Belle Aire Elem School, Downers Grove IL

Original Research by School Decision on Belle Aire Elem School

Belle Aire Elementary is a small to mid-sized school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in a residential neighborhood of Downers Grove, west of Chicago. The school sits within Downers Grove Grade School District 58, a district currently navigating significant infrastructure renewal and a structural transition in its grade configuration.

The school's academic standing is solid. In math, proficiency rates across the tested grades (third through sixth) cluster in the high range, with third grade reaching strong performance and fourth through sixth grades steady in the low-to-mid range. English language arts results follow a similar pattern: third graders perform well, fourth grade dips slightly, and fifth and sixth grades recover to solid levels. Science proficiency in fifth grade sits at a moderate level. Across all tested grades in core subjects, the school's average proficiency index positions it in the top quartile among DuPage County's tested schools. In other words, Belle Aire's academic profile is above the midpoint for elementary schools in its county and meets or exceeds typical achievement expectations for schools serving this grade span.

The enrollment is small, under 300 students, with pre-kindergarten through sixth grade represented. The student body is predominantly white, with Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students making up meaningful shares of the population. The school's racial and ethnic composition differs from some surrounding urban areas, reflecting the residential character of the Downers Grove neighborhood where it sits.

Data on free and reduced lunch eligibility, English learner populations, and special education enrollment was not available, leaving gaps in the full picture of socioeconomic diversity and support needs at the school.

Downers Grove itself is a mid-to-upper-income suburb in DuPage County with a strong housing market anchored by a revitalized downtown around Main Street and the Metra commuter rail station. Home values in the area have risen in recent years, and housing remains active; the rental market is also well-developed. The village blends historic neighborhoods with newer construction, and families willing to invest in the community will find walkable downtown amenities, corporate and healthcare employers, and established schools. This is not an affordable suburb by regional standards, and home prices reflect demand from families prioritizing school quality and commuter access.

The district is in the middle of two major changes. A substantial facilities bond passed in 2022 will fund renovation of all 13 school buildings through 2026, raising the local property tax rate for homeowners. At the same time, the district is restructuring grades, moving sixth graders from elementary schools to middle schools beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Belle Aire will transition from a K-6 to a K-5 configuration as part of this shift. Both changes are ongoing through the school year and will reshape the student population and building use over the next year or two.

Belle Aire offers a standard elementary curriculum and appears to function as a neighborhood school without special magnet or alternative designation. The school's test results and position relative to county peers suggest it is meeting grade-level expectations and serving its community at a level consistent with suburban achievement norms. For families already committed to the Downers Grove area, Belle Aire represents a neighborhood option with measurable academic results and established community ties. Prospective families should factor in the property tax implications of the bond, the upcoming grade restructuring, and whether the school's small size and current demographic composition fit their needs.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 389%

School 89% · District 78% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 43 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 477%

School 77% · District 67% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 588%

School 88% · District 69% · ▲ 19 pts above district

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

Grade 679%

School 79% · District 63% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 56 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 379%

School 79% · District 69% · ▲ 10 pts above district

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

Grade 474%

School 74% · District 76% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 584%

School 84% · District 74% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 679%

School 79% · District 79%

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

Science

Grade 575%

School 75% · District 65% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

This schoolDowners Grove GSD 58, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income46%Higher-income61%15 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income54%Higher-income78%25 pp gap