Smith Elem School, Aurora IL - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Smith Elem School

Smith Elem School is a public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Aurora's West Side, part of Aurora West USD 129. The school enrolls a modest population across six grades, with the largest share in third grade. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller populations of Black, Asian, and white students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the share of students receiving meal support.

State test results from spring 2025 show serious academic shortfalls. In mathematics, third-grade proficiency stands at roughly two-fifths of students, fourth-grade at about one-third, and fifth-grade at only a small fraction. English language arts results are weaker still, with third grade around one-quarter proficient, fourth grade around one-third, and fifth grade around one-sixth. Science testing in fifth grade shows proficiency at roughly one-eighth of students. These are low absolute numbers. When Smith is positioned against other districts in Kane County, its overall proficiency index places it in the bottom group, well below the county median.

This performance pattern suggests students are not on solid footing with core academic skills at tested grade levels. Illinois changed its state assessment cut scores in 2025, so year-to-year trend comparisons are not available in the data; a parent may want to ask the school or district whether there are internal assessments or prior-year snapshots that show whether this is a persistent pattern or a recent shift. Data on special education services and English learner supports were not provided, so parents whose children have either need may want to inquire directly about those programs.

The district recently shifted kindergarten enrollment so that all incoming students are automatically placed in full-day programming, with half-day available only by request. This represents a change for families weighing schedule and work-life considerations.

Aurora itself is Illinois's second-largest city and sits in the Chicago metropolitan region's technology corridor. The city has an active downtown core along the Fox River anchored by the Paramount Theatre and cultural attractions, surrounded by residential neighborhoods where Smith is located. The housing market in the school's zip code shows median values in line with the state benchmark, with rents rising notably over the past year. Major local employers include Caterpillar, hospital systems, the school districts themselves, and a JPMorgan Chase technology hub. The city is in a growth phase with several new apartment developments approved or under construction downtown, signaling neighborhood change and investment.

A parent considering Smith should understand that this school has substantial academic proficiency gaps in the grade levels tested. The question is whether the school can articulate a credible improvement pathway and what support systems exist for students working below grade level. Housing and community context are stable, but academic readiness will be the deciding factor for most families.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 38% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 30% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 56%

School 6% · District 23% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 324%

School 24% · District 28% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 435%

School 35% · District 32% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 516%

School 16% · District 37% · ▼ 20 pts below district

▼ 36 pts below state median · ▼ 38 pts below county median

Science

Grade 513%

School 13% · District 29% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

This schoolAurora West USD 129, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.