The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Math. The lowest is 55% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Pasteur Elem School
Pasteur Elementary sits in a densely Hispanic neighborhood on Chicago's Southwest Side, serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. The school enrolls a small student body, with the vast majority of children from Latino households. Demographic data on free- or reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner enrollment was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about economic disadvantage and language support services.
In mathematics, the school's state test results show uneven progress. Third graders achieved proficiency at a rate above the midpoint among Cook County districts. Fourth graders fell to exactly the midpoint. Because the school serves grades PK-4, no results are available for grades five through eight; these grades are simply not enrolled here. In English language arts, third graders scored below that same countywide midpoint, and fourth graders scored just above it. Across both subjects, slightly more than half of tested students in each grade reached proficiency levels, with one or two out of every three students not yet proficient. Taken together, the overall proficiency index places the school above the midpoint for Cook County districts, a modest strength, though the word "above" describes a middle position rather than an outlier.
Science testing data is significantly older (2015-16) and derived from an earlier state assessment, so those results are less directly comparable to current performance. More recent science data is not provided.
Attendance and chronic absenteeism rates were not available in the data received. A parent interested in understanding school stability and engagement patterns should follow up with the school's office on that front.
The school is not a magnet, not a charter, and not selective. It is a traditional Chicago Public Schools elementary. It draws entirely from its neighborhood catchment, serving families who live on the Southwest Side. The housing market in this zipcode shows median home values in the mid-range relative to the state and nation, with rents that have been rising modestly. Active housing listings suggest a balanced market, and the neighborhood has sustained steady population and investment.
Chicago Public Schools is undergoing significant governance and accountability changes. In the fall of 2024 the district held its first-ever elected school board elections, with all remaining seats due for election in November 2026. This marks a permanent shift away from mayoral appointment and opens school board decisions directly to parent and resident voters. The district has also adopted a five-year strategic plan that emphasizes neighborhood schools and is moving away from the school-choice and selective enrollment model that shaped CPS for decades. A new set of school accountability dashboards replaced the district's old numeric ratings in late 2024, giving families a more holistic view of school quality beyond test scores.
For parents considering this school, the core question is whether a neighborhood elementary that serves a Spanish-dominant community and shows mixed but above-midpoint academic outcomes aligns with their family's needs. The school is small and deeply local. Recent test results suggest room for growth in proficiency, particularly in English language arts and in the upper elementary grades that are tested. Asking the school directly about instructional strategies, language services, parent involvement pathways, and support for students not yet proficient would help prospective families make a fully informed choice.
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