The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in English language arts. The lowest is 54% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Terrace Elem School
Terrace Elementary is a small school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Des Plaines, a suburban community northwest of Chicago near O'Hare International Airport. The school enrolls around two hundred students, with a student body that is roughly half white, a third Hispanic, and includes smaller populations of Asian and Black students.
The most recent state assessment data shows mixed academic performance across the grades tested. In third grade, students showed stronger results in both math and English language arts, with a solid majority meeting proficiency. By fourth grade, performance in both subjects declined noticeably. Fifth grade showed the lowest results of the elementary grades assessed, with fewer than half the students meeting proficiency in math and roughly three-fifths meeting proficiency in language arts. Science proficiency in fifth grade, the only grade where the school reported that assessment, was similarly modest. The pattern suggests the school faces challenges in maintaining and deepening learning as students progress through the upper elementary years, particularly in mathematics. A parent may want to ask the school directly about interventions or supports in place for students who fall behind, especially in the later elementary grades.
Terrace operates within CCSD 62, a district that is making significant structural changes. Most notably, the district is transitioning to full-day kindergarten beginning in the 2026-27 school year, which will reshape how families organize childcare and early learning. The district has also adopted a new five-year strategic plan emphasizing academic growth, inclusive learning, workforce development, family partnerships, and resource management. These broader district priorities will shape the environment at Terrace.
Housing in the Des Plaines area is moderately priced for the region. The median home value is in the mid-to-upper three hundred thousands, with monthly rents in the low two thousands. The area is experiencing modest appreciation and remains reasonably affordable relative to national benchmarks. The community has a strong local anchor in the Des Plaines Public Library and is undergoing downtown revitalization centered on transit-oriented development around the Metra station; multiple bus routes and the Union Pacific Northwest commuter rail line provide connectivity. The city is home to major regional employers including Allstate, NorthShore University HealthSystem, and various O'Hare-adjacent businesses.
On the comparison of elementary schools across Cook County districts, Terrace's proficiency index places it in the top quartile, meaning it outperforms the median school in the county, even as performance dips in the upper elementary grades. This positioning reflects stronger third and fourth grade results pulling the overall average upward. There is no state graduation rate data because the school serves only elementary grades, and chronic absenteeism data was not available. Discipline, attendance, and staffing details were not provided in the school's public reporting.
For families considering Terrace, the key factors to weigh are the solid overall standing relative to county peers, offset by the observable decline in proficiency as students move from third through fifth grade. The school's size is small, which can mean closer relationships and more individualized attention but also potentially fewer specialized programs or resources. Whether that trade-off fits depends on a family's priorities for their child's later elementary years and how much they value the school's role in preparing students for the transition to middle school.
See more original research from School Decision →