The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in English language arts. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Dr Donald Wharton Elem School
Dr Donald Wharton Elementary School is a small public elementary school in Summit, Illinois, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. Enrollment is modest, with each grade carrying a small cohort from kindergarten (the smallest) through fifth grade (the largest). The student body is predominantly Hispanic/Latino, with a substantial share of Black students and very few white or multiracial students, reflecting Summit's ethnic and working-class character.
Academically, the school's performance is below mid-range. In the most recent state testing (2024-25), proficiency rates in English language arts ranged from the low point at fourth grade to stronger showing in third grade. Math proficiency was notably weaker across all tested grades, falling well below half at every level tested. Science proficiency in fifth grade sat just above midpoint. Compared to other districts in Cook County, the school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint of county schools, but individual subject proficiency rates tell a more cautious story: math is a clear area of lower performance, and English language arts shows volatility by grade, with fourth grade dipping to less than half proficient. All students participated in testing, with no participation gaps, indicating universal inclusion in accountability assessments. A parent may want to look further into what math support the school offers and what tailored instruction fourth graders receive in reading.
The school lies in Summit, a compact, historically industrial suburb about 12 to 14 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, shaped by rail lines and a dominant corn-processing industry. The community is dense, ethnically diverse, and economically working-class. Summit has uncommon transit access for a small suburb, with Metra and Amtrak service at Summit station, the closest such station to Midway Airport. Daily civic life centers on the Summit Park District and the Summit Public Library, which offers bilingual programming and community literacy support. The village is built-out and landlocked, pursuing infill housing rather than new development; recent housing projects have focused on affordable and senior units.
Summit School District 104, Wharton's parent district, serves multiple communities including Summit and Bedford Park. In summer 2023, the district completed a secure entrance addition at Wharton and broke ground on a new administrative building intended to relieve overcrowding at the sister school, Otis P. Graves Dual Language School. The district operates Graves as a bilingual dual-language school, a significant program choice for a district where roughly four in five students are Hispanic/Latino. These capital projects signal active district investment in infrastructure and security.
Housing in the Cook County market, where Summit sits, is modestly priced relative to state and national medians, with median home values in the lower range. Mortgage affordability by national standards is reasonable, and rental costs, while rising, remain moderate. The market has ample inventory. No data was available on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, English learner enrollment, or students with disabilities at Wharton specifically, so a parent interested in understanding the school's support services and socioeconomic profile would benefit from contacting the school directly.
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