J Giles Elem School, Norridge IL

Original Research by School Decision on J Giles Elem School

J Giles Elementary School serves grades 5 through 8 in Norridge, a compact, densely built Cook County village surrounded by Chicago, known for its cohesive mid-century residential fabric of postwar ranch homes and bungalows. The school is a regular public school operated by Norridge SD 80.

The school enrolls a student body of roughly mid-sized proportions for its grade band. The demographic composition is predominantly white, with a substantial Asian population and a meaningful Hispanic enrollment; Black enrollment is not reported. The school does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch rates or English learner counts, so family economic profile and English language learner enrollment remain opaque from available data.

Academic results show a marked pattern across tested grades and subjects. In English language arts, proficiency climbs steadily with grade level. Grade 5 sits at a modest level; grade 6 moves into the upper-middle range; grade 7 reaches the low-to-mid 60s percentile range; and grade 8 reaches the upper 70s percentile range, representing a notable strength. Mathematics tells a different story: grades 5 and 6 show low-teen and mid-20s proficiency rates respectively, far below the school's ELA performance at those same grades. Grade 7 proficiency in math reaches the low-to-mid 40s, a meaningful jump, and grade 8 holds in the mid-to-high 30s. Science proficiency in grade 5 sits near the mid-40s; grade 8 reaches the low-to-mid 60s. Taken together, the school shows clear strength in reading and language arts, particularly in the upper grades, while mathematics proficiency across all tested grades remains below the school's ELA baseline and below the midpoint relative to other districts in Cook County. A parent may want to look into the school's approach to mathematics instruction and any targeted supports or interventions in place for middle-grade math learners.

The school's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint among Cook County districts, anchored by strong ELA results that offset the lower mathematics numbers. State testing data for grades 3 and 4 was not available; this reflects the state's assessment scope, which does not test those grades in this school year.

A graduation rate is not applicable to this entity, as J Giles serves only through grade 8. No data on chronic absenteeism, staffing levels, course access, or special education and English learner enrollment counts were available.

Norridge itself is built out and stable. The housing market in the 60706 zip code shows mid-range prices and relatively modest year-over-year appreciation. Rents are moderately above the affordability threshold relative to household income. The village has preserved its postwar character through infill renovation rather than new development, and civic services including parks, library access through the neighboring Eisenhower District, and transit options via Pace bus and nearby CTA Blue Line stations are established community anchors.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 524%

School 24% · District 24%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 626%

School 26% · District 26%

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 744%

School 44% · District 44%

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 836%

School 36% · District 36%

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 563%

School 63% · District 63%

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 668%

School 68% · District 68%

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

Grade 769%

School 69% · District 69%

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

Grade 877%

School 77% · District 77%

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 30 pts above county median

Science

Grade 543%

School 43% · District 43%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 863%

School 63% · District 63%

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

This schoolNorridge SD 80, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.