The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in English language arts. The lowest is 65% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Lincoln Elementary
Lincoln Elementary serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Plainfield, a southwest Chicago suburb that is among the fastest-growing communities in Illinois. The school sits in a district facing both assets and immediate fiscal headwinds that parents should weigh.
On academics, Lincoln Elementary's test results show solid performance. In English language arts, third-graders reached proficiency at a rate above the state midpoint; fourth-graders sat at the midpoint; and fifth-graders performed well above it. Mathematics results were more modest: third and fourth graders were at or near the state midpoint, while fifth graders performed above it. In science, fifth-graders reached proficiency at a rate above the state midpoint. Across the three tested grades and subjects, Lincoln's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among elementary schools in Will County. The school tested all students who were enrolled in tested grades, and assessments reflect a recent change to Illinois' cut scores, so year-to-year trend comparison is not reliable. Kindergarten through second grade are not state-tested.
The school serves a diverse student body. White students make up a majority of enrollment, with substantial representation of Hispanic students and a meaningful population of Asian students, alongside Black students. Free-and-reduced-price lunch counts were not available in the data. Special education and English learner enrollment figures were also not provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and related support.
The school is part of Plainfield School District 202, which serves three towns: Plainfield, Bolingbrook, and Joliet. The district operates all 29 schools with a commendable state designation as of fall 2025, which is the highest rating Illinois assigns. This came after the district rolled out a redesigned kindergarten model with full-time paraprofessionals in every classroom and a staggered start during the first week. For a family with a kindergartener, this staffing change is a concrete shift in how the earliest grade is supported.
However, the district is navigating significant budget pressure. In spring 2026, the district was reclassified from a higher-tier to a lower-tier status under Illinois' state funding formula, resulting in a substantial annual decrease in state funding. The district has indicated that staffing and program reductions may begin in the 2026-27 school year. For parents, this signals likely pressure on class sizes, electives, and other offerings over the coming budget cycles. Final decisions on cuts have not yet been made and may still shift before August, but this is a material concern for anyone committing to the school or district long-term.
The other major district change affects high school boundaries and took effect for the 2026-27 school year, meaning families currently with elementary students will eventually experience a reassignment of which high school their home address feeds into. Current tenth and eleventh graders were given an opt-in/opt-out process to stay at their original school, but younger students will be subject to the new boundaries unless that flexibility is extended. If you are buying a home in one of the affected subdivisions, this is worth clarifying with the district before purchase.
Plainfield itself offers a historic downtown pedestrian core along Lockport Street with Village Hall and Settlers' Park, though the school sits in a subdivision setting typical of newer residential development in the area. The community is car-dependent outside downtown. Housing values in the broader market area are moderate, with median home values roughly in line with the state benchmark and rents representing a sizable share of household income. The local job market includes school district employment, Diageo's major bottling facility, and retail and light industrial operations. Transit is limited to Pace bus service; Metra does not serve Plainfield directly.
For a family choosing Lincoln Elementary, the school offers solid academic performance and a diverse peer environment, backed by a district with commendable state ratings and a renewed focus on early elementary support. The offsetting reality is that the district is entering a period of fiscal constraint that will likely reshape offerings and staffing in coming years. A parent comfortable with that trajectory, and attentive to the high school boundary change ahead, will find a well-performing elementary option in an actively growing suburb.
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