The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in English language arts. The lowest is 49% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Columbus Manor Elem School
Columbus Manor Elementary serves children in preK through fifth grade in Oak Lawn, a mid-sized Cook County suburb about 15 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. The school is part of Ridgeland School District 122 and sits in a community defined by brick residential developments, commercial corridors along 95th Street and Cicero Avenue, and a notably large Arab-American population with a strong Mediterranean dining scene.
The school's enrollment is small, at roughly 350 students across the grade span. The student body is diverse: about half white, with a substantial share identifying as Hispanic, and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the economic profile of families served.
On the Illinois Assessment of Readiness in math, the school shows uneven results. Third and fourth graders demonstrate solid performance in the mid-range for the state, while fifth graders drop noticeably lower, performing well below the proficiency midpoint. The pattern in English language arts is markedly different: fourth and fifth graders perform well above the midpoint, while third graders land closer to the median. Science results for fifth grade fall below the midpoint. The data comes from the 2024-25 school year; state testing does not cover the preK-through-second grades served by the school.
When positioned against the universe of districts in Cook County, Columbus Manor's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, a strength worth noting. That standing reflects the school's stronger performance in the upper elementary grades, particularly in ELA.
District-level context: Ridgeland SD 122 approved a tangible benefit for families in February 2024, waiving student fees and device insurance fees that families would otherwise pay each school year. Beyond that, limited information on district-wide initiatives or curriculum changes surfaced in available sources, so a parent seeking the district's broader strategic direction may want to inquire directly.
The housing market around the school reflects Oak Lawn's modest regional pricing. The median home value in the area is modestly below Cook County and state benchmarks, and rents are similarly accessible. The Metra station at 95th Street, served by all weekday trains, provides transit access for commuting families. Oak Lawn's downtown, redeveloped since the mid-2010s around the Metra corridor, is pedestrian-oriented with modern mixed-use buildings, though the school itself sits in a residential neighborhood where driving is the norm. The village hosts roughly 22 parks and the Oak Lawn Public Library, anchoring civic life beyond the schools.
A parent evaluating Columbus Manor should recognize its stronger showing in upper-elementary ELA and its competitive proficiency standing within the county. The math softness in grade five warrants a closer conversation with the school about what support is offered at that level and how the school approaches the transition to middle grades. The school's small size and neighborhood location in a diverse community where a substantial share of families identify with Arab heritage or speak Spanish at home create a particular peer environment that fits some families directly and may require adjustment for others.
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