The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Neal Math Science Academy
Neal Math Science Academy is a public middle school serving grades 6 through 8 in North Chicago, a small industrial suburb in Lake County anchored by Naval Station Great Lakes, AbbVie, and the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center. The school enrolls a small cohort of students who are predominantly Hispanic and Black, reflecting the city's demographic composition shaped by military families, working-class residents, and institutional employment.
The school sits in a district that has undergone substantial change. North Chicago SD 187 spent more than a decade under state control before beginning its transition back to an elected school board in 2025. That shift signals renewed local ownership of school governance. At the same time, the district has adopted a structured K-5 English language arts curriculum with multi-tiered intervention for students below grade level and implemented the Marzano High Reliability Schools framework, which aims to create consistent, safe, and equitable teaching across buildings. Neal Math Science Academy itself has earned High Reliability Schools certification, meaning the school has documented alignment on safe culture, effective teaching, and equitable curriculum design.
On state testing, Neal's results show persistent challenge. In math, reported proficiency rates range from a very small proportion in grade 6 to a low proportion in grade 8. In English language arts, sixth graders show a modest proportion at proficiency, seventh graders show a lower proportion, and eighth graders show roughly a quarter at proficiency. In science, eighth grade tested roughly a fifth at proficiency. Across all grades and subjects where data are available, the school's overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile compared to other districts in Lake County. Student participation in testing is strong, with rates above ninety percent in most grades, so these results reflect actual performance rather than opt-out patterns. A parent may want to discuss with the school what interventions are underway and what support looks like for students not yet meeting grade-level standards.
The school's name signals a focus on mathematics and science, yet the specific programs, course sequences, and instructional supports available to middle grades students are not detailed in the data. A prospective family would benefit from asking the school directly about what math and science sequences are offered, whether any students take advanced or accelerated coursework, and what enrichment or elective options exist.
North Chicago itself is in modest growth flux. The city's population is essentially flat, but two major development projects are underway: AbbVie announced a major capital investment in early 2026 to build new manufacturing facilities, and the city and Lake County launched the Sheridan Crossing remediation project to create a mixed-use downtown on a long-vacant site. The housing market in the area shows stable values with a slight year-over-year increase, and median home values are below state benchmarks, making the area relatively affordable for the Chicago region. The majority of North Chicago residents are renters, and the presence of the naval base creates a distinct demographic: many households are military-connected and younger.
The district's recent return of school board governance to elected leadership and its adoption of coherent instructional frameworks suggest an organization attempting to stabilize and improve. For a parent or resident, Neal Math Science Academy represents a middle school option serving a specific neighborhood with strong participation and attendance but with test results that indicate significant academic gaps. The fit depends on family priorities around school size, neighborhood, and readiness to engage closely with the school about how it is addressing proficiency gaps and supporting individual student growth.
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