Irene C. Hernandez Middle School for the Advancement of Science
CPS choice · 6-8
At a glance
91% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). Instruction was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). The state's 2025 summative designation is Targeted - ISBE has identified the school for additional support (ISBE Report Card 2025). In 2024–25, 15 applications were recorded for 8 offers (GoCPS, 2024–25 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 28% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - about what's typical for CPS elementary 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).
- 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.
Basics
- Address
- 3510 W 55TH ST
- Neighborhood
- Gage Park
- Phone
- (773)535-8850
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Climate survey
- Involved families
- Neutral
- Supportive environment
- Weak
- Ambitious instruction
- Strong
- Effective leaders
- Strong
- Collaborative teachers
- Strong
- Safety (student-reported)
- Very Weak
- Overall organization
- Organized
UChicago 5Essentials levels from the spring 2024 survey (CPS Progress Reports SY2425, verified 2026-09-16) - benchmarked categories relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages. A school can answer mostly positively and still rate below the benchmark typical.
Full 2024 report (UChicago)- the survey these levels come from·2026 report- newer survey, new benchmark
5Essentials - the latest survey in detail
Instructional Leadership, Teacher-Principal Trust, and Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools are rated above the CPS average; Academic Press, English Instruction, and Teacher-Teacher Trust 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
64 ▼ below the CPS average (70)- Academic Press· students-reported50 ▼ below the CPS average (64)
- English Instruction· students-reported65 ▼ below the CPS average (79)
- Math Instruction· students-reported70 ▬ about the CPS average (68)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (67)
Supportive Environment
62 ▬ about the CPS average (64)- Academic Personalism· students-reported64 ▬ about the CPS average (66)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported67 ▬ about the CPS average (68)
- Safety· students-reported53 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported64 ▬ about the CPS average (65)
Collaborative Teachers
76 ▲ above the CPS average (70)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported87 ▲ above the CPS average (76)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported74 ▬ about the CPS average (71)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported91 ▲ above the CPS average (77)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported60 ▼ below the CPS average (70)
Effective Leaders
81 ▲ above the CPS average (66)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported92 ▲ above the CPS average (72)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported82 ▲ above the CPS average (74)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported78 ▲ above the CPS average (63)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
Involved Families
71 ▬ about the CPS average (68)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported95 ▲ above the CPS average (78)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported55 ▼ below the CPS average (60)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported62 ▬ about the CPS average (65)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported88 ▬ about the CPS average (85)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported62 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported62 ▬ about the CPS average (65)
- Course Clarity· students-reported62 ▬ about the CPS average (63)
- Emotional Health· students-reported80 ▲ above the CPS average (74)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported43 ▬ about the CPS average (40)
- Innovation· teachers-reported83 ▲ above the CPS average (79)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported62 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported30 ▬ about the CPS average (32)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported72 ▬ about the CPS average (74)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported31 ▼ below the CPS average (39)
- School Connectedness· students-reported70 ▬ about the CPS average (68)
- School Safety· students-reported57 ▼ below the CPS average (62)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported70 ▬ about the CPS average (68)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (68)
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 (1)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
STEM Open enrollment | 6–8 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Jul 2026 |
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.
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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.