The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Liberty Intermediate School
Liberty Intermediate School serves grades four through six in Bourbonnais, a mid-sized suburban village in Kankakee County about an hour south of Chicago. The school draws from a community anchored by health care, education, and retail employment, with residential growth ongoing at the village's edges.
On state testing, Liberty's proficiency rates show a mixed picture. In English language arts, performance is considerably stronger, with a majority of fourth and fifth graders meeting proficiency and a substantial share of sixth graders proficient as well. Mathematics proficiency is lower: fourth graders hover around the midpoint, fifth graders fall notably below it, and sixth graders return to near the midpoint. Science proficiency, tested in fifth grade, sits at the lower end of the range. All three subjects show high participation rates, meaning nearly all students take the assessments. Testing data for seventh and eighth grade were not available, likely because this intermediate school serves only through grade six.
Across tested subjects and grades, Liberty's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint when compared to other schools in Kankakee County. That positioning reflects the strength in reading offsetting weaker math and science results. A parent may want to look into whether the school has specific supports for mathematics, where several grade levels are below state standards, and to ask about curriculum and instructional approaches in that area.
The school enrolls a diverse student body. Roughly three in five students are white; about one in six are Hispanic; roughly one in seven are Black; and a smaller share identify as multiracial or other backgrounds. Free or reduced price lunch eligibility was not reported in available data.
Bourbonnais SD 53, the district housing Liberty, made publicly reported national recognition in 2025 for full academic recovery from pandemic learning loss, a signal that district leadership has prioritized instructional improvement. However, the district has also taken on significant debt for facility upgrades. A bond issue approved in early 2025 will fund health and safety improvements at four district schools over a multi-year period, financed through annual property tax levies. The district's 2025 tax levy request climbed noticeably from the prior year, hitting near the county's allowable cap. Homeowners with children at Liberty should expect those property taxes to reflect both the school's operating budget and these capital repayment obligations for years ahead.
The community itself is a walkable village downtown with historic character, alongside Olivet Nazarene University, separate residential neighborhoods, and highway retail corridors. New residential subdivisions are under development on the village's western edge. Parks, libraries, and the new Grove entertainment venue provide family amenities. Public transit runs locally through River Valley Metro and connects riders to Metra rail at University Park for Chicago access, though a car remains generally helpful for most errands and activities.
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