The top reported proficiency rate is 14% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on A J Katzenmaier Academy
A J Katzenmaier Academy serves fourth and fifth grade students in North Chicago, a Lake County suburb anchored by Naval Station Great Lakes, a federal health center, and the pharmaceutical company AbbVie. The school's enrollment is small and stable, split evenly between the two grades. The student population is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with a smaller share of Asian and multiracial students; demographic data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learners was not available.
Academic performance at Katzenmaier presents a clear challenge. On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, proficiency rates in math and English language arts were very low. Fourth-grade math proficiency was in the single digits, as was fifth-grade math. English language arts showed a similar pattern in fourth grade, though fifth-grade ELA proficiency was somewhat higher. Fifth-grade science proficiency was also very low. Across all tested subjects and grade bands at the school, proficiency averaged well below the midpoint among the county's districts. The school's participation rates on these assessments were high, so low proficiency reflects actual performance rather than test-taking gaps.
A parent may want to look into this further with the school: what supports are in place for students performing below grade level, what recent instructional changes or curriculum adoptions have been made, and what the school's trajectory has been on these metrics over time. That comparison data is not available here; historical trend data for this school was not provided, so it is unclear whether performance is stable, declining, or improving.
North Chicago itself is in a period of transition. The city remains primarily renter-occupied and working-class, shaped by the naval base and its trainee population. Housing values in the zip code are modest relative to state and national medians. The district launched a new Forrestal Elementary School at Naval Station Great Lakes in 2026, and the city is pursuing redevelopment of a large vacant site into a walkable downtown. The district recently returned to elected school board governance after over a decade of state control, restoring local voice to parents. The district has also adopted a new K-5 ELA curriculum with structured support for students below grade level and has implemented the Marzano High Reliability Schools framework across schools.
For families considering Katzenmaier, the school's current academic results are a significant factor in the decision. The strength of any school lies partly in its institutional response to low performance. A parent should ask directly what improvement efforts are underway, how the school diagnoses individual student needs, what the intensity of intervention is for students significantly behind, and what evidence supports the changes the district has made. The school's grade band—fourth and fifth grade only—means it is not a comprehensive K-8 or K-12 pathway; students will transition to a middle school for grades six and above, so long-term continuity of curriculum and support matters.
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