The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Butterfield Elem School
Butterfield Elementary is a small public school in Lombard serving kindergarten through grade five, located in a suburban residential setting roughly 20 miles west of downtown Chicago. The school is part of Lombard School District 44, which introduced full-day kindergarten in 2022-23 and recently opened the Connect 44 Center with STEAM labs and shared facilities at its middle school.
The enrollment at Butterfield is modest for an elementary school, distributed across its grade bands. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. The school has a white plurality, with significant Asian, Black, and Hispanic representation. Limited data on free-and-reduced-price lunch and special populations means a full economic and support-needs picture is not available from the data provided.
On state assessments administered in 2024-25, Butterfield's results show a mixed academic picture. In grade three, math and English language arts proficiency each sit near half the students meeting state standards. Grade four performs notably stronger in ELA, with a clear majority meeting standards, while math proficiency is in the mid-range. Grade five drops sharply: both math and ELA proficiency fall to around half or below, and science proficiency is notably weaker at just over one-third. The school does not serve grades six through eight; those assessments do not apply here because the school ends at grade five.
Compared against other districts in DuPage County, Butterfield's overall proficiency index—averaging performance across tested subjects and grades—falls below the county midpoint. A parent may want to discuss with the school what accounts for the grade-five decline and what support or interventions address it. State testing data represent a snapshot; school staff can clarify whether particular cohorts present challenges, whether curriculum or staffing transitions align with these patterns, and what reading or math supports exist.
Lombard itself is a long-established village with distinct character zones. The historic downtown near the Metra commuter rail station, Lilacia Park, and the Helen Plum Library creates a walkable, pedestrian-friendly core anchored by local shops, restaurants, and civic landmarks. Away from that center, the village is suburban and auto-oriented, organized around commercial corridors such as Yorktown and retail anchors. The village is actively redeveloping: luxury multifamily housing and upscale single-family infill are underway near Yorktown and along Meyers Road. Major employers include Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, the Yorktown retail and hospitality cluster (including Von Maur, Target, and the Westin), and two higher-education institutions that anchor civic and employment life.
Housing values in the Lombard area are moderate to mid-range for the Chicago suburbs. Home values have risen modestly year-over-year, and rental costs remain relatively stable. The housing market has shown balanced supply and demand in recent months. Mortgage rates and regional employment figures reflect broader economic conditions; real estate fundamentals suggest a stable, moderately priced suburban residential market serving commuters to Chicago.
Butterfield's strength lies in its location within a district that has invested in full-day kindergarten and shared facilities like the Connect 44 Center, signaling attention to instructional time and hands-on learning. The school itself serves a diverse, engaged community. The soft spot is the gap between grades four and five proficiency, which merits conversation with school leadership about curriculum continuity, student transition support, or particular academic needs at that level. A parent considering Butterfield should ask the school directly about this pattern and what targeted support is in place.
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