The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in English language arts. The lowest is 69% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ball Elementary School
Ball Elementary School serves prekindergarten through fourth grade in Chatham, a growing residential suburb of Springfield in Sangamon County. The school enrolls a small to mid-sized population of students, with roughly balanced classes across the early grades. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students identifying as Black, multiracial, Asian, and Hispanic.
On the most recent state assessment data available, third graders showed solid performance in both math and English language arts, with roughly three-quarters reaching proficiency. Fourth graders performed somewhat lower, with math proficiency in the mid-range and English language arts in the low-to-mid range. The school maintained high test participation rates. State testing does not occur for kindergarten through second grade, so no assessment results are available for those early grades. The school's overall proficiency index across tested grades and subjects places it in the top quartile among the county's districts, a meaningful position in a region where performance varies considerably.
Free and reduced price lunch data was not available in the school's reported information, so a reader interested in understanding the economic profile of the school's families may want to request that detail directly from the school or district. Similarly, data on special education enrollment and English learner enrollment were not reported.
Chatham itself is a car-dependent community with no public transit, functioning as a bedroom suburb where residents commute by car to Springfield for work. The village has retained some small-town character around its historic Mulberry Street downtown and the restored railroad depot, but newer residential subdivisions dominate. Community life centers on parks, the public library, and recreational leagues. The Interurban Trail, a multi-use path stretching over eight miles toward Springfield, provides the main walking and cycling corridor. Housing costs in the area are rising, and the village is actively developing new subdivisions.
The Ball Chatham school district itself is undergoing significant change. A major facilities bond referendum is on the ballot, proposing substantial investment in building repairs, safety upgrades, and mechanical system replacements. District leadership has stated that some buildings struggle with heating and other aging infrastructure. The outcome will affect both school conditions and property tax bills for families in the community. The district currently spends less per pupil than any other district in Sangamon County and operates at below-state funding adequacy levels, according to publicly reported analysis.
Ball Elementary sits within a small, fairly stable district serving the Chatham area. For families considering this school, the academic performance of the tested grades is respectable for the region, the community is growing and family-oriented, and the emerging question of facilities investment and property tax impact warrants direct conversation with the district about timeline and likely costs.
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