The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Algonquin Middle School
Algonquin Middle School is a regular public school serving grades 6 through 8 in Des Plaines, a suburban community northwest of Chicago. The school enrolls students across three grade levels with relatively balanced cohorts in each year.
The student body is diverse by race and ethnicity. The student population is majority Hispanic, with substantial shares of white and Asian students, and smaller numbers of Black students and students of other backgrounds. The school's enrollment reflects the broader demographic profile of Des Plaines, which has seen significant growth and investment in recent years, including transit-oriented development around its Metra station and new mixed-use housing.
On state testing, Algonquin shows mixed results across grade levels and subjects. In English language arts, eighth-grade performance stands out at a notably higher level, while sixth and seventh graders show lower proficiency. Sixth-grade ELA sits around the midpoint, and seventh grade slightly below. Math proficiency is fairly consistent across the three grades, clustering around the midpoint across the middle school years, with seventh grade slightly above the pattern. Science testing for eighth grade shows proficiency below the midpoint. The school participates in state testing at high rates, with participation well above typical minimums. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, English learner status, and students with IEPs was not available.
Relative to other districts in Cook County, Algonquin's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among schools in the county. The school does not serve grades that feed four-year graduation rate data, and chronic absenteeism information was not available.
Des Plaines itself is an inner-ring suburb of about fifteen square miles sitting adjacent to O'Hare International Airport, roughly seventeen miles northwest of downtown Chicago. The city mixes residential neighborhoods with commercial corridors and industrial areas tied to the regional airport economy. Downtown life concentrates around the Metra Des Plaines station on the Union Pacific Northwest line, which anchors a walkable core with the Des Plaines Public Library, City Hall, retail, and restaurants. Outside the downtown, the city is spread out and car-oriented. Major employers include Allstate, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Rivers Casino (opened recently), Federal Express, and a range of office and industrial firms serving the Chicago region. The Des Plaines Park District operates recreational facilities including golf courses, a water park, and programs, with several located near downtown. Transit is available through the Metra line and Pace bus service, including the Pace Pulse rapid transit on Dempster Street.
The district, CCSD 62, is implementing structural changes that affect families. Beginning in 2026-27, the district moves from half-day to full-day kindergarten, a change that will reshape schedules and childcare arrangements for incoming kindergarten families. The Board adopted a new five-year strategic plan in April 2024 focused on academic growth and readiness for high school, building an inclusive learning culture, workforce investment, family and community partnerships, and resource use.
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