Briar Glen Elem School, Wheaton IL

Original Research by School Decision on Briar Glen Elem School

Briar Glen Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in Wheaton, a predominantly residential suburb west of Chicago serving as the DuPage County seat. The school sits within CCSD 89, a small five-school district whose elementary buildings are all over forty years old. In 2022, district voters approved a substantial bond to address deferred maintenance and security upgrades across all district schools; Briar Glen's share included roof repair, energy-efficient heating, and a redesigned secure entrance—projects that have now begun or completed over a multi-year cycle.

The enrollment is typical for an elementary school of this size and grade span, with a student body that leans toward the white and Hispanic student composition, with smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch status, special education enrollment, and English learner counts were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the share of students receiving different support services.

Math proficiency shows a downward trend by grade level. Third graders demonstrate strong performance, with most meeting or exceeding proficiency standards. Fourth grade drops noticeably lower. Fifth grade, the school's highest tested grade in math, shows the lowest proficiency, with fewer than half the students meeting the state's proficiency bar. English language arts results follow a similar arc: third and fourth grades show solid attainment, while fifth grade performance softens. Science proficiency in fifth grade sits at roughly the midpoint statewide. When placed against other schools in DuPage County, Briar Glen's overall proficiency index falls above the median among its peers, a signal that while grade five shows a tangible dip, the school's full tested picture sits in a reasonable position locally. State assessments do not test the school's lowest grades (preK through second), so early literacy and numeracy work is not reflected in these numbers.

The school is located in an affluent residential area where housing values reflect strong demand. Wheaton's walkable downtown, anchored by a restored courthouse complex and Metra transit access, sits within a few miles. The town itself is growing, with ongoing downtown revitalization, new apartment development, and renewed civic infrastructure. Schools in the district are increasingly common draws for families relocating to the area.

A parent evaluating Briar Glen should note the fifth-grade proficiency drop and ask the school what factors may contribute to it and what supports or instructional adjustments are underway. The school's overall performance sits above the county median, its facility is receiving material upgrades through the bond work, and it draws from a stable, affluent community. The missing data on support services and early-grade outcomes means a parent will want to gather that picture directly from the school to understand the full student experience and whether specialized services match their child's needs.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 384%

School 84% · District 81% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 470%

School 70% · District 69% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 54% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 372%

School 72% · District 71%

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 479%

School 79% · District 74% · ▲ 5 pts above district

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

Grade 562%

School 62% · District 60% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Science

Grade 556%

School 56% · District 58% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

This schoolCCSD 89, 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.