The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Chateaux School
Chateaux School is a small elementary school in Hazel Crest serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. The school enrolled a small student body with a large majority of Black students; very few white, Hispanic, or multiracial students attend. Enrollment is concentrated in the lower elementary grades, with fewer students in the tested grades. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available in the source.
The school's most recent state test results show low proficiency across both math and English language arts. In math, third grade achieved a proficiency rate in the low double digits, fourth grade fell to single digits, and fifth grade registered proficiency at only single digits. English language arts showed a comparable pattern: third grade was in the low double digits, fourth grade was similar, and fifth grade was around that same level. Science proficiency in fifth grade was also in the low double digits. Participation in state testing was full, and the school administered the assessments with no logistical gaps. When placed against the pool of schools in Cook County, Chateaux's overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile, meaning a substantial majority of schools in the county show stronger results.
It is important to note that Illinois changed the proficiency cut scores for all tested subjects in the most recent year, so direct year-to-year comparison is not reliable from these data alone. A parent may want to look into what the school's longer-term performance trajectory looks like and whether recent changes in curriculum, staffing, or instructional support are underway. The state testing data available here reflect one year of results.
Hazel Crest itself is a dense, owner-occupied residential village south of Chicago with modest single-family homes, townhouses, and worker's cottages. Most residents drive; the village is served by the Metra Electric Line at Hazel Crest station and several Pace bus routes. Anchor employers include Advocate South Suburban Hospital and Mi-Jack Products; health care and finance are the leading employment sectors. The village is in the midst of infill and revitalization efforts rather than new expansion, with partnerships underway to restore abandoned townhouse units and plans for mixed-use development and a formal downtown vision. The Hazel Crest Park District maintains parkland with walking paths, play areas, and recreational programming, and the Grande Prairie Public Library serves the community. Median home values in the local zip code are modest, and median rent is accessible compared to broader county figures.
Chateaux School feeds into middle and high schools outside Hazel Crest, as Prairie-Hills ESD 144 campuses for those grades are located in Markham and Country Club Hills. The district recently opened Prairie-Hills S.T.E.A.M. Academy, a science, technology, engineering, arts, and math-themed elementary school also in Markham, giving families a dedicated pathway option within the district if they seek that curriculum emphasis.
A parent considering Chateaux would be evaluating a small, neighborhood elementary school serving a predominantly Black student population in a stable, car-dependent residential suburb. Test proficiency is well below the county median. Learning more directly from the school about recent instructional initiatives, staffing changes, student support services, and family engagement would help clarify the trajectory and fit for a child.
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