The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Woodgate Elem School
Woodgate Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Matteson, a south-suburban Chicago village in Cook County. The school enrolls a small cohort of students, with the largest concentrations in pre-K, fourth, and fifth grades. The student body is predominantly Black, with smaller portions of Hispanic, multiracial, and white students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available.
The school's academic performance shows substantial room for growth. In math, proficiency among tested students ranges from around one-fifth of students in grades four and five to about two-fifths in grade three. Across English language arts, grade five shows the strongest performance at about half of students meeting proficiency standards, while grades three and four hover closer to two-fifths. Science testing results were available only for grade five, where roughly one-quarter of students met proficiency standards. Overall, Woodgate's proficiency index across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint among Cook County districts. School participation rates in state assessments were strong, with most grades at or near full participation. It is important to note that Illinois changed cut scores for proficiency in several subjects in the assessment window provided, which can affect year-to-year comparability.
Woodgate is located within Elementary School District 159, which serves Matteson, Richton Park, and Tinley Park. The district adopted a 2025-2030 strategic plan centered on consistent, evidence-based, standards-aligned core curriculum across all subject areas, meaning families can expect a more uniform academic approach across the district's schools. The district has also developed a dual-language program available as a curriculum option. A noteworthy capital investment was the April 2021 passage of a referendum to build a Community STEM Center on district property in Matteson. This facility now houses district offices alongside an aerospace lab, a Makerspace lab featuring 3D printing, coding, robotics, and woodworking, and a foundational lab for younger students. These programs are open to community members, expanding STEM access for the district's pre-K through middle school population.
Matteson itself is an auto-oriented suburb organized around high-traffic corridors on U.S. Route 30 and Illinois Route 50, with commercial life distributed across shopping centers rather than concentrated in a traditional walkable downtown. An older historic core survives near 215th and Main Streets, home to the Metra station in what locals call Old Matteson. The village has pursued redevelopment of the former Lincoln Mall site into Market Square Crossing, a mixed-use project intended to function as a new town center. Population has remained roughly stable, with about two-thirds of residents owning homes. Housing values in the 60443 zip code serving Matteson show modest appreciation over the past year. The area has seen development of newer ranch and split-level subdivisions in West Matteson built from the 1980s through the early 2000s.
A parent considering Woodgate should understand that current academic proficiency levels are below county district medians and that the school's youngest tested grade shows notably higher performance than older elementary grades. The district's commitment to standards-aligned core curriculum and STEM programming provides context for the school's academic environment, though students with below-grade-level proficiency may want to look into what targeted support the school offers. For families interested in bilingual education, the district's dual-language option may be available through the school or another district building.
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