The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in Math. The lowest is 58% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Stella May Swartz Elem School
Stella May Swartz Elementary serves grades two through four in Oakbrook Terrace, a small commercial-and-residential city in DuPage County anchored by office parks and hotels along Butterfield Road. The school is part of Salt Creek SD 48, which recently passed a substantial bond referendum in November 2024 to fund safety, security, and ADA improvements across its elementary and middle schools. That investment will reshape facilities over the coming years and represents a direct capital commitment families should know about when considering the district.
The school enrolls a small population for its grade band. Enrollment is distributed across grade two, three, and four, with the student body reflective of the broader Oakbrook Terrace area: the majority of students are white, with meaningful shares of Hispanic, Asian, and Black students. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and students with IEPs or English learner status were not available, so a parent may want to look into the school's actual composition of need directly with the district.
On state assessments, performance is mixed. In math, third-graders reached proficiency at a solid level, while fourth-graders showed noticeably lower proficiency. In English language arts, the picture is similar but softer across the board: third graders showed modest proficiency, and fourth graders performed somewhat better. The school participated at or near full rate in testing, so these figures reflect the actual student population. Testing data for grades five and above are not reported here because the school does not serve those grades. State testing methods and cut scores changed in the most recent year, so year-to-year trend comparisons are not available. Among other elementary schools in DuPage County that have reported proficiency data, Stella May Swartz sits above the median on overall proficiency, though parents should understand that the county includes a wide range of schools, so "above median" is only a baseline.
The wider Oakbrook Terrace context is that of a suburban office-and-highway corridor: limited walkability, no downtown center, and commercial development along arterial roads with residential neighborhoods tucked behind. The city does not have its own library; residents use Villa Park Public Library. There is no Metra station within the city limits; nearby service is available in Villa Park and Hinsdale. Housing in the area skews toward post-war suburban stock and newer luxury rental apartments, with median home values and rents in the middle range for the Chicago area and rising modestly. Major employers are ComEd, the Joint Commission, and Redbox, with a mix of corporate offices and hospitality.
A parent evaluating Stella May Swartz should understand it as a small, neighborhood elementary school with mixed recent test results and an active district undertaking major capital work. The school's racial and economic composition differs from some other DuPage schools, and direct conversation with the school about supports for learners, class size, and how the bond-funded renovation will affect the building may be valuable before deciding.
See more original research from School Decision →