Central Elem School, Des Plaines IL

Original Research by School Decision on Central Elem School

Central Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Des Plaines, an inner-ring Chicago suburb about 17 miles northwest of downtown, adjacent to O'Hare International Airport. The school draws from a residential community with significant diversity: roughly half the enrollment is white, with substantial Hispanic, Asian, and smaller Black and Pacific Islander populations. The enrollment is modest, around small for a suburban elementary, spread across six main grades plus a tiny sixth-grade cohort.

On state testing, the school shows uneven performance. In English language arts, third through fifth graders achieved proficiency rates in the mid-to-high range: third grade earned a solid rate, fourth grade slightly higher, and fifth grade in the low-to-mid range, with test participation near universal. Math results follow a similar pattern, strongest in fourth grade and weaker in both third and fifth. Science proficiency in fifth grade was notably lower, roughly in the low-to-mid range. The school sits above the median proficiency level among Cook County districts, though that is a broad county with high variation. One caveat: Illinois changed its proficiency cut scores across subjects in the 2024-25 school year, so long-term trend comparison with prior years is not available.

The school sits in an outer, car-oriented part of Des Plaines away from the downtown core and transit hub. Housing values in the Des Plaines area are moderate relative to the broader Chicago region, and rents are similarly mid-range. The neighborhood supports a stable residential base with both owner-occupied homes and rental stock. The broader Des Plaines economy anchors on employers near O'Hare, downtown revitalization efforts centered on transit and mixed-use development, and a mix of commercial and industrial sites, though this particular school's zone is primarily single-family residential.

The district, Community Consolidated School District 62, is in transition on a foundational matter: full-day kindergarten arrives in the 2026-27 school year, replacing the current half-day model. This is a tangible change for families with young children, affecting schedules, childcare, and early learning time. The district adopted a new five-year strategic plan in April 2024 with goals spanning academic readiness for high school, inclusive learning culture, workforce investment, and family-community partnerships, setting the direction for curriculum and resource allocation across the coming years.

Information about the school's special education services, English learner supports, free or reduced price lunch participation, staffing, and attendance was not available. No data was provided on whether the school has a Title I designation or on any discipline, course access, or specialized program offerings. A parent may want to reach out to the school directly to understand what support services are available and how the shift to full-day kindergarten will unfold operationally.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 361%

School 61% · District 63% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 470%

School 70% · District 53% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 41 pts above county median

Grade 559%

School 59% · District 46% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 369%

School 69% · District 63% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Grade 467%

School 67% · District 59% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 562%

School 62% · District 64% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Science

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 41% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

This schoolCCSD 62, 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.