The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in English language arts. The lowest is 69% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Elementary School
Franklin Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Park Ridge, a built-out residential suburb northwest of Chicago. The school sits on its own campus in a neighborhood setting, distinct from Park Ridge's walkable Uptown district where the library, Metra station, and shops cluster together. The city is defined by spacious Victorian and Georgian homes alongside modern condos, with strong local institutions anchoring daily life: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital as the major employer, the historic Pickwick Theatre, and the Park Ridge Public Library in the walkable downtown.
Enrollment is stable and moderate for this grade band, with students distributed fairly evenly across the six grades. The school's student body is predominantly white, with Asian students comprising the second-largest group, followed by Hispanic students. A substantial share of students come from economically comfortable backgrounds; data on free-or-reduced-price lunch participation was not available, but the surrounding neighborhood reflects the community's overall character as an upscale residential area. Specific enrollment counts for special education or English learners were not reported.
On the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, Franklin's proficiency results in math and English language arts show a clear pattern: grades three and four perform solidly, while grade five drops noticeably. In fourth-grade math, students reached proficiency at a rate well above the midpoint among Cook County districts. Fourth-grade ELA performance was similarly strong. Third-grade performance in both subjects sat firmly in the middle range compared to county peers. The decline at grade five is the notable soft spot. Fifth-grade math proficiency was below the county median, and fifth-grade ELA, while not as weak, also came in below the top-quartile performance the school showed in grade four. In science, fifth graders scored in the middle range on the Illinois Science Assessment. Science results for grade eight were not available because the school does not serve that grade. State testing data for kindergarten through grade two do not exist, as these grades are not assessed under the state's testing regime.
Overall, Franklin's proficiency index, which averages results across tested grades and subjects, placed the school in the top quartile within Cook County. This reflects the solid performance in grades three and four pulling the profile upward. The decline at grade five merits parental inquiry: a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what shifts in instruction, curriculum, or student support occur at that level and whether additional help is available.
The school is situated within Park Ridge CCSD 64, which encompasses seven schools serving the district's families. Two significant district-wide changes affect the school environment. In November 2024, voters approved a major bond referendum for facility upgrades across all schools, including improvements to safety and security systems, HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, classrooms, science labs, ADA accessibility, and special education spaces. This multi-year capital program, branded Protect D64, will modernize school facilities but will also increase local property-tax-funded debt service that families moving to the area would assume. Separately, the district adopted Eureka Squared (Eureka Math²) as its core math curriculum beginning in the 2022-23 school year. This K-8 curriculum change has prompted ongoing parent feedback in the community; families should understand that math instruction follows this framework and that supporting students at home may require familiarity with its approaches.
The housing market in Park Ridge's 60068 zip code reflects the community's upscale character. Home values are substantial and have shown modest year-over-year appreciation. Median rent is moderate to high relative to national standards. Affordability metrics show that both mortgage and rent payments consume a meaningful share of typical household income in the area, though the community overall draws families from middle to upper-middle income backgrounds. The real estate market has moved toward balance, with inventory declining from prior highs and median days on market stabilizing in a moderate range. This is a community where families commit to both the school experience and the residential investment.
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