The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Math. The lowest is 61% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Pleasant Lane Elem School
Pleasant Lane Elementary is a small public school in Lombard, serving kindergarten through fifth grade in a residential suburb roughly twenty miles west of Chicago. The school enrolls a modest student body with a majority white enrollment and smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and Asian students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, making it unclear what portion of families qualify for meal support.
In math, the school's proficiency picture is mixed by grade. Fourth grade performed strongest, with a substantial share of students meeting proficiency. Third and fifth grades landed lower, with roughly two-thirds meeting proficiency. In English language arts, results are similar: fourth grade again performed at a high level, while third and fifth grades came in lower. Fifth grade science proficiency was notably below math and ELA, with less than two-thirds of students meeting the benchmark. Test participation rates across all assessed grades were at or near full attendance, so participation gaps did not drive these results. Illinois made scoring standard changes in recent years, which means comparisons to prior-year data are not straightforward; a parent may want to check with the school on longer-term trends.
Among DuPage County's school districts, Pleasant Lane's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint, which is a meaningful position in a county with substantial variation in test results. That said, the proficiency rates themselves tell a story of uneven performance across subjects and grades rather than consistent strength.
Lombard itself is a mixed-character community. The historic downtown around the Metra commuter station holds civic anchors like Lilacia Park, the newly renovated Helen M. Plum Library, and a walkable core of local shops and restaurants. Most of the village, though, is auto-oriented suburban housing. The Yorktown retail and hospitality corridor, with major anchors and a Westin hotel, is a significant commercial and employment zone. Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and two higher-education institutions also anchor employment locally. Housing costs in the area are moderate relative to national benchmarks, with a typical home value in a middle range and rents aligned to moderate affordability pressures. The housing market shows steady activity, with home prices holding relatively steady year-over-year.
District 44 recently introduced full-day kindergarten, beginning in the 2022-23 school year, replacing its former half-day model. This is a lasting change affecting early childhood logistics for families and expanding instructional time in the foundational year. The district also opened the Connect 44 Center integrated with Glenn Westlake Middle School, adding STEAM labs and athletic facilities that enrich the middle school experience and serve the community in off-hours. Both moves signal investment in the district's programming and facilities.
Pleasant Lane is a neighborhood elementary school positioned as an above-midpoint performer in its county context, with stronger fourth-grade results and areas where proficiency lags in other grades and subjects. The school draws from a stable, predominantly residential community with good road access to Chicago and a mix of local employment and retail. A parent considering the school should ask the administration directly about the underlying trends in the lower-performing grades and what supports are in place for students not yet proficient, since the snapshot data alone do not reveal whether performance is improving or holding steady.
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