Forest Glen Elem School, Glen Ellyn IL

Original Research by School Decision on Forest Glen Elem School

Forest Glen Elementary is a K-5 school in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, serving a community of moderate size for the early elementary grades. The school's academic results across third through fifth grades show a mixed picture: math proficiency ranges from about three-quarters in fourth and fifth grade to higher achievement in third grade, while English language arts results are notably lower in fourth grade relative to the other tested grades. Science performance in fifth grade sits in the mid-range. All students tested participated fully in state assessments.

The school draws from a student population that is solidly middle to upper-middle class. The majority of the enrollment is White, with Asian families comprising a sizable share, and smaller populations of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. The school serves roughly equal numbers of boys and girls across the enrolled grades. Data on students receiving free or reduced-price lunch and on English learners was not available, so a parent may want to contact the school directly to understand how these populations are supported.

Academically, Forest Glen performs above the midpoint among schools in DuPage County on a composite proficiency measure. Third graders perform at a notably stronger level than fourth graders, which may reflect a transition in academic demands, assessment format changes, or other grade-specific factors. The fourth-grade ELA result in particular—about three-fifths proficient—represents a dip and is a soft spot a parent may want to explore with the school to understand what supports are in place for students working toward proficiency at that grade level.

The school sits in Glen Ellyn, a residential western suburb about 23 miles from downtown Chicago, with a pedestrian-friendly historic downtown anchored by a Metra station, alongside auto-oriented commercial corridors. The housing market in the area reflects median home values in the mid to upper range for the region, with annual appreciation; median rental rates place housing costs at roughly one-third of household income for renters. The community is investing in new mixed-income housing downtown and improved transit infrastructure, which suggests stable neighborhood conditions for families with school-age children.

District 41, the parent district, recently launched full-day kindergarten for all families at no cost, beginning in the 2025-26 school year—a shift away from the longtime half-day model and ahead of a state mandate. The district funded this expansion from reserves after a bond referendum failed in 2022. This change affects families with kindergarteners but does not alter the elementary experience at Forest Glen itself.

For families considering Forest Glen, the school offers a solid academic foundation anchored in a stable, affluent suburban community with good transit access. The fourth-grade transition warrants closer conversation with the school, but overall the data reflects competent instruction in the early elementary years within a family-centered neighborhood setting.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 384%

School 84% · District 78% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 473%

School 73% · District 69% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 575%

School 75% · District 68% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 46 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 377%

School 77% · District 71% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 461%

School 61% · District 63% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 578%

School 78% · District 75% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Science

Grade 572%

School 72% · District 65% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

This schoolGlen Ellyn SD 41, 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.