The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in English language arts. The lowest is 63% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Steeple Run Elem School
Steeple Run Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Naperville, a large suburb about a half hour west of Chicago. The school draws from a prosperous, diverse community where home values are substantial and the housing market is stable. Enrollment sits at a moderate size for an elementary school, with a student body that is roughly half white, with a meaningful Asian population, substantial Hispanic enrollment, and smaller shares of Black students and students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Testing data covers the school's full grade band. In math, third and fourth graders show solid proficiency, with fourth grade performing notably better than third. Fifth grade math proficiency dips noticeably, which a parent may want to look into further with the school to understand what factors drive the change and what supports exist. In English language arts, the pattern is inverted. Third grade lags behind fourth and fifth grades, both of which show stronger results. Science data is available only for fifth grade, where proficiency in that subject is moderate. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school sits above the midpoint when compared to other elementary schools in DuPage County, the county in which it resides.
Free and reduced lunch data was not available, and information about the share of students receiving special education services or English learner support was not provided. The data sections do not explain why these figures are absent, so a family interested in that context would benefit from asking the school directly about student needs and services.
Naperville CUSD 203, the district housing the school, is actively reshaping curriculum and instruction across its schools. The district is undertaking a substantial, multiyear investment in new K through 12 literacy materials, replacing curriculum that had not been updated since the early 2000s. At the secondary level, the district has expanded English learner programs and redesigned course offerings in career pathways, adding new options in biomedical science and other fields. The district is also exploring a wider restructuring of the school day through block scheduling and other changes targeted for implementation in coming years, a proposal that has prompted vigorous community and staff discussion.
The Naperville housing market around the school's zip code reflects the community's affluence, with median home values well above state and national benchmarks. Rental costs are correspondingly high. The market is showing modest year-over-year appreciation and stable activity. The area is part of a city with strong civic anchors, including a highly regarded public library system, extensive parks and the Riverwalk, and two Metra commuter rail stations linking families to Chicago employment. Population growth in Naperville is gradual but steady, and new residential developments are underway, so the school's enrollment may see modest increases over time.
Steeple Run is a standard public elementary school serving a majority-comfortable, multicultural neighborhood in a prosperous district that is investing in curriculum renewal and expanding program pathways. Test results show strength in upper elementary literacy and proficiency in mathematics among younger grades, with softness in fifth grade math that warrants conversation with school staff.
See more original research from School Decision →