The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Math. The lowest is 61% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Betsy Ross Elem School
Betsy Ross Elementary serves second and third graders in Prospect Heights, a residential suburb about 26 miles northwest of Chicago. The school enrolls a small, diverse group of students, with the student body split fairly evenly among White, Hispanic, and Asian students, and smaller numbers of students of other backgrounds. Free-and-reduced-price lunch data was not available, as was information on the count or share of students with individualized education plans or English learners.
In the most recent state testing, third-grade math proficiency reached about three-quarters of tested students, while reading proficiency was lower, at about three-fifths. Testing data for fourth grade and above does not appear in the school's record because this is an elementary school serving only grades two and three. The gap between math and reading suggests that while computational or problem-solving skills are relatively strong, reading comprehension may be an area where additional support could help. When placed against the county's other districts in Cook County, the school's overall proficiency index sits in the top quartile, a meaningful strength.
The school lies in the Prospect Heights School District 23, which is currently navigating a significant funding challenge. Voters have rejected three consecutive tax referendums intended to fund full-day kindergarten and building improvements. Without new revenue, the district faces state requirements to offer full-day kindergarten starting in the 2027-28 school year and may need to implement larger class sizes or program cuts districtwide to comply. This is material for families considering the district, as it shapes both the classroom environment and the services available to elementary students over the next few years.
The district has also adopted a specific instructional approach in mathematics. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, it has readopted Ready Math and i-Ready as its core curriculum, emphasizing student discussion and collaborative problem-solving, aligned with feeder middle and high schools through a regional partnership. This pedagogical choice will shape how math is taught throughout a student's elementary years in the district.
Prospect Heights itself is a stable, car-dependent suburb of single-family homes on large lots. Housing values and rents in the area are moderate for the Chicago region. The community is anchored by the Prospect Heights Public Library and parks, and is served by Metra commuter rail, making it accessible to employment centers across the region. The town has little development momentum; population has remained relatively flat, and available land for new construction is limited. This means a parent choosing the area is selecting a settled, family-oriented neighborhood rather than one experiencing rapid growth or demographic change.
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