The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Whittier Elementary School
Whittier Elementary School serves grades four and five in Blue Island, a historic industrial suburb about fifteen to sixteen miles south of downtown Chicago in Cook County. The school is small, with an enrollment drawn primarily from the local neighborhood.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller numbers of Black and white students and very few Asian students or students identifying as two or more races. The school sits in an older, working-class city centered on its Western Avenue uptown commercial district and surrounded by Victorian homes, vintage bungalows, and some multi-family buildings. Blue Island's economic base centers on manufacturing, health care, retail, and transportation, with rail service through Metra stations placing the community directly on transit lines to downtown.
On the most recent state assessments, Whittier's fourth graders showed proficiency in English language arts at roughly one-third, with math proficiency near one-fifth. Fifth graders performed somewhat better in English language arts, reaching just under one-half, though math proficiency remained around one-fifth. Science proficiency in fifth grade was near one-quarter. These results place the school in the bottom quartile for proficiency when compared to other districts across Cook County. A parent may want to look into the school's current instructional practices and support systems with the school directly to understand how it is addressing these performance gaps.
Participation in the state assessments was universal or nearly universal, which is a strength; students are being tested. The data available reflects only the two grades served at this school, as Whittier does not include kindergarten through third grade or any grades beyond fifth. Information on free and reduced price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner enrollment was not available in the data.
In the Blue Island housing market, home values are modest, with modest year-over-year appreciation. Rents are affordable relative to income for the region. The community itself is mature and largely built-out, with most housing dating from earlier in the twentieth century or the postwar period. The city has undertaken economic development and revitalization efforts focused on the uptown business district and housing stock improvement, and sits within the Cal-Sag Enterprise Zone with tax incentive districts. Blue Island offers public transit through Metra and PACE buses, parks managed by the local district, and the Cal-Sag Trail for biking and walking.
State testing data change notes were published for math, English language arts, and science, so trend comparisons to prior years are not available. The school district, Cook County SD 130, encompasses Alsip, Blue Island, and Crestwood; no major parent-relevant changes were found in recent public reporting on the district.
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