The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center
Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center serves grades five through eight in Ford Heights, a small, economically distressed village in the south suburbs of Cook County about thirty miles south of Chicago. The school enrolls a modest number of students across four grades, with the student body nearly entirely Black, reflecting the village's demographic makeup.
The school's academic performance shows substantial challenge. On state math assessments, proficiency rates are very low across all tested grades. In grade five, no students demonstrated proficiency in math; in grade six, just a tiny handful; by grades seven and eight, the rates climb modestly but remain in single digits to low double digits. English language arts results show more variation. Early grades (five and six) show low proficiency, but grades seven and eight post measurably higher rates, roughly in the mid-to-upper thirties and low forties respectively. Science proficiency is similarly low, with only a small fraction of grade five students and roughly one in five grade eight students achieving proficiency on the state assessment. When compared against districts across Cook County, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of county schools.
The test participation rates documented are strong; schools show one hundred percent participation across nearly all reported assessments, indicating students are being tested. State testing data was not available for grades three and four, likely because the school serves upper grades only, even though the grade band officially includes five through eight.
The community context matters significantly here. Ford Heights is characterized by economic distress, with poverty rates around forty percent and median household income substantially below state and national medians. The village has experienced steady population decline over recent decades and has a sparse suburban character with limited commercial activity. Most residents rent. The housing market shows modest home values and modest rental costs relative to national context, though the school serves a community where affordability concerns are structured around limited income rather than expensive housing. Recent development efforts have centered on affordable housing rehabilitation rather than market-rate construction.
The school is a regular public school within Ford Heights School District 169, a PreK through grade eight district serving only this village. The district has a very small in-village employment base, and residents typically commute for work. No parent-relevant changes to district operations, curriculum, or strategic priorities were located in recent public reporting.
A parent considering this school should understand they are looking at a setting where academic proficiency is substantially below state benchmarks and below the typical range for Cook County schools. The student body is small and closely mirrors the village's demographics. The community faces documented economic headwinds, and the school's testing results reflect that broader context. The data does not show what classroom supports, intervention programs, or instructional approaches the school employs, so a parent may want to look into those directly with school leadership to understand what pathways exist for students working below grade level. Housing costs in the area are modest, which may be relevant for families prioritizing affordability, though employment opportunity in the village itself is limited.
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