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Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the top 10% of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2026). 17% of students were chronically absent in 2026 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026). In 2021–22, 81 applications were recorded for 25 offers (GoCPS, 2021–22 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Academic performance
Adjusted for low-income share, results sit in the top 10% of CPS schools with published IAR results (adjusted view, disclosed method - ISBE Report Card 2026). 51% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2026 IAR - in the top 20% of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2026). ISBE did not publish math for 39 schools where fewer than 10 students met the standard, so they are not in this comparison.
Academic fit
92% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026).
Social-emotional fit
46% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - about what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026). There is 1 school counselor per 337 students.

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
4520 S KEDZIE AVE
Neighborhood
Brighton Park
Phone
(773)535-4050
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
https://columbiaexplorers.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

Clay Creations, Drawing, Jewelry, Painting, Student Art Club, Murals, Ceramics, Media and Production Workshops, Mixed Media

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

Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Soccer, Girls' Volleyball, Boys' Track, Girls in the Game, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Boys' Volleyball, Girls on the Run, Girls' Cross Country, Basketball, Girls on Track, Soccer, Boys' Cross Country, Girls' Track, 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
Unknown - no CPS school ID on record

5Essentials - the latest survey in detail

Quality of Student Discussion, Student Responsibility, and Teacher Influence are rated above the CPS average 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

74 ▲ above the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

68 ▲ above the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

76 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

77 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

84 ▲ above the CPS average (53)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 66%, teachers 52%, 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: limited availability, as of Sep 24, 2026.

  • Half-day Pre-K · for children age 3 and 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

STEM

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

  • Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 8:30 AM
  • Thursday, January 21, 2027 at 8:30 AM
  • Thursday, March 18, 2027 at 8:30 AM

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

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Eileen M Considine · Principal
  • Monica Garcia-Ramos · Parent
  • Maria Fonseca · Parent
  • Erica Sandoval · Parent
  • Esmeralda Cisneros · Parent
  • Lorena Del Rio · Parent
  • Mayeli Aguilar Diaz · Parent
  • Manuel Martinez · Community member
  • Laura Revuelta · Community member
  • Sofia V Aguinaga · Teacher
  • Ana Cuevas · Teacher
  • Mercy Luna · School staff (non-teaching)
  • Gretchen Cortez-Martinon · 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.