You Belong Here
CICS Ralph Ellison Academy
Home of the Lions
Our CICS Ralph Ellison Academy campus is committed to providing students with a rigorous college preparatory education that fosters the intellectual skills, cultural competence, self-belief, and community engagement essential for success in school, college, the workplace, and life.
Named after the renowned African American writer and educator Ralph Ellison, who gained international acclaim with his groundbreaking novel Invisible Man, our school embodies his transformative insights into race, identity, and the American experience. Since opening in August 2006, Ralph Ellison Academy has distinguished itself through its dedication to cultivating a vibrant community of learners.
Our educators work collaboratively with students to support their academic, social, and personal development, ensuring each individual thrives.
Home of
the Lions
Welcome to CICS Northtown Academy, the world at home. As the most diverse charter school in Chicago, our vibrant community is shaped by a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and backgrounds. Through rigorous academics, partnership opportunities, and a wide array of student clubs and initiatives, we empower every student to excel, find their voice, and truly belong. As a college-preparatory school, we are unwavering in our commitment to academic excellence, ensuring that every student is equipped for success in college and beyond.
Our Impact on Student Success
News & Announcements
News & Announcements
Our Guiding Principles
Meridian Charter Schools academic model is grounded in the 5Essentials framework, a research-based approach developed by the University of Chicago Consortium. This model focuses on five key areas proven to drive student success: strong leadership, collaborative teacher culture, meaningful family engagement, supportive school environments, and high academic expectations. These elements don’t just predict strong schools—they define them. We’ve also added a sixth core element: Continuous Improvement—reflecting our belief that every child deserves a school that is always striving to get better. Our decision to anchor the Meridian Model in the 5Essentials reflects our belief in research, action, and shared responsibility.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Continuous Improvement in schools is a process of constantly striving to enhance educational practices, student outcomes, and the overall school environment. It involves a proactive, systematic approach to making incremental changes that build upon successes and identify growth opportunities.
At Meridian, it is our responsibility to foster continued growth in pursuit of equitable, high-quality, and research-based educational experiences for all students.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS…
- Demonstrate collective efficacy—shared beliefs about what is possible for all students
- Use data-driven decision making to enhance continuous improvement efforts
- Develop strategic plans & progress monitoring
- Use student-centered decision making to inform efforts
- Seek to understand and respond to the root cause of issues
- Monitor and maintain equitable and high quality, research-based practice
EFFECTIVE LEADERS
In schools with Effective Leaders, principals and educators work together to implement a shared, aspirational vision. In our schools, people, programs, and resources are focused on a vision for sustained improvement.
At Meridian, visionary leadership is rooted in a deep sense of purpose that aligns actions with long-term goals and core values.
MERIDIAN LEADERS…
- Serve as the primary Instructional Leaders of the school community
- Model shared leadership, embed opportunities for voice and distributive leadership
- Set ambitious goals for high-quality, equitable instruction
- Establish and nurture mutually trusting and respectful relationships
- Advocate for professional advancement and manage resources for sustained program improvement
- Create an environment for safe and innovative learning/risk taking
COLLABORATIVE EDUCATORS
In schools with strong Collaborative Educators, all staff collaborate to promote professional growth.
At Meridian, educators are at the heart of the school community, influencing everything from culture to academic outcomes to overall success.
MERIDIAN EDUCATORS…
- Are active partners in school improvement
- Are dedicated and invested to the growth and success of the school community
- Are focused on professional development and reflective practice
- Believe that school improvement is a shared responsibility
- Believe that success is a collaborative effort where we hold ourselves and each other accountable
AMBITIOUS INSTRUCTION
In schools with strong Ambitious Instruction, classes are challenging and engaging. The instruction is clear, well-structured, and encourages students to build and apply knowledge and critical thinking skills. When combined with a supportive environment, ambitious instruction has the most direct effect on student learning.
At Meridian, it is our responsibility to design and deliver ambitious instruction that challenges minds, inspires growth, and drives academic excellence for every learner.
AMBITIOUS INSTRUCTION AT MERIDIAN IS…
- Delivered with a deep understanding of our students —their strengths, needs, and lived experiences
- Research based and thoughtfully curated to meet the needs of students
- Defined, well-paced, and aligned across grade levels with clear expectations for success
- Interactive and encourages students to build and apply knowledge
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
In schools with a Supportive Environment, the school is safe, nurturing, demanding, and supportive while respecting the unique racial, linguistic, and cultural identities of students.
At Meridian, we cultivate a culture of care that is personalized and connected to the identity of the students we serve. It is our responsibility to create, provide and design access points to opportunities in and outside of our school community.
AT MERIDIAN SCHOOLS, STUDENTS…
- Are respected, incorporated, and celebrated for their intersectional identities in and outside of the classroom
- Feel safe in and around the school
- Have access to expansive opportunities
- Find teachers trustworthy, respectful, and responsive to their academic needs/goals and social-emotional growth
- Have close relationships with adults who serve as key mentors throughout their educational experience
- Are well-supported in planning for high school, college, and other post-high school experiences
INVOLVED FAMILIES & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
In schools with Involved Families & Community Engagement, the entire staff builds strong external relationships. Educators believe the best intentions of families and understand that family involvement looks different for everyone.
At Meridian, we actively engage families and community members, fostering collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility to ensure every student’s growth and success. Together, we create a network of support that empowers learners and strengthens our collective impact.
AT MERIDIAN SCHOOLS, WE…
- View families as partners in helping students learn and achieve success
- Value parents’ input and involvement in their child’s success
- Value parents’ active voice and engagement in advancing the school’s mission
- Build systems to strengthen accessible community resources
Progress & Purpose
The Road to 2026
Join us in our commitment to our guiding principles for SY26 and beyond. Read through our reflections and collective work from SY24 and SY25 by downloading the document below.
Alumni Spotlight
Alante Ward
Alumni Spotlight
Anthony Driver
we are proud to partner with these companies
