources in the Community, School Safety, and Safety are rated above the CPS average; English Instruction, Academic Personalism, and Academic Engagement 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

47 ▼ below the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

51 ▬ about the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

52 ▬ about the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

51 ▬ about the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

65 ▲ above the CPS average (53)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 93%, teachers 82%, 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

Fine & Performing Arts, Technology

Magnet cluster

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

  • Monday, November 16, 2026 at 5:30 PM
  • Monday, December 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM
  • Monday, February 8, 2027 at 5:30 PM

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

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Peter A Rutkowski · Principal
  • Greta Qaiyum · Parent
  • Kristin Hanson Turpin · Parent
  • Nathan Hunter · Parent
  • Elizabeth Keckley · Parent
  • Kristen Quinn · Parent
  • Alison Howlett · Parent
  • Phi Nguyen · Community member
  • Karen Borgstrom · Community member
  • Arlicia McClain · Teacher
  • Kerrie Rovito · Teacher
  • Forrest Downey · School staff (non-teaching)
  • Everly M Gaubatz · 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.