The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rosa L Parks Middle School
Rosa L Parks Middle School serves fifth through eighth graders in Dixmoor, a small, predominantly residential south-suburban village in Cook County's Calumet corridor, about 17 miles south of downtown Chicago. The school is part of West Harvey-Dixmoor Public School District 147, a multi-town district serving two communities with long ties to manufacturing and industrial work.
The student body reflects the demographic composition of the surrounding area: a majority Hispanic/Latino enrollment alongside a substantial Black population. The school draws roughly equal numbers of students across its four grade bands, with a total enrollment of moderate size for the grade band it serves.
State test results show marked weakness across mathematics and English language arts. In mathematics, proficiency is very low. Fifth graders achieved no proficiency on 2024-25 state testing, sixth graders reached a single-digit proficiency rate, seventh graders achieved low single-digit proficiency, and eighth graders also achieved low single-digit proficiency. Participation in testing was complete across all grades. English language arts results are higher than mathematics but still low. Fifth graders reached around one in five students proficient, sixth graders approximately one in five, seventh graders just over one in four, and eighth graders approximately one in six. Science proficiency data was available for fifth and eighth grades only; both showed proficiency below one in ten. Testing participation was complete in science.
When compared against the other districts in Cook County, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. The comparison reflects broad struggles across all tested subjects and grade levels.
Information on free and reduced price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, English learner enrollment, chronic absenteeism, and discipline was not available. Graduation rate and four-year attendance measures do not apply because the school does not serve high school students. No data on program offerings, course access, staffing levels, or extracurricular opportunities was provided.
The school's location in Dixmoor reflects a community experiencing population decline and infrastructure challenges. The village has lost residents over recent years and has invested heavily in replacing aging water mains and service lines after years of service disruptions. Employment in the area concentrates in retail trade, manufacturing, and support services, with median household incomes low and poverty rates high. The district recently approved a property tax levy increase that will raise local funding beginning in 2026.
At the elementary level, the district has adopted an evidence-based phonics-based reading curriculum called Wonders and Maravillas, alongside Heggerty for phonemic awareness instruction. However, this change applies to grades K through 3 and early learning, not to the middle school grades served by Rosa L Parks.
A parent or resident considering this school should understand that state testing results reflect very low proficiency across core academic subjects, with particular struggle in mathematics. The school's academic performance is notably below the median for its county comparison set. Given these results, parents may want to investigate further with the school about instructional approaches, intervention supports, and specific academic programs to understand what systems are in place to address these proficiency gaps and how individual students receive academic support. Clarity on enrollment demographics, English learner services, and special education programming would also help families assess fit.
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