Rachel Carson Elementary School
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
The state's 2026 rating is Exemplary, the highest of its five ratings (ISBE Report Card 2026). 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). 80% of teachers stayed from one year to the next, below what's typical for CPS elementary schools. In 2025–26, 10 applications were recorded for 5 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- 17% of students were chronically absent in 2026 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026).
- Academic fit
- 80% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026).
- Social-emotional fit
- 59% 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 440 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
- 5516 S MAPLEWOOD AVE
- Neighborhood
- Gage Park
- Phone
- (773)535-9222
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://carson.cps.edu
- Before and after care
Before care from 6:30 AM. After care until 5:45 PM. Run by Right At School. After care costs $484 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, Painting, Band/Orchestra, Ethnic/Folk Dance, Student Art Club, Art Studio, Dance, Guitar, Photography, Talent Show, Choir/Chorus
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
Boys' Basketball, Boys' Soccer, Boys' Volleyball, Basketball, 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
- Unknown - no CPS school ID on record
5Essentials - the latest survey in detail
English Instruction, Student-Teacher Trust, and Math Instruction are rated above the CPS average; Parent Supportiveness, Human & Social Resources in the Community, and School Safety 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
59 ▬ about the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Supportive Environment
54 ▬ about the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported56 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported45 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- School Commitment· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Effective Leaders
- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Program Coherence· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Involved Families
- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reportednot enough responses
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported55 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported58 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported62 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported32 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported45 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported53 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported58 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reportednot enough responses
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reportednot enough responses
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dual Language 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
- Friday, November 6, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Friday, December 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM
- Friday, January 8, 2027 at 9:00 AM
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Javier Arriola-Lopez · Principal
- Marina Perez · Parent
- Elizama Maldonado · Parent
- Carlos Del Rosario · Parent
- Emma Vanegas · Parent
- Maria Gonzalez · Parent
- Reina Montufar · Parent
- Olivia Gonzalez · Community member
- Adelina Rodriguez · Community member
- Melisa Rodriguez · Teacher
- Adalid E Martinez · Teacher
- Daynisse Irizarry-Lopez · School staff (non-teaching)
- Kaelyn Gonzalez · 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.