The reported proficiency rate for Science is 22%.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Primary School
Jefferson Primary School serves prekindergarten through second grade in Bellwood, a small residential suburb west of Chicago in Cook County. The school enrolls a modest population of about that size for its grade band, with a racial and ethnic composition that is roughly balanced between Hispanic and Black students, with small populations of Asian, white, and multiracial students. The school's location places it in a community undergoing modest economic development around the Bellwood Gateway mixed-use project, though housing costs in the 60104 zip code remain moderate relative to broader Chicago-area standards.
State testing data for the school's tested grades is not available in the current reporting cycle. Science assessment results from an earlier year showed proficiency at a low level, well below the median for Cook County districts, a pattern a parent may want to look into further with the school. The test participation rate in that earlier science assessment was solid, suggesting the low proficiency reflects actual student performance rather than incomplete testing.
Jefferson Primary is part of Berkeley School District 87, which encompasses Bellwood, Berkeley, and Northlake and serves grades PK through 12. In March 2020, the district's voters approved a substantial bond referendum that funded construction of a new combined building for Sunnyside Intermediate and MacArthur Middle Schools, completed and opened in December 2022, along with renovations and expansions at Riley Intermediate and Northlake Middle and districtwide improvements in STEM labs, security entrances, and ADA accessibility. That bond carries an ongoing property-tax impact for homeowners in the district, an important consideration for families weighing a move into the area. The facilities investment reflects the district's commitment to modernizing learning spaces, though its effect on early elementary instruction specifically would be worth discussing with school leadership.
The school is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. Enrollment data show the first- and second-grade cohorts are roughly similar in size, with kindergarten notably larger, suggesting stable demand at the primary level. Free and reduced lunch eligibility data were not available, preventing a full picture of family economic circumstances at the school.
Bellwood itself is a quiet, residential community of Chicago-style bungalows and brick ranches on sidewalk-lined blocks, situated about a short drive west of downtown Chicago. The village has limited traditional downtown life but is anchored by the Bellwood Metra station on the Union Pacific West Line, which provides access to the city and regional employment. Local job growth leans toward health care, administrative support services, and manufacturing along the industrial corridor on the village's east side. Housing values in the area are moderate and have shown slight appreciation, with rental availability and price movements suggesting a balanced buyer and renter market rather than high-pressure conditions.
For families considering Jefferson Primary, the key takeaway is that this is an early-elementary school in a stable, residential suburb with ongoing district facilities investment, but with limited current testing data to assess academic direction. A conversation with the school about recent performance trends, instructional approaches, and student support would be essential before deciding.
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