The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Science. The lowest is 38% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Olive C Martin School
Olive C Martin School is a PreK–5 elementary school in Lake Villa, a small residential village in northern Lake County anchored by twin glacial lakes and a compact historic downtown along Cedar Avenue. The school enrolls a student body that is racially and ethnically diverse: roughly equal shares of Hispanic and white students, with smaller populations of Asian, Black, and multiracial children. The enrollment spans from Pre-K through fifth grade, with the fifth-grade cohort being the largest. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, so a parent seeking that information will want to contact the school directly.
The school sits at a moment when the district has made significant changes affecting classroom instruction and school life. Most recently, sixth grade moved from the elementary schools into Palombi Middle School, so Olive C Martin now serves only PreK through fifth. The district adopted new core math materials—Illustrative Math, Number Corner, DreamBox, and Imagine Math—across all grades, shifting toward conceptual understanding and real-world problem-solving rather than procedural routines. This is a visible change in what and how math gets taught. All four schools in the district, including Olive C Martin, achieved Leader in Me Lighthouse Status certification, a schoolwide framework based on Stephen Covey's Seven Habits that shapes daily expectations and school culture.
State test results are available for grades 3, 4, and 5 in English language arts and math, with grade 5 also taking the science assessment. In English language arts, proficiency in grade 5 is above the other grades, while grades 3 and 4 cluster below midpoint. Math proficiency is lower across all grades, with third grade performing strongest among the three. Science proficiency in grade 5 is above half. When compared across the county's districts, Olive C Martin's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint, meaning test performance is lower than the typical Lake County elementary school.
These results warrant a parent's attention. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school about what instructional changes are in progress to address lower math proficiency, how new math materials are being implemented, what supplemental support is available, and whether early gains are visible in grade 3 as the new curriculum takes root. The district has articulated commitment to Response to Intervention and enrichment services as part of its three-year teaching and learning plan, and Olive C Martin can explain how those supports operate for a student falling below proficiency.
The village of Lake Villa itself is in active growth. Cedar Lake Estates, a large Lennar single-family subdivision, received final approval in March 2026 and is beginning to come online with homes ranging in square footage. Starling Senior Apartments, a 40-unit age-restricted development, was approved in April 2024. Downtown, the Village is pursuing mixed-use redevelopment through a newly selected developer, and is acquiring the former Pleviak Elementary School property for transformation. Housing values have risen moderately year over year, and rental costs have increased at a faster pace. The Lake Villa Metra station on the North Central Service line provides weekday access to regional job centers and Chicago. The community has a small-town character organized around the lakes and downtown, with farmers markets, seasonal festivals, and parks providing neighborhood life.
The school's grade configuration and its location in a village experiencing residential growth mean enrollment patterns may shift as new subdivisions build out. A parent considering Olive C Martin should understand the district's current academic performance relative to the county, the instructional changes underway in math, and the school's role within a district that has committed to a unified pedagogical culture across all four schools.
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