The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in English language arts. The lowest is 72% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hickory Grove Elementary School
Hickory Grove Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Dunlap, a fast-growing suburb north of Peoria. The school sits within Dunlap CUSD 323, a district managing one high school, two middle schools, and five elementary schools across a territory spanning multiple townships. The student body at Hickory Grove numbers around mid-size for an elementary school of this grade band, with a demographic composition that leans substantially toward white and Asian students, alongside smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, and Native American students.
In mathematics, proficiency rates cluster in the mid-to-upper range. Third grade achieves proficiency at a solid clip, fourth grade reaches a higher mark, and fifth grade dips noticeably lower. In English language arts, the pattern holds steadier across grades three and four, while fifth grade maintains strength. Science proficiency in fifth grade sits in the low-to-mid range. All reported grades show full test participation. The school's overall proficiency index across these tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Peoria County, a meaningful positioning that reflects consistent performance above the typical school in the area.
State testing results for grades six through eight do not appear in the data because this is a pre-K-through-5 school; Hickory Grove serves only the early elementary span. Free-and-reduced-price lunch data, special education enrollment, and English learner enrollment rates are not available from the source. Attendance and discipline information were also not provided.
The district is in a moment of significant change. A major bond authorization approved in October 2025 will fund a new two-story elementary school on North Pacific Street, designed to house around mid-range enrollment and intended eventually to replace another school while relieving district-wide overcrowding. Hickory Grove, originally designed for capacity around low-to-mid numbers, now houses approximately that same figure, reflecting broader strain across the district. Enrollment is projected to climb substantially over the next decade, driven by active residential development: nearly twenty new subdivisions are under construction throughout Dunlap and the surrounding area, including developments with names like Copperfield, the Villas of Waterstone, and Wynncrest. This means the school's peer environment and class sizes are likely to shift as the district absorbs growth and eventual boundary changes when the new school opens.
Dunlap itself is a predominantly residential village with a small-town feel despite being part of the Peoria metropolitan area. The village core spans only about sixteen blocks with minimal commercial activity, though residents describe the neighborhoods as walkable. Major employment in the area is anchored regionally by Caterpillar, which maintains an office in Dunlap. Civic anchors include the Dunlap Public Library and a county demand-response transit system connecting to Peoria. Housing in the broader area is moderately valued compared to state and national benchmarks, and the market shows modest year-over-year appreciation with moderate inventory levels. Families moving to the area tend to own their homes and range from established families to young professionals seeking proximity to Peoria's job market without urban density.
For a family evaluating Hickory Grove, the key takeaway is a school performing at a solid level academically, particularly in English language arts where proficiency is sustained across its upper grades. Math shows strength in the middle grades but weakens in fifth, worth watching as students prepare for middle school transition. The school sits within a district managing significant enrollment growth and capital investment, which means families may want to check with the district directly about any pending boundary changes or classroom-capacity adjustments as the new elementary school progresses. The broader community context is one of active growth and development, which shapes both the school's near-term operating environment and its longer-term trajectory.
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