The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Elm Middle School
Elm Middle School is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in Elmwood Park, a dense inner-ring Chicago suburb on the northwest side of the city. The school enrolled students across three grades at the time of the data collection, with roughly equal enrollment in each grade band.
The school's academic profile shows a clear growth trajectory from sixth to eighth grade, particularly pronounced in English language arts. In sixth-grade ELA, about half of students demonstrated proficiency. By seventh grade, that rate rose notably, and by eighth grade, roughly three-quarters of students met the proficiency standard. Math proficiency tells a different story. Sixth graders showed low proficiency rates, seventh graders modestly improved, and eighth graders reached proficiency at a much stronger level. The pattern across grades suggests that students who reach higher grade levels at Elm tend to perform better, though entry-level proficiency in math, especially in sixth grade, represents an area where the school may want to examine early intervention and support structures. Science proficiency data is available only for eighth grade, where roughly half of students met the standard.
When positioned against districts across Cook County, Elm Middle School's overall proficiency index places the school above the midpoint of its peer group, a meaningful anchor that suggests academic performance falls in the stronger half of the county's schools but not at the top tier.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, comprising roughly three-fifths of enrollment. White students make up about a third of the school population, with smaller enrollments of Asian, Black, and mixed-race students. Exact counts of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and those receiving special education or English learner services were not available in the data provided, so a parent should ask the school directly about the proportion of students in those categories if that context matters to their decision.
The school sits within Elmwood Park CUSD 401, a district that has made two significant recent investments. The district completed a substantial renovation and expansion of its two elementary schools, John Mills and Elmwood Elementary, finishing the work in summer 2024. More relevant to Elm Middle School, the district has reorganized its middle and high school curriculum around a College and Career Pathways framework, connecting sixth-grade exploration to high school programs of study and dual-credit options through Triton College, the Technology Center of DuPage, and Benedictine. This structure gives students a longer runway to explore and plan for post-secondary transitions, with clear connections to career certification programs such as nursing assistant and welding.
Elmwood Park itself is a walkable, densely built inner-ring suburb with a strong civic center, Metra rail access, and neighborhood commercial corridors anchored by restaurants and family-owned businesses. The village population is stable to slightly declining, with a quarter of residents born outside the United States, giving the community a notably diverse character. Housing values in the area are firm, and the village continues modest infill development. The proximity to Triton Community College and robust transit connections make post-secondary planning practical for families living here.
A parent considering Elm should understand that the school shows stronger proficiency in reading and language arts than in mathematics at the entry grade level, and that improving sixth-grade math performance could be a worthwhile focus for the school. The upward trajectory through eighth grade is encouraging. The College and Career Pathways framework offers students structure for thinking about their future earlier than many middle schools do, and the dual-credit and certification options available through the high school create clearer post-secondary pathways. For families valuing early exposure to career exploration and connection to local employers and community college, this structure is a genuine strength.
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