The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Science. The lowest is 64% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Anna Mcdonald Elem School
Anna McDonald Elementary School serves grades 2 and 3 in Manhattan, a small but growing village in Will County, Illinois, about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. The school sits in a district undergoing significant structural change. In 2024, Manhattan School District 114 opened a new junior high and reconfigured all its buildings by grade level. Anna McDonald now focuses exclusively on grades 2 and 3, after the 2022 bond referendum passed to add that new facility and relieve crowding from rapid enrollment growth.
The school's current enrollment is substantial for its grade band, with roughly equal numbers of second and third graders. The student body is predominantly white, with modest Hispanic representation and small numbers of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, so a reader cannot determine the share of economically disadvantaged students from the available figures.
On state testing in English Language Arts and Math (Illinois Assessment of Reading, or IAR), Anna McDonald's third-grade results show proficiency near the midpoint statewide. In third-grade ELA, the school's proficiency rate was in the low-to-mid range, and in third-grade math it was similar. Testing data for fourth and fifth grades is not reported, which reflects the school's recent reconfiguration into a grades-2-3 building; students who would have been in fourth and fifth grade at Anna McDonald under the old structure now attend Manhattan Intermediate School. In science, where the school tested fifth graders in the prior school year before the grade realignment, results were notably stronger, running well above the state midpoint.
Across all reported testing grades and subjects, Anna McDonald's proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the county's school districts. This comparison reflects both the school's performance and, in part, the composition of Will County's districts, which includes some schools with lower overall proficiency. A parent interested in whether this places Anna McDonald above or below the median statewide would need to seek that benchmark separately; the available comparison anchors it only within the county.
Manhattan itself is a predominantly residential village with a car-oriented character and a spreading pattern of new residential subdivisions. Home values have been rising moderately, and the median home value in the area is in the mid-range for the state. The village is attracting younger families, with population growth and ongoing new-construction activity. Residents commute out for work more than they work locally; the community functions as a bedroom region with access to rail service via the Metra station, though service is limited. The district's 2022 bond passed with strong voter support and did not trigger a property tax increase for homeowners, a factor that may reflect the district's financial planning and may be relevant to families weighing the school's stability and resources.
Special education and English learner enrollment figures were not available in the data provided. The school's staffing, discipline records, and course-access information were also absent, so a parent would want to request those details directly from the school or district office to understand supports available, classroom environment, and any special programs.
Anna McDonald is a mainstream elementary school in a district in transition, serving a growing suburban area with stable housing demand and families moving in for new residential development and school access. The top-quartile proficiency performance and strong science results suggest solid core instruction, though a reader should note that testing captures only English language arts and mathematics in the grades where data is available, and only one science snapshot. The recent reconfiguration means families should verify current grade assignments and building assignments before enrolling, as the district's structure is now finalized but relatively new.
See more original research from School Decision →