The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in English language arts. The lowest is 23% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Horizon Science Acad-belmont
Horizon Science Academy-Belmont is a charter school district serving kindergarten through ninth grade in Cook County, Illinois. The district operates as part of the Concept Schools network and recently expanded to offer a full K-12 pathway by opening a dedicated high school campus for grades 7-12. This means families can now keep students within the same STEM-focused charter system from elementary school through high school graduation.
The school enrolls a small population spread across single grades. The student body is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with very limited racial diversity otherwise. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner enrollment counts were not available, which limits visibility into the socioeconomic and language backgrounds of the student population.
Academic performance in tested grades shows mixed results. In English language arts, proficiency varies considerably by grade. Third-grade students show around half meeting proficiency, fourth-grade students around four in ten, and fifth-graders around four in ten. Proficiency improves in sixth grade to around two-thirds of students, then drops back down to around half by seventh grade and roughly half by eighth grade. Reading comprehension and writing skills appear to strengthen in the middle school years before moderating.
Mathematics proficiency is substantially lower. Third-graders show around half meeting the standard, but proficiency drops sharply to around one in five students in fourth grade and stays very low through the middle grades, hovering around one in four to three in ten students through eighth grade. This persistent gap in mathematics achievement, where proficiency remains below four in ten students from fourth through eighth grade, is a notable weakness that a parent may want to discuss directly with the school, particularly if mathematics support or intervention structures are in place.
Science proficiency data were available only for fifth and eighth grades. In both years, around one in four students meet proficiency, indicating science is another area where student achievement lags expectations.
The school's overall proficiency index places it below the midpoint among Cook County's districts. Chronic absenteeism is a concern, with the school's rate in the bottom quartile among county districts. A parent may want to ask the school about attendance policies, support systems, and what barriers students face to regular attendance.
The charter's STEM focus shapes the school's identity and instructional mission. However, the current proficiency data, particularly in mathematics and science despite the STEM emphasis, do not yet reflect strong academic outcomes. The recent expansion to offer high school completion within the same network addresses a structural gap, but academic performance would be worth understanding in depth before enrollment, especially for families prioritizing college preparation.
See more original research from School Decision →