Cuffe Math-sci Tech Elem Academy, Chicago IL

Original Research by School Decision on Cuffe Math-sci Tech Elem Academy

Cuffe Math-Sci Tech Elem Academy is a public school serving grades preK through 8 in Chicago's South Side neighborhood, with an enrollment that is small to moderate for its grade band. The school is named for its focus on mathematics and science, though the data shows this emphasis faces real challenges in execution.

The academic picture here is sobering. Across mathematics, the school's most recent state assessment results show proficiency well below typical levels across grades 3 through 8. In grade 3 and grade 4, fewer than a quarter of students score at the proficient level. By grade 8, no students tested met the proficiency standard in mathematics. In English language arts, the trend is somewhat better but still deeply concerning: elementary grades hover below a quarter proficient, and while proficiency rises to a modest level by grades 6 and 7, it dips again in grade 8. Science, tested in grades 5 and 8, shows similarly low proficiency. When compared against other districts in Cook County, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. These numbers reflect a school struggling with fundamental academic delivery across its core subjects.

The student body is almost entirely Black, with a very small number of Hispanic and white students. Detailed enrollment by free-or-reduced-price lunch status was not available, but given the South Side location and the school's academic profile, a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what student-support services and wraparound programs are in place. The school serves students across ten grade levels, from preK through 8th grade, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across grades.

Chicago itself is experiencing renewed population growth and has one of the most walkable urban environments in the nation, with extensive public transit, a substantial park system, and diverse neighborhoods. The housing market in the school's zip code has appreciated modestly and rents are relatively accessible. The city is undertaking major governance and curriculum reforms: the school board is transitioning from mayoral appointment to full public election, with the first fully elected board to take office in 2027, and a new district strategic plan aims to strengthen neighborhood schools. CPS has also rolled out a standardized PreK-12 curriculum called Skyline across the district, removing the prior practice of schools choosing their own materials.

For families considering Cuffe, the core tension is clear. The school's name and mission signal ambition in math and science, but current student performance data indicates that ambition is not translating into proficiency for the majority of students. A parent would be wise to investigate what instructional changes are underway, what support structures exist for students struggling to meet grade-level standards, and what the school's plan is to move these metrics upward. The school sits within a large urban district undergoing structural reform, which may create both instability and opportunity. This is a neighborhood school, not a selective-enrollment or magnet program, so it serves whoever attends; for families in the immediate area with limited choice, it represents the local option, while families with the means to choose should carefully weigh the academic performance data before enrolling.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 321%

School 21% · District 38% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 46%

School 6% · District 29% · ▼ 23 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 59%

School 9% · District 24% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 611%

School 11% · District 23% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 712%

School 12% · District 27% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 80%

School 0% · District 23% · ▼ 23 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 321%

School 21% · District 36% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 39% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 530%

School 30% · District 43% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 637%

School 37% · District 45% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 742%

School 42% · District 46% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 48% · ▼ 20 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Science

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 29% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 87%

School 7% · District 31% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 33 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below 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.