Suder Montessori Elem Magnet Schl, Chicago IL

Original Research by School Decision on Suder Montessori Elem Magnet Schl

Suder Montessori Elementary Magnet School is a public PreK-8 Montessori school on the West Side of Chicago, located in the Illinois Medical District neighborhood on Washington Boulevard. It serves a diverse student body, with African American students making up a slight majority, Hispanic students representing a substantial share, and White and Asian students also present. The school's enrollment spans pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, with the bulk concentrated in early grades; pre-K alone holds a very large portion of the student body.

The school's academic performance presents a profile that warrants careful attention. In English language arts, the school shows unevenness across grades. Fourth grade performs notably above midpoint on state assessments, reaching proficiency well above the county median for tested grades. Earlier grades—third and fifth—and middle grades show lower proficiency rates, though with substantial variation. In math, results decline significantly, particularly in the upper elementary and middle grades. Third and fourth graders show modest proficiency, while fifth through eighth graders cluster at very low proficiency rates. Science results, tested in fifth and eighth grades only, are also low across both grades. Overall, the school's proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile compared to other Cook County district schools.

This pattern raises questions a parent may want to discuss directly with the school. Montessori pedagogy emphasizes student-led, hands-on learning and mixed-age classrooms, an approach that differs substantially from traditional instruction and standardized assessment design. Some schools using Montessori methods show strong state assessment results; others do not. Understanding how this school's Montessori philosophy and instruction align with state testing expectations, what supports exist for students struggling to meet proficiency benchmarks, and how the school measures learning outcomes beyond state tests would help a family assess fit. The uneven results within and across grades also merit exploration.

Chicago Public Schools is undergoing significant changes. The district has recently shifted its accountability approach away from numeric school ratings toward holistic dashboards launched in December 2024, reshaping how families evaluate schools. More broadly, the district's strategic plan, adopted in 2024, has begun to reorient itself toward strengthening neighborhood schools rather than operating the school-choice and selective-enrollment model that has long defined CPS. Additionally, an elected school board—replacing the mayor-appointed system—will be fully in place by 2027, giving families direct voting power over district governance.

The neighborhood surrounding the school is part of Chicago's larger West Side, a dense area with significant African American and Latino populations. Chicago remains one of the nation's most walkable major cities, with the CTA 'L' and extensive bus system connecting neighborhoods. Housing values near the school's zip code average in the mid-range for the city and county, with modest year-over-year appreciation. Rental housing is more affordable than many Chicago neighborhoods.

Suder is not a selective-admission school; it is a magnet with a specific instructional model—Montessori education—rather than academic admissions criteria. For families drawn to Montessori philosophy and child-directed learning, the school represents an option within a public system. For families prioritizing high proficiency on state assessments, the school's current results suggest the need for candid conversation with administrators about instructional strategies, assessment gaps, and support for learners below proficiency.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 337%

School 37% · District 38% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 447%

School 47% · District 29% · ▲ 18 pts above district

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

Grade 515%

School 15% · District 24% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Grade 621%

School 21% · District 23% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 70%

School 0% · District 27% · ▼ 27 pts below district

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

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 23% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 349%

School 49% · District 36% · ▲ 13 pts above district

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

Grade 472%

School 72% · District 39% · ▲ 34 pts above district

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

Grade 539%

School 39% · District 43% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 641%

School 41% · District 45% · ▼ 4 pts below district

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

Grade 724%

School 24% · District 46% · ▼ 23 pts below district

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

Grade 839%

School 39% · District 48% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Science

Grade 524%

School 24% · District 29% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 817%

School 17% · District 31% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 9 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.