The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 68% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pleasant Ridge Elem School
Pleasant Ridge Elementary serves grades three through five in Glenview, part of Glenview CCSD 34, and draws students from an affluent North Shore suburb that has seen substantial recent growth and investment. The school sits within a community marked by strong property values, active civic institutions, and steady demographic change as master-planned development at The Glen (the former Naval Air Station) adds mixed housing to long-established single-family neighborhoods.
The school's state assessment results show proficiency clusters that differ by grade and subject. In mathematics across grades three through five, about two-thirds of students score proficient or above, with the strongest showing in third grade and a dip in the fourth-grade cohort. English language arts results track higher overall, particularly in fifth grade where proficiency exceeds three-quarters of the tested group. Science, tested only in fifth grade here, sits in the lower seventies. These results place the school in the top quartile of proficiency when measured against the county's tested schools, a meaningful strength. However, parents may want to look into further what supports the school offers to the roughly one-third of students not yet meeting grade-level standards, and how intervention and enrichment are structured across the three grades. Testing participation rates are very high across the board, suggesting reliable data collection.
The school serves roughly a mid-sized elementary cohort spread fairly evenly across its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with meaningful representation of Hispanic students and a smaller Asian population; a very small count of students from other racial and ethnic groups; and no data available on English learners, students receiving special education services, or the share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This absence of demographic detail limits visibility into potential achievement gaps or the depth of English-learner support. The school itself reports no free or reduced-price lunch count, which may reflect how the district collects or reports that data rather than the actual economic profile of the school community.
Glenview as a place is a family-oriented residential suburb undergoing infill growth. Home values in the school's zip code have appreciated steadily, and properties move quickly on the market. Two distinct commercial cores, the historic downtown around the Metra station and the newer Glen development, anchor civic life. Walkability varies sharply: the downtown area is quite walkable, but most neighborhoods score lower, and most families rely on cars for daily errands. Civic anchors include a highly regarded park district, a well-used public library with programming for children, and the Kohl Children's Museum. The community hosts significant employers across pharmaceuticals, retail, and distribution.
The district itself faces a fiscal headwind. In November 2024, voters rejected an operating rate referendum that would have raised property taxes to address budget shortfalls. School leaders indicated the failure would necessitate difficult program and staffing decisions. This creates real uncertainty about resource availability going forward and is a material factor for parents considering this school. The district has, however, executed recent capital improvements and expanded kindergarten to full-day offerings following a successful 2020 bond referendum, so facilities are relatively modern. No information was available on the school's specific programs, course breadth, special services, or staffing levels, so parents seeking details on those fronts should reach directly to the school.
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