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Rufus M Hitch Elementary School

CPS choice · PK,K-8

CPS-published· verified Oct 2026

At a glance

19% of students were chronically absent in 2026 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026). 73% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools. In 2021–22, 31 applications were recorded, with 10 offers (GoCPS, 2021–22 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).

Academic performance
The state's 2026 rating is Approaching Exemplary - the second-highest of its five ratings (ISBE Report Card 2026). 45% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2026 IAR - in the top quarter of CPS elementary schools with published results. 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
91% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - about what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026). Average class size is 25.9; about 12.2 students per teacher, computed from all-teacher staffing.
Social-emotional fit
73% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - above 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
5625 N MCVICKER AVE
Neighborhood
Norwood Park
Phone
(773)534-1189
Hours
Unknown - not verified yet
Website
https://hitch.cps.edu
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

Drawing, Modern/Hip-Hop Dance, Painting, Plays/Acting, Theater, Mosaics, Student Art Club, Culinary Classes, Graphic Design, Murals, Percussion, Art Studio, Dance, Guitar, Musicals, Photography, Talent Show, Web Design, Choir/Chorus, Drama, Sketching

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, Exercise, Football, Yoga/Pilates, Girls on the Run, Running, Basketball, Dance, Soccer, Softball, 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

Teacher-Principal Trust, Collaborative Practices, and Program Coherence are rated above the CPS average; Rigorous Study Habits, Academic Engagement, and Course Clarity 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

62 ▲ above the CPS average (56)

Supportive Environment

51 ▬ about the CPS average (51)

Collaborative Teachers

73 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Effective Leaders

77 ▲ above the CPS average (52)

Involved Families

74 ▲ above the CPS average (53)

Supplemental measures

Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.

CPS-published · verified Jul 2026Response rates: students 92%, teachers 91%, 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

Open Enrollment (general program, seats by lottery)

Open enrollment

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, November 11, 2026 at 3:15 PM
  • Wednesday, January 13, 2027 at 3:15 PM
  • Wednesday, February 10, 2027 at 3:15 PM

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

Members for 2026 to 2028

  • Patrycja M Mach · Principal
  • Margaret Skogsbakken · Parent
  • Michelle Jung Janus · Parent
  • MALGORZATA (Margaret) TELMA-NAGI · Parent
  • Maria Mackey · Parent
  • Katarzyna Marnik · Parent
  • Ana Nedelea · Parent
  • Kyla Geist · Teacher
  • Anne Wiet-Martin · Teacher
  • Karen Schoenbeck · School staff (non-teaching)
  • Ingrid P Olsen · 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.