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William H Ray Elementary School

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

On the 5Essentials survey, family involvement and instruction were both rated ‘Strong’ (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 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). In 2025–26, 222 applications were recorded for 15 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Academic fit
Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). On the 5Essentials survey, school leadership was rated ‘Strong’ and teacher collaboration was rated ‘Strong’.
Social-emotional fit
The school’s supportive environment was rated ‘Weak’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages).

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
5631 S KIMBARK AVE
Neighborhood
Hyde Park
Phone
(773)535-0970
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
http://ray.cps.edu
Before and after care

Before care from 7:00 AM. After care until 6:00 PM. Run by Right At School. After care costs $308 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, Jewelry, Modern/Hip-Hop Dance, Painting, Plays/Acting, Band/Orchestra, Student Art Club, Culinary Classes, Student Music Club, Dance, Media and Production Workshops, Photography, Sewing, Talent Show, Choir/Chorus, Improv

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, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Volleyball, Pom-Pon, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Conditioning and Fitness, Girls' Cross Country, Basketball, Dance, 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
Strong
Supportive environment
Weak
Ambitious instruction
Strong
Effective leaders
Strong
Collaborative teachers
Strong
Safety (student-reported)
Weak
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

Teacher-Teacher Trust, Teacher-Parent Trust, and Teacher Influence are rated above the CPS average; Student-Teacher Trust, Academic Press, and Classroom Rigor 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

53 ▬ about the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

43 ▼ below the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

61 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

59 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

66 ▲ above the CPS average (53)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 97%, teachers 97%, 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

World Language

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

  • Wednesday, January 13, 2027 at 7:45 AM
  • Wednesday, February 10, 2027 at 7:45 AM
  • Wednesday, April 14, 2027 at 7:45 AM

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

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Gayle P Harris Neely · Principal
  • Kenya Butts · Parent
  • Benjamin Diroll · Parent
  • Arielle Thompson · Parent
  • Paraisia Winston · Parent
  • Brandon Thompson · Parent
  • Aunya Stephens · Parent
  • Noah Chung · Community member
  • Naomi Mickens · Community member
  • Melissa Jones · Teacher
  • Avis M Henry · Teacher
  • Samantha E Richardson · 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.