The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 70% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Chatham Elem School
Chatham Elem School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in a school community of about five hundred students in the village of Chatham, a residential suburb of Springfield in Sangamon County. The enrollment is predominantly white, with a substantial Asian population and smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. The school is a regular public elementary school within Ball Chatham Community Unit School District 5.
On the most recent state assessments available, Chatham Elem's third-graders showed proficiency rates near three-quarters in both math and English language arts. Fourth-graders performed somewhat lower, reaching two-thirds proficiency in math and just above that in English language arts. Test participation rates were very high, exceeding ninety-five percent. State assessment data does not extend to fifth grade and beyond, which reflects that Chatham Elem serves only through fourth grade. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among Sangamon County districts when compared on tested subjects and grades, a meaningful position in the county peer set.
Chatham sits in a growing, car-dependent residential village with strong owner-occupied housing. Housing values are moderate relative to the national benchmark, and rent affordability is reasonable as a share of income. The village has expanded with new subdivisions in recent years and offers family-oriented amenities including community parks, a public library, and the Interurban Trail, a multiuse path to Springfield. Employment is centered in Springfield's government and healthcare sectors rather than locally; Chatham functions as a bedroom community.
The district faces a significant infrastructure challenge. A substantial school facilities bond referendum is on the ballot requesting funds for repairs and renovations including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, fire alarms, and security upgrades. District leadership has described some buildings as struggling to maintain adequate temperatures and indicated that deferred maintenance will worsen if the referendum does not pass. The district also reports operating at among the lowest per-pupil spending levels in the county. The outcome of the referendum will materially affect both facility conditions and the tax impact on homeowners over time.
Data on free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner populations were not available, so a fuller picture of student needs and support would require discussion with the school directly. Similarly, staffing levels, discipline data, and attendance information were not in the public record accessed.
For families considering Chatham Elem, the school offers solid academic performance in the early grades with high participation in state testing. The setting is a small, stable, suburban community with good housing affordability for the region. The pending facilities decision represents an open question about the school's physical environment and the district's tax trajectory over the next several years.
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