The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on V H Nelson Elem School
V H Nelson Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Niles, a mixed-use Chicago suburb with high ethnic diversity, significant manufacturing and retail presence, and active residential redevelopment. The school sits within East Maine School District 63, which spans multiple communities and is currently working toward a major facilities bond.
The school's student body reflects Niles's diversity, with roughly a third Hispanic, a third white, and a smaller but substantial share Asian. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving these grades. Free and reduced-price lunch data and special education enrollment rates were not available, so a parent may want to look into the school directly about support services and the population these serve.
Academic performance presents a mixed picture. On the most recent Illinois Assessment of Readiness, third-grade students showed the strongest results in both math and English language arts, with proficiency approaching half. By fourth and fifth grades, proficiency rates drop notably, falling to roughly a quarter in math for both grades and remaining in the low-to-mid range for language arts. Science results in fifth grade showed similar low proficiency. The state changed its cut score that year, which affects comparability to prior years, so the school notes that trend analysis is not yet possible. Across its tested grades, the school's proficiency index sits below the midpoint when compared with other Cook County districts, suggesting room for improvement in academic outcomes. A parent may want to ask the school about the gap between third and fourth grade and what instructional changes or supports are in place to address it.
Participation rates were strong at or near full across tested grades and subjects. The school tests and assesses its students consistently, which is a baseline strength.
Niles itself is in transition. The village's population has declined modestly since 2020, but it is undertaking its largest development push in decades. The signature project is the Golf Mill Town Center redevelopment, which will replace the aging shopping mall with mixed-use space including apartments, retail, and public gathering areas. Smaller infill housing projects are also adding apartments and new restaurants along Milwaukee Avenue. This represents a shift in the village's character from pure retail dominance toward mixed-income residential neighborhoods, which may mean shifting school enrollment patterns and community composition in the years ahead.
The housing market reflects suburban stability with a modest upward trend. Home values in the Niles area are mid-range for the Cook County suburbs, and rents are moderate. Affordability is reasonable relative to incomes, though like most of the region it reflects broader housing cost pressures. The retail footprint that defines Niles makes it an auto-oriented place; walkability is limited, though the village operates a free bus service connecting shopping centers, the library, and public facilities.
District 63 itself is aging. Most schools in the district are between roughly five and six decades old and require major upgrades. The district has scheduled community meetings on a proposed bond referendum for potential November 2026 placement on the ballot, which would fund significant renovations. If approved, it would add a direct and lasting property tax cost for homeowners. The district completed a Master Plan several years ago that included opening a new early learning center in 2020, shifting all sixth graders to one middle school, and expanding full-day kindergarten, changes that remain in place. A parent considering this school in a district under such infrastructure pressure may want to understand the district's timeline for upgrades and how any bond outcome might affect school operations or priorities.
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