Carter G Woodson South Elementary School
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
16% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026). In 2025–26, 12 applications were recorded for 4 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 54% of students were chronically absent in 2026 - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026).
- Academic performance
- The state's 2026 rating is Comprehensive - the lowest of its five ratings, which ISBE uses to identify schools for additional support (ISBE Report Card 2026). Fewer than 10 students met the math standard on the 2026 IAR, so ISBE does not publish the exact rate; 18% met the ELA standard.
- Academic fit
- 82% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - about what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026).
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 4414 S EVANS AVE
- Neighborhood
- Grand Boulevard
- Phone
- (773)535-1280
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://www.gowoodson.com
- 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
- Unknown - the sources could not be checked. Ask on a tour.
- Sports
Basketball
From the school’s own website, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Climate survey
- Unknown - no CPS school ID on record
5Essentials - the latest survey in detail
English Instruction, Teacher-Principal Trust, and Quality Professional Development are rated above the CPS average; School Safety, Parent Involvement in School, and Classroom Disruptions 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
68 ▲ above the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported80 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
57 ▲ above the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported64 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported42 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
56 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported45 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
62 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported58 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
50 ▬ about the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported62 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported52 ▬ about the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported44 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported53 ▼ below the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported46 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported41 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported50 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported39 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported42 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
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 2026This 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)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Enrollment (general program, seats by lottery) Open enrollment | K–8 | Lottery | No | 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
CPS has not posted any upcoming meetings for this council yet.
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Tamara N Littlejohn · Principal
- Brandey Summers · Parent
- Geoffrey Metzger · Parent
- Patrice Horton · Parent
- Asia Calcagno · Community member
- Patricia Perez · Community member
- Sarah Brinegar · Teacher
- Kimberly Denard · Teacher
- Kina Stone · 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.