The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Glenside Middle School
Glenside Middle School serves grades five through eight in Queen Bee School District 16, which covers Glendale Heights, a residential suburb roughly a half hour west of Chicago in DuPage County. The school sits in the civic heart of the village, adjacent to Camera Park and the Glenside Public Library on a central plaza anchored by Fullerton Avenue.
The school is mid-sized for a middle school, with enrollment spread relatively evenly across the four grades. The student body is substantially diverse: roughly half the enrollment is Hispanic or Latino, with notable Asian and white populations and a smaller Black enrollment. Demographic and socioeconomic detail beyond race and ethnicity was not available in the data.
State assessment results from the most recent year show a pattern that will be important for families to understand. In English language arts, proficiency rises sharply from the earlier grades to the later ones, climbing from about one-half proficient in grade five to roughly three-quarters by grade eight. This is a meaningful strength in ELA attainment, particularly in the upper grades. Mathematics results are considerably lower across all grades. Grade five math proficiency is around one-quarter, grade six dips lower, grade seven rises modestly to about one-third, and grade eight reaches about four-tenths. Science proficiency sits between these two subjects: roughly half of fifth graders meet the standard, while about three-fifths of eighth graders do. Across all subjects and grades tested, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in DuPage County.
The school itself has recently undergone substantial renovation and expansion as part of a district-wide facilities restructuring. Glenside now houses a new dedicated wing for fifth graders, renovated STEM and science labs, a redesigned music area, and updated gym and accessibility features, along with a new main entry. Adjacent to the school, the district opened a centralized operations center that brings together superintendent, teaching and learning, fiscal services, English learner, and student services offices. This infrastructure investment reflects long-term commitment to the school's role as the district's sole middle school serving grades five through eight, after the district consolidated from four schools into three.
Glendale Heights itself is an auto-oriented, almost entirely residential village defined by mid-century and later single-family housing and townhomes. The housing market here runs below the national median; homes trade at prices and rents that are accessible compared to other parts of the region, though still solidly middle-class. The community is anchored by industrial and business parks, civic amenities like Camera Park, and commercial corridors along major arterials rather than a walkable downtown. Daily life and commuting are shaped by car travel and proximity to Interstate 290.
Families choosing Glenside should know that ELA instruction appears to be a relative strength, especially by the eighth-grade year. The mathematics challenge is real and worth discussing directly with the school about support structures, tutoring, and curriculum approach. A parent may want to look into further detail on how the school addresses the math proficiency gap and what intervention or acceleration pathways exist. The new facilities and centralized district services suggest investment in student experience and operational clarity. The school's role as the single middle grades building for Queen Bee 16 means all families with students in grades five through eight will have their children here, making peer composition and school culture important to assess in person.
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