Thomas J Higgins Elementary Community Academy
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
In 2025–26, 6 applications were recorded for 3 offers (GoCPS, 2025–26 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has). In 2026, 42% of students were chronically absent - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2026).
- Academic performance
- The state's 2026 rating is Developing - the fourth of its five ratings (ISBE Report Card 2026). 26% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2026 IAR - in the middle 50% 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
- 85% 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 22.3; about 11.7 students per teacher, computed from all-teacher staffing.
- Social-emotional fit
- 37% 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 266 students.
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 11710 S MORGAN ST
- Neighborhood
- West Pullman
- Phone
- (773)535-5625
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- 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
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
Cheerleading, Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Volleyball, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Volleyball, Girls' Cross Country, Basketball, Boys' Cross Country, 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
Reflective Dialogue, Collective Responsibility, and Socialization of New Teachers are rated above the CPS average; Student-Teacher Trust, Rigorous Study Habits, and Student Peer Relationships 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-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported60 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
39 ▼ below the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported56 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported47 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported27 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported25 ▼ below the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
70 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported77 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported77 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
72 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported82 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported78 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported64 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
69 ▲ above the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported49 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported34 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported52 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported45 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported73 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported91 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported23 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported34 ▼ below the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported34 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported29 ▼ below the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported48 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported41 ▼ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fine & Performing Arts Magnet cluster | 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
- Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM
- Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM
- Wednesday, January 13, 2027 at 4:00 PM
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Charnette M Marshall · Principal
- Awriaunna Jones · Parent
- Andrea Hall · Parent
- Farmer Tamika · Parent
- Carmela Richardson · Parent
- Brittany Hurd · Parent
- Dejah Williams · Parent
- Steevy Owens · Community member
- Kelly Farrell · Teacher
- Ima Brown · Teacher
- Pamela Williams · School staff (non-teaching)
- Davion Willis · 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.