The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 57% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Homestead Elementary School
Homestead Elementary is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Aurora, Illinois, as part of Community Unit School District 308 (CUSD 308). The school sits in a mixed-income suburban setting where the housing market has appreciated modestly in recent years, with single-family homes and rental apartments forming the backdrop for a student body that reflects the wider Aurora area's racial and ethnic diversity.
The school enrolls a student population roughly evenly split between boys and girls, with a sizable Asian American presence, followed by white, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial families, along with smaller numbers of American Indian and Native Hawaiian students. Specific data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility was not available, so a parent seeking clarity on economic composition or the extent of poverty-concentrated support should check with the school directly. The school does not currently report English learner enrollment or special education enrollment counts, though again the school can clarify both to families with direct questions. The overall school is of moderate size for its grade band.
On state testing, Homestead's picture is mixed. In English language arts, the school shows genuine strength: fourth and fifth graders both achieve proficiency at substantially higher rates, with fourth grade performing particularly well. Third grade ELA results are notably lower, however, sitting below the school's fourth and fifth grade performance. In mathematics, results are more uneven. Third grade performs at a reasonable level in math, fifth grade also shows solid proficiency, but fourth grade math proficiency dips below both, suggesting that particular grade or cohort may face stronger instructional needs. Science testing data is limited to fifth grade only, where proficiency sits in the moderate range. The school participates fully in state testing with high participation rates across grades. A parent should note that Illinois changed its proficiency cut scores for 2024-25, so year-over-year growth comparisons are not yet possible from this data.
Positioned against the other districts in Will County, Homestead's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among county schools, a solid position though not at the very top of the distribution. The school serves the portion of Aurora that falls within District 308's boundaries; the broader city is also served by West Aurora and East Aurora school districts, as well as Indian Prairie District, so families choosing schools in Aurora have meaningful alternatives depending on address.
District 308 itself has recently shifted its instructional approach. In 2022 the district adopted new project-based and problem-based inquiry curricula for K-5 social studies and junior-high mathematics, with materials available in both English and Spanish. This represents a meaningful pedagogical change that shapes daily classroom life. Beyond curriculum, the district is actively addressing aging facilities: a three-phase Long-Range Facility Plan was approved in late 2024, and officials are considering placing a substantial bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot to fund HVAC, roof, and flooring upgrades at schools built during the early 2000s growth surge. Because existing long-term debt is being retired concurrently, property-tax impact calculations suggest material reductions in debt-service taxes for homeowners starting in 2028 and a further reduction in subsequent years, making this a property-tax consideration worth tracking if you are a prospective buyer or current resident.
Aurora itself sits in an active revitalization phase, with multiple downtown residential projects underway or approved along the Fox River, including affordable housing initiatives. Major employers include Caterpillar, Rush-Copley and Ascension Mercy medical centers, JPMorgan Chase's technology operations, the school districts themselves, and Aurora University. The city has a walkable historic downtown core with the Paramount Theatre, Hollywood Casino, and other cultural anchors, though most neighborhoods remain car-dependent suburban development. Housing costs are moderate relative to national benchmarks, and rental and mortgage affordability metrics suggest manageable housing-cost burdens for median-income households in the area.
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