The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Brentwood Elem School
Brentwood Elementary School is a K-5 regular public school in Des Plaines, serving a mixed student population in a mature inner-ring suburb of Chicago. The school enrolls a small-to-moderate-sized group across its grade band, with representation across racial and ethnic groups: a plurality are white, followed by sizable shares of Hispanic, Asian, and Black students. Specific counts for free-or-reduced-price lunch and English learners were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the share of students receiving services or support.
Illinois state testing data from 2024-25 shows academic performance below the midpoint relative to other Cook County districts in the subjects and grades tested. In third-grade mathematics, about half of students scored proficient or above. Performance dips notably in upper grades: fourth graders achieved proficiency at lower rates in math, and fifth graders showed proficiency around or below the lowest quartile in both math and English language arts. Science proficiency in fifth grade aligned with ELA results. The trend across grades suggests students face steeper academic demands as content advances. A parent weighing Brentwood would be wise to understand what support structures or instructional approaches the school offers for students working below proficiency, and whether the school tracks progress over time. State testing does not assess kindergarten through second grade, so reading and foundational skills development in those years are not visible in this data.
Des Plaines itself is an inner-ring suburb roughly 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, adjacent to O'Hare International Airport. The city spans about 15 square miles with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial land uses. Downtown centers on the Metra Des Plaines station on the Union Pacific Northwest line and the Des Plaines Public Library; the city is pursuing transit-oriented development including mixed-use projects, renovated historic buildings, and new apartment and townhome construction near the station. Outside downtown, the community is car-oriented and spread out. Major employers include Rivers Casino, Allstate, NorthShore University HealthSystem, and firms tied to O'Hare logistics and transportation. Housing costs in the zip code are moderate, with home values showing recent modest appreciation and rental costs stable; affordability metrics suggest the area is accessible to middle-income households.
The school sits within Comm Cons School District 59, a traditionally structured elementary district serving Des Plaines and surrounding areas. In 2023, the school board rejected a proposed district-wide reorganization that would have restructured schools into grade-level centers and redistricted attendance. That decision preserved the current neighborhood-school model, which shapes where families live within the district. A 2023 school board election brought in new leadership primarily in opposition to the rejected reorganization plan, subsequent board appointments in 2024 solidified that majority, and the superintendent's contract was not renewed in 2025, signaling a material shift in district direction. Beginning 2024-25, junior high students in the district must store cellphones in lockers during the school day, a policy shift affecting upper-elementary and middle-grade learning environments.
No data on graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, staffing, or detailed program offerings were available for the school. The school's website address was also not provided. A parent considering Brentwood would benefit from connecting directly with the school to discuss teaching approaches, how the school supports students below proficiency, enrichment or intervention programs, school culture, and the school's relationship to district leadership changes now underway.
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