The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in English language arts. The lowest is 50% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kipling Elem School
Kipling Elementary is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school in Deerfield, serving a school-age population drawn from a prosperous North Shore suburb about 30 miles north of Chicago. The school sits within Deerfield School District 109, a district that recently passed a substantial facilities referendum in March 2026 aimed at modernizing its elementary schools and middle schools over the coming years. Kipling itself is slated for major renovations as part of that initiative, a significant change ahead for families considering the school.
The enrollment is small to mid-sized for an elementary school across its grade band, with roughly balanced class sizes from kindergarten through fifth grade. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian and Hispanic students and very few Black or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students. Free-or-reduced-price-lunch eligibility data was not available, so a parent cannot assess from the data provided what portion of the school's population qualifies for economic support.
On state testing in English language arts and mathematics, Kipling's results across third, fourth, and fifth grade show solid proficiency in the low-to-mid range. In third-grade English, proficiency sat in the mid-high range, while third-grade math was somewhat stronger. Fourth-grade performance held similarly in both subjects, with a modest edge in English over math. Fifth-grade English proficiency rose to a stronger level, while fifth-grade math dropped noticeably compared to third and fourth grade, marking the weakest subject-grade combination in the data. Science testing, available only for fifth grade, showed proficiency at the half-mark, a notably softer result than the reading and math scores above it. The school reports full participation in all assessed grades and subjects.
Kipling's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Lake County, a meaningful position that reflects solid performance in the county context. However, the pattern of results suggests slightly different strengths in reading versus mathematics and a dip in science that a parent may want to explore further with the school.
Deerfield itself is one of the wealthier communities in Illinois and the broader Midwest. The median home value in the zip code is well above state and national benchmarks, and median rents are correspondingly higher. Housing has appreciated modestly year-over-year. The village centers on a small walkable downtown around Deerfield Road with shops and restaurants, anchored by the Metra commuter rail station, while much of the commercial and employment base—including the headquarters of major corporations like Walgreens and Baxter Healthcare—concentrates to the south along Lake Cook Road, served by a second Metra station. The village is largely built out but is actively adding transit-oriented and townhome-style multi-family housing, a shift toward greater density that will shape the community's character and school population over time.
The district referendum, set to issue bonds in 2027, will bring new construction and renovation to the school system, including major work at Kipling. This signals a commitment to modernization but also means the school will be navigating construction phases in the near term. For a parent considering Kipling, the combination of solid academic performance positioned above county peers, a stable and affluent community setting, and upcoming facilities investment presents a school in transition toward renewal. The recent dip in math proficiency at fifth grade and the softer science results are details worth understanding directly from school leadership.
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