About | CICS Wrightwood Elementary

about our school

At CICS Wrightwood, our mission goes beyond preparing students for life after graduation—we are committed to providing a holistic learning experience that nurtures self-respect, empathy, risk-taking, collaboration, and student ownership.

Located on Chicago’s South Side, we’ve proudly served K–8 students since 2005. We exist to create a pathway to college for all kids by equipping our young leaders with the skills, support, and mindset they need to thrive. We challenge students in ways that prepare them to gain acceptance to and succeed in selective enrollment high schools, laying the groundwork for long-term academic and personal success.

Through strong partnerships between teachers, staff, and families, we create a nurturing environment built on action, accountability, and community. Our students are empowered to develop the intellectual skills, cultural competence, self-confidence, and civic engagement they need to lead in high school, college, and beyond.

our promise to families

Student-Centered Education

At CICS Wrightwood, Our Priority Is to Serve Students By:

Recognizing And Addressing Individual Student Needs
Taking A Holistic Approach to Education
Honoring And Meeting Diverse Needs
Providing A Safe and Supportive Environment

rigorous instruction

At CICS Wrightwood, We Ensure High-quality Learning By:

Offering A Challenging Curriculum
Implementing A Universal Design for Learning
Encouraging Academic Risk-taking
Cultivating Self-efficacy And Confidence

community first

At CICS Wrightwood, We Ensure Your Family Is a Vital Part of Our Community By:

Actively Listening to Parents/Guardians
Increasing Engagement Opportunities
Offering Quality Before- And After-school Activities

continuous improvement

The 5Essentials Survey, taken across Illinois, measures key indicators linked to student success. At CICS Wrightwood, results show strong gains in program coherence—how well our curriculum, instruction, and assessments align to support learning.

Alumni Spotlight

Crystal Stonewall

Class of 2011

CICS Wrightwood provided me with a solid educational foundation, including skill sets and knowledge that I expanded upon when starting high school and college.

School choice is important for my parents, so they chose for me to attend CICS Wrightwood because of its location, family-oriented culture, and intentional educational curriculum. My sibling and I were some of the first students at CICS Wrightwood when it first opened.

Alumni Spotlight

Kevin Stonewall

Class of 2009

I will always consider Wrightwood a critical part of my childhood memories.

My parents chose CICS Wrightwood for me because it was a neighborhood school where they had the opportunity to choose what was best for me-a school where its curriculum is tailored to the community and student’s needs. They also chose Wrightwood because there was a sense of community from teachers and staff, and more importantly, the academic support available to succeed inside and outside of the classroom.