Burr Elem School, Chicago IL - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Burr Elem School

Burr Elementary School serves kindergarten through eighth grade in Chicago's northwest lakefront neighborhood along Wabansia Avenue. The school is part of Chicago Public Schools, which in 2024 began its transition from a mayor-appointed board to an elected one—a shift that will reshape governance and parental voice in district decisions by the end of 2026.

The school's enrollment is small to mid-sized for its grade band, spread across nine grades. The student body reflects Chicago's diversity: roughly a third identify as Hispanic, a smaller plurality as white, and meaningful populations from Black and Asian backgrounds, along with families identifying with more than one race. Demographic data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and on English learners were not available, so a parent may want to inquire directly about economic and language-support profiles at the school.

In reading (English language arts), Burr shows clear strength. Across the tested grades, proficiency ranges from the low seventies down through the sixties, with eighth grade notably strong in the low eighties. Third and fourth grades perform above the high sixties to high seventies. The pattern is consistent: solid foundational and middle-grades performance. Mathematics presents a different arc. Third grade reaches near seventy percent, but proficiency drops sharply in grades four, five, and six, hovering near fifty percent, then edges upward slightly in seventh grade and declines again in eighth. The eighth-grade math result is noticeably below the reading result, suggesting students may encounter a steeper challenge in mathematics in the later middle grades.

Science was assessed only in grades five and eight. Fifth-grade proficiency sits just above fifty percent, while eighth grade reaches near two-thirds proficiency. The shift upward mirrors the stronger eighth-grade ELA result, though the absolute level remains below ELA.

Across tested subjects and grades combined, Burr's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile when compared to schools in Cook County. That positioning reflects the solid ELA performance balanced against the weaker middle-grades math results.

Test participation rates are high across the board, hitting or nearly hitting one hundred percent in most grades, which suggests reliable data and consistent student engagement with the assessment.

The neighborhood context matters. Chicago has resumed population growth after nearly a decade of decline, with the metro area now expanding for a third consecutive year. Housing in the school's zip code is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks and has grown in value. The area is well-served by Chicago Transit Authority rail and bus, making the school accessible to families across the broader community. Walkability and street-life are high—Chicago ranks among the nation's most walkable cities—so families can navigate the neighborhood on foot.

CPS itself is in transition. The district rolled out a universal curriculum called Skyline in 2021, replacing a system where schools sourced their own materials. That standardization across hundreds of schools is a major logistical shift. At the same time, the district's strategic plan signals a pivot toward strengthening neighborhood schools as a destination rather than relying on a choice-based model. For families committed to public schools and interested in a stable, academically sound K-8 program with strong reading instruction and room for growth in mathematics, Burr offers a grounded option in a diverse, connected urban neighborhood.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 367%

School 67% · District 38% · ▲ 29 pts above district

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

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 29% · ▲ 19 pts above district

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

Grade 549%

School 49% · District 24% · ▲ 25 pts above district

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

Grade 648%

School 48% · District 23% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 755%

School 55% · District 27% · ▲ 27 pts above district

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

Grade 839%

School 39% · District 23% · ▲ 15 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 371%

School 71% · District 36% · ▲ 35 pts above district

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

Grade 480%

School 80% · District 39% · ▲ 41 pts above district

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 40 pts above county median

Grade 577%

School 77% · District 43% · ▲ 34 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 674%

School 74% · District 45% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 776%

School 76% · District 46% · ▲ 30 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 882%

School 82% · District 48% · ▲ 34 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

Science

Grade 553%

School 53% · District 29% · ▲ 24 pts above district

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

Grade 866%

School 66% · District 31% · ▲ 35 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 39 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.