The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 35% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mccarty Elementary School
McCarty Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Aurora as part of Indian Prairie CUSD 204, one of the region's largest districts. The school sits in a mid-sized, suburban setting with a diverse student body drawn from the west-central part of the city. The neighborhood includes single-family homes and multifamily developments typical of Aurora's residential outer wards, located at Village Green Drive in the 60504 zip code.
The school's academic performance shows room for growth. In the most recent state testing, proficiency in English language arts ranged from roughly one-third to one-half of tested students, with third grade performing strongest and fourth grade showing the lowest results. Math proficiency was similarly uneven across grades, with third graders showing the best outcomes and fourth graders again at the bottom. Science proficiency in fifth grade, the only grade tested, was below one-third of students meeting proficiency. These results place McCarty in the bottom quartile when compared to other elementary schools within DuPage County. A parent should note that Illinois changed proficiency cut scores for all subjects in 2025, which makes year-to-year trend comparisons unreliable at this point; the school's longer-term trajectory remains unclear.
Enrollment is stable at just under five hundred students across the six grade levels served. The student population is racially and ethnically diverse, with roughly one-third white, one-quarter Hispanic, and smaller but meaningful shares of Asian and Black students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available in the district's public reporting, so a parent looking to understand economic diversity would need to ask the school directly. Special education and English learner enrollment figures were also not reported.
Aurora itself is a mixed-use suburban city in the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor, the second-most populous city in the state. The downtown has undergone revitalization centered on the Fox River and Stolp Island, anchored by the Paramount Theatre and entertainment venues, with a walkable cultural core. The wider city is largely auto-oriented residential development. The housing market in the area has seen modest appreciation and remains relatively affordable compared to other parts of the Chicago metro. Median home values in the school's zip code are mid-range for the metro, with rents also moderate. The major employers—healthcare systems, the school districts themselves, JPMorgan Chase's technology hub, and manufacturing—support the suburban commuter base.
Indian Prairie CUSD 204 itself is in an active growth and investment phase. Voters approved a significant bond referendum in November 2024 for facility upgrades, safety improvements, and infrastructure modernization across the district's schools. The funding will come without a net tax increase by continuing an existing debt service rate. The district has also shifted to a new English language arts curriculum in middle schools focused on increased writing and critical thinking, which represents a pedagogy change that will affect students as they progress. These are the kinds of district-wide decisions that shape the educational pathway for families considering the school.
A parent evaluating McCarty should look into the school's specific academic support structures and any targeted interventions around math and science proficiency with the principal or school team, since current state testing results are below district and county averages. The school's racial and ethnic diversity is a demographic fact of Aurora's neighborhoods; how that diversity is reflected in classroom practice, cultural programming, and inclusive environment would be worth discussing directly with staff. The stable enrollment and suburban location offer a predictable, neighborhood-based setting typical of outer Aurora, while the broader district's recent referendum and curriculum moves signal ongoing change in how instruction is structured and schools are resourced.
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