Acero Chtr Network - Pfc Torress, Chicago IL

Original Research by School Decision on Acero Chtr Network - Pfc Torress

Acero Charter Network operates PFC Omar E. Torres as a neighborhood elementary and middle school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Chicago's Southwest Side. The school enrolls a small to mid-sized population drawn overwhelmingly from the immediate area: nearly all students identify as Hispanic, and the student body is predominantly Spanish-speaking and low-income, though specific free-and-reduced-price lunch counts were not available in the data.

The school's test results paint a picture of substantial academic struggle. On the most recent Illinois state assessments, proficiency rates across math and English language arts sit well below where students are expected to be. In math, proficiency ranged from single digits in grades 3, 5, 7, and 8, to roughly in the mid-teens in grades 4 and 6. English language arts performance is somewhat higher but still deeply concerning: grades 3, 5, and 8 scored in the low teens to low twenties, while grades 4, 6, and 7 reached the low thirties. Science proficiency in the tested grades (5 and 8) was around one in ten. Participation in state testing was nearly universal, so these numbers reflect what happened when students took the assessments. When the school is compared against other districts in Cook County, its overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile, placing it among the lowest-performing schools in the county on standardized measures.

The reading of these results is that this school faces serious headwinds in foundational academic outcomes. A parent considering this school should be clear-eyed that students here are not reaching grade-level benchmarks in core subjects at anywhere near the rates seen in stronger-performing schools. This may reflect deeper systemic challenges in the school's instructional approach, student support systems, or community factors; a parent would benefit from speaking directly with school leadership about what is driving these numbers and what concrete interventions are underway.

The school is a charter school operating within Chicago Public Schools District 299. Charters in the district operate with more autonomy than traditional public schools but remain part of the broader CPS accountability system. The district itself is undergoing significant change: a newly elected school board took office in 2025 with a strategic direction toward strengthening neighborhood schools, and CPS replaced its old school ratings with new dashboards in late 2024. For families, this means the policy environment around choice and school identity is shifting, though specifics about how this particular charter will be affected are not outlined in the available data.

The West Side neighborhood where the school sits is densely residential with strong Hispanic and Latino community roots. Housing values in the 60632 zip code are modest relative to the city and the broader metro area, and have appreciated modestly in recent years. Rental housing is affordable. Chicago itself continues to grow and is seeing renewed construction activity, though housing development has concentrated in downtown and lakefront areas rather than on the South and Southwest sides where this school operates.

No information was available about the school's specific programs, staffing, discipline approach, or attendance rates. The school's website was also not provided, so a parent seeking current details about curriculum, enrichment offerings, or enrollment procedures would need to contact the school directly. State graduation rate data do not apply because the school serves only grades K-8.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 39%

School 9% · District 38% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 37 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

Grade 415%

School 15% · District 29% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

Grade 54%

School 4% · District 24% · ▼ 20 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 23% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 710%

School 10% · District 27% · ▼ 17 pts below district

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

Grade 86%

School 6% · District 23% · ▼ 17 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 317%

School 17% · District 36% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 431%

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

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

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 43% · ▼ 28 pts below district

▼ 38 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

Grade 641%

School 41% · District 45% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Grade 735%

School 35% · District 46% · ▼ 11 pts below district

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

Grade 820%

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

▼ 33 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 29% · ▼ 18 pts below district

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

Grade 812%

School 12% · District 31% · ▼ 20 pts below district

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 15 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.