Rhodes Elem School, River Grove IL

Original Research by School Decision on Rhodes Elem School

Rhodes Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in River Grove, a small, dense suburban village in western Cook County about ten miles northwest of downtown Chicago. The school enrolls a small-to-moderate student population across its ten grade bands, with a student body that is predominantly Hispanic/Latino, reflecting the village's demographic composition.

The school's academic performance, as measured by state testing in 2024-25, presents a mixed profile with notable challenges. In English language arts, the school shows variable results across grade levels. Third graders perform relatively well, while results drop significantly in fourth and sixth grades before recovering somewhat in seventh and eighth. Math proficiency is more consistently low across grades, with a particularly steep decline in the upper grades. Science testing, available only for fifth and eighth grades, shows that roughly a quarter to a third of students meet proficiency in both years. Overall, Rhodes sits below the midpoint of proficiency when compared to districts across Cook County, meaning schools throughout the county show stronger performance on these same measures.

The specific proficiency rates in math move downward as grade level increases, starting at a moderate level in third grade and falling substantially by eighth grade. In English language arts, performance is less linear but still demonstrates that upper middle grades are an area where students struggle more consistently. This pattern suggests that students' academic gaps may widen as they move through the school, a trend parents may want to explore further with the school's instructional leadership.

River Grove itself is undergoing significant change. The village is mostly flat in population, but it is experiencing the largest development phase in its history through The Grove, a transit-oriented residential community on the former Mother Guerin Prep High School site. The development includes hundreds of new residential units and will be served by proximity to the River Grove Metra station. The village has also adopted its first comprehensive plan, which prioritizes housing diversity and new development in strategic locations. Housing values in the area are modest by metropolitan standards, with median home values in the low to mid range and rental costs stable. The market has moved from tight inventory to a more balanced supply over the past year.

Rhodes SD 84-5 serves only River Grove and is small in scope. No recent district-level changes with lasting parent-relevant impact were found in public reporting, so the school's current profile reflects its steady-state operations rather than shifts from recent referenda or curriculum overhauls.

Families considering Rhodes should view it as a neighborhood elementary and middle school in a village experiencing real demographic and housing transition. The school's test results suggest it is working with students who face academic headwinds, and the downward trend in math performance through the grades warrants direct conversation with school staff about intervention strategies, instructional approaches, and support systems. The small-town setting and walkable village environment are genuine assets for families who value proximity to schools and civic anchors, especially with Metra access to Chicago. For families prioritizing strong academic performance measured by state assessments, or seeking schools with upward achievement trends, a parent may want to look into this school's recent improvement efforts and compare it to peers in the broader county.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 344%

School 44% · District 44%

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 427%

School 27% · District 27%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 18%

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 620%

School 20% · District 20%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 726%

School 26% · District 26%

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 87%

School 7% · District 7%

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 354%

School 54% · District 54%

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 438%

School 38% · District 38%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 559%

School 59% · District 59%

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 751%

School 51% · District 51%

even with state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 837%

School 37% · District 37%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Science

Grade 529%

School 29% · District 29%

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 825%

School 25% · District 25%

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

This schoolRhodes SD 84-5, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.