Wendell Smith Elementary School
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
Family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). Instruction was rated ‘Very 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, 7 applications were recorded for 0 offers (GoCPS, 2024–25 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- Family involvement was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 23% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic fit
- Instruction was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 76% of teachers stayed from one year to the next - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Social-emotional fit
- The school’s supportive environment was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 29% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
- Address
- 744 E 103RD ST
- Neighborhood
- Pullman
- Phone
- (773)535-5689
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://wendellsmith.cps.edu
- Climate survey
- Involved families
- Very Strong
- Supportive environment
- Strong
- Ambitious instruction
- Very Strong
- Effective leaders
- Very Strong
- Collaborative teachers
- Very Strong
- Safety (student-reported)
- Weak
- Overall organization
- Well 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
Academic Engagement, Peer Support for Academic Work, and Classroom Rigor 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 ▸Hide measures ▾
Ambitious Instruction
69 ▲ above the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported77 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported57 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
63 ▲ above the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported76 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported54 ▲ above the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
60 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
56 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported56 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported56 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported72 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported55 ▲ above the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported85 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported55 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported76 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported66 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported64 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported50 ▬ about the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported81 ▲ above the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported67 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported63 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported70 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported49 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported51 ▬ about 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.
Programs (1)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Enrollment Open enrollment | K–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.