Original Research by School Decision on Holmes Elem School
Holmes Elementary School is a regular public school in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, serving children from prekindergarten through second grade. The school enrolls students across a small geographic footprint, with approximately seventy-three children in pre-K, a larger cohort in kindergarten and first grade, and a very small number of second-graders. This early-grades configuration means Holmes does not participate in state testing and has no graduation rate; the academic performance data are not applicable to this grade band.
The student body reflects Clarendon Hills' affluent, diverse west-suburban character. White students make up a substantial plurality of the enrollment, with sizable populations of Asian and Hispanic students. Black students and students of two or more races form smaller portions; the school also enrolls a very small number of American Indian/Alaska Native students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data were not available, a reporting gap that commonly occurs for early-childhood settings.
The school is part of Maercker School District 60, an elementary district serving this corner of DuPage County. The district made a meaningful addition beginning in the 2024-25 school year: a new Preschool for All program offering forty tuition-free preschool seats at Holmes, complementing the existing fee-based early childhood offering. This expansion provides free early-access pathways for families who previously would have paid tuition.
Clarendon Hills itself is a built-out, affluent residential village roughly eighteen miles west of Chicago, with a walkable downtown core anchored by the Metra station, shops, cafés, and seasonal street events. The village is largely developed; recent activity focuses on infill and redevelopment such as downtown row homes and mixed-use buildings rather than sprawl. Housing values are substantial, reflecting the community's profile as a professional bedroom community. The median home price has remained stable with modest appreciation, and homes sell relatively quickly. Residents typically commute to work, with the Metra BNSF line and Pace bus service providing transit access.
Without state testing results, a visitor's sense of Holmes depends on direct engagement with the school. Prospective families may want to reach out to Holmes or the district office to learn about curriculum, teaching approach, class size, and the early-childhood learning environment. The school sits within a district that has recently demonstrated commitment to access by creating tuition-free preschool seats, a signal of an intentional stance toward early learning in this affluent suburb.
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