The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Caroline Sibley Elem School
Caroline Sibley Elementary is a small, traditional public school in Calumet City serving kindergarten through sixth grade. The school currently enrolls a small student body and is located on Sibley Boulevard, the commercial spine of the community. The student body is predominantly Black, with a small Hispanic enrollment and very few students of other races.
The school's academic performance in 2024-25 on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is notably low. In mathematics, proficiency rates range from below ten percent in grades three and four to slightly lower rates in grade five. In English language arts, proficiency is somewhat higher but still limited: third graders achieved around thirteen percent proficiency, fourth graders around twenty-eight percent, and fifth graders around eighteen percent. Science proficiency, measured on a different assessment in grade five, shows zero proficiency. A parent should be aware that these results place the school well below the median proficiency rate when compared against other districts in Cook County. The school meets the state's standard for test participation in most grades, though science participation in grade five was notably lower. It is not clear from the available data whether the school benefits from Title I funding or additional resources, and enrollment counts by special population are not available, so a parent may want to contact the school directly for information about services for English learners, students with disabilities, or economically disadvantaged families.
Calumet City itself is a working-class, diverse suburb on the Illinois-Indiana border that has experienced population decline over recent decades. The residential real estate market in the area is modestly valued compared to the state and national benchmarks, and rental costs remain relatively affordable. The community is anchored by retail (notably the River Oaks Center) and by the Calumet Memorial Park District, which operates recreation facilities and parks. Transit connections include the South Shore Line commuter rail and Pace suburban bus service. The city has unveiled major redevelopment plans for River Oaks Center that would add residential and mixed-use space over the coming years, though those plans remain in early phases. Walkability in Calumet City varies by neighborhood; Sibley Boulevard itself is moderately walkable with some very walkable intersections, but many areas are auto-dependent.
Dolton School District 149 serves three municipalities including Calumet City. In recent years, the district has launched a Career and Technical Education program for middle schoolers offering pathways in skilled trades, culinary arts, performing arts, music production, agriculture, cosmetology, and barbering, with enrollment growing significantly in its second year. Beginning in 2024-25, the district also reorganized its middle school into grade-level centers and moved sixth graders from elementary schools into the middle school building. For families considering Caroline Sibley, this means sixth grade will take place in a separate building designed around grade-level organization rather than remaining in the elementary school. The available data does not show what programming or supports Caroline Sibley itself offers beyond standard coursework, so a parent may want to discuss with school leadership what literacy and mathematics interventions, if any, are in place to address the proficiency gaps evident in recent results.
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