Chavez Elem Multicultural Acad Ct, Chicago IL

Original Research by School Decision on Chavez Elem Multicultural Acad Ct

Chavez Elementary Multicultural Academy Center serves the neighborhoods around South Marshfield on the near south side of Chicago, a predominantly Spanish-speaking community within Chicago Public Schools District 299. The school enrolls prekindergarten through eighth grade, making it an anchor serving families from early childhood into early adolescence.

The school is substantially Hispanic: the enrollment is almost entirely Latino, with very small representation from other groups. Demographic data on free or reduced-price lunch status and English learners was not available, but the composition suggests a community with deep roots in the city. Grade enrollment is relatively balanced across the pk-8 span, with slightly larger classes in the middle grades.

On Illinois Assessment of Readiness testing in math and English language arts, the school sits above the midpoint of Cook County districts in overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. The pattern across grade levels shows variability. In math, third grade reaches about typical proficiency, while fourth and seventh grades dip notably lower; sixth grade and eighth grade hold near the middle. In ELA, proficiency is more consistent: third through eighth grades cluster between about one-half and two-thirds meeting or exceeding the state standard, with a notably weaker showing in fourth grade. Science testing covers only fifth and eighth grade in Illinois' assessment system; both years show proficiency near one-half. All grades show strong test participation, near or at complete.

A parent considering this school should understand the academic profile: this is a school where proficiency is mixed rather than uniformly high, with particular softness in fourth-grade ELA where fewer than one-third of students demonstrated proficiency. The school's overall standing is above the county median, which reflects its enrollment's grade spread and the solid performance in some grades, but individual grade-level outcomes vary substantially. A parent may want to look into further with the school why fourth grade shows such a significant dip and what targeted support is in place there.

The school is situated in Chicago, a major city with extensive public transit, parks, and cultural institutions, though school choice and enrollment patterns matter enormously to family experience within CPS. The broader district context has shifted notably: CPS recently transitioned from a purely mayor-appointed board to an elected one, adopted a new strategic plan called "Together We Rise" that prioritizes neighborhood schools over school-choice pathways, and replaced controversial numeric school ratings with new holistic dashboards launched in late 2024. The district also rolled out Skyline, a comprehensive pk-12 curriculum across six content areas beginning in 2021-22, available to all district schools at no cost. These are significant changes that reshape how the district allocates resources and how families navigate enrollment.

Housing in the 60609 zip code where the school sits is accessible: median home values are substantially below state and national benchmarks. Median rent is modest and affordable relative to regional and national medians. The area is experiencing modest appreciation and stable demand, consistent with broader Cook County trends of slower market movement.

The school's name reflects a multicultural mission, though the current enrollment composition is far more homogeneous than the title might suggest. Program-specific information such as course offerings, staffing ratios, or specialized academic pathways was not available in the data, so a parent should inquire directly with the school about how its multicultural emphasis is enacted and what academic supports and enrichments exist, especially in grades where proficiency lags.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 362%

School 62% · District 38% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 440%

School 40% · District 29% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 556%

School 56% · District 24% · ▲ 32 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Grade 647%

School 47% · District 23% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 30 pts above county median

Grade 742%

School 42% · District 27% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 851%

School 51% · District 23% · ▲ 27 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 356%

School 56% · District 36% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 431%

School 31% · District 39% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 565%

School 65% · District 43% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Grade 664%

School 64% · District 45% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 755%

School 55% · District 46% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 856%

School 56% · District 48% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Science

Grade 549%

School 49% · District 29% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 849%

School 49% · District 31% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

This schoolChicago Public Schools Dist 299, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.