The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Piper School
Piper School is a small elementary school in Berwyn serving kindergarten through fifth grade, with an enrollment that sits at around two hundred seventy students. The building is located at Kenilworth Avenue in a dense, near-west Chicago suburb known as the "City of Homes," where residential streets of brick bungalows and two-flats dominate the landscape. The school's student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller shares of white, Black, and Asian students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, which makes it harder to assess poverty concentration at the school directly, though Berwyn itself is a working- and middle-class community.
Test results from the most recent state assessment show a mixed picture. In English language arts, Piper's third graders performed solidly, with a majority reaching proficiency, while fourth graders' performance dropped noticeably, and fifth graders rebounded somewhat. In mathematics, third graders showed about half the school proficient or above, while fourth and fifth graders both fell below that mark. Fifth-grade science proficiency also came in at under half. The data carries an important note: Illinois changed its proficiency cut scores in math, English language arts, and science for this testing year, which means year-over-year trend comparisons are not reliable. When placed against all districts in Cook County, Piper's overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint, which is a strength relative to county peers.
The school does not serve sixth through eighth grade, so there are no graduation rates or middle school test results to report. State testing data for grades above fifth is not collected at Piper because it does not house those grades.
Berwyn South School District 100, Piper's parent district, has recently adopted structured-literacy aligned curricula districtwide: Amplify CKLA and Caminos (its Spanish parallel) in K-5, and Amplify ELA in middle school. The district has also rolled out Bridges in Mathematics for elementary and the Desmos curriculum for middle grades. These are active, visible shifts that will shape how reading, writing, and math are taught day to day. Additionally, the district's dual-language program—which pairs Spanish and English instruction—now spans six schools and graduated its first middle school cohort, meaning families interested in bilingual pathways can pursue continuous enrollment from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Berwyn itself is a fully built urban suburb with a strong sense of neighborhood character. The city centers on the Depot District along the BNSF Metra line, where walkable streets host shops, restaurants, and transit connections. Three Metra stations sit within city limits, and the CTA Blue Line is within reach. Housing values have remained relatively steady, with the market shifting in 2025 from a strong seller's advantage to more balanced conditions. Most growth is infill and rehabilitation rather than new subdivisions. The Berwyn Public Library and Park District anchor civic life alongside the transit network.
A parent considering Piper should understand that the school is small, serves an elementary population only, and sits in a residential neighborhood rather than on a consolidated campus. Its academic standing relative to county peers is solid, though test scores in upper elementary, particularly fourth grade mathematics, are areas worth exploring in conversation with school staff. The district's recent curriculum changes and dual-language expansion offer distinct pedagogical and pathway options for families in the area. Since free-or-reduced-price lunch status was not reported, a parent interested in understanding the school's socioeconomic context and support services may want to reach out to the school directly.
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