The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hiawatha Elem School
Hiawatha Elementary is a small school serving the early grades in Berwyn, a dense, walkable near-west Chicago suburb known for brick bungalows, diverse heritage, and a strong sense of neighborhood. The school draws an enrollment of about that size across pre-K through fifth grade, housed in what is an entirely residential part of town on 26th Street.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller population of Black students and very few white or Asian students. Data on free-or-reduced-price-lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the economic composition of the student population and the scope of language support services.
The district has recently made three substantial instructional shifts that affect every family at Hiawatha. In literacy, all elementary students now use Amplify CKLA, a structured-literacy curriculum grounded in the science of reading, paired with Caminos for students in the dual-language program. In math, the elementary uses Bridges in Mathematics, a comprehensive curriculum aligned to state standards. These are not minor tweaks but wholesale changes to what reading, writing, and math lessons look like day to day. The district also operates a K-8 dual-language program across six schools, including a middle school component, so families who choose bilingual instruction can stay in that pathway continuously rather than leaving it at the elementary level.
The state testing results for spring 2025 show Hiawatha performing below the midpoint of Cook County districts in overall proficiency. In grade three math, roughly half of tested students reached proficiency; proficiency in grades four and five math dropped to around a quarter of students. Reading (ELA) results show a similar pattern: one-third of third graders reached proficiency, but just under half of fourth and fifth graders did. Science proficiency in fifth grade was around a quarter of students. These are early-stage results under the new curricula, so performance may reflect the transition period as well as student learning needs. A parent may want to follow up with the school about what support systems are in place for students not yet proficient and how the school is monitoring the effectiveness of the new instruction.
The school's location in Berwyn puts it in a highly walkable neighborhood with mature street trees, compact blocks, and access to the Park District and library system. Housing in the 60402 zip code is modestly valued, and rents are in line with working-family affordability. The market shifted in 2025 from a seller's strong advantage to more neutral ground, with homes typically moving within a month.
Berwyn South SD 100, the school's district, is a small, equity-focused district serving a deeply Hispanic community. The structured-literacy and dual-language investments signal a commitment to reading fundamentals and bilingual development, both of which are long-term plays. For a parent looking at Hiawatha, the key question is whether the teaching and learning support match their child's starting point and pace, especially in light of the recent curriculum changes. Classroom-level conversations with teachers and the principal about small-group instruction, intervention services, and communication with families would be worth prioritizing.
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