The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in Science. The lowest is 44% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Booth Tarkington Elem School
Booth Tarkington Elementary is a traditional public school serving pre-K through fifth grade in Wheeling, part of Community Consolidated School District 21. The school enrolls a diversity of students reflecting its town's demographics: just over a third identify as Hispanic, about a quarter as Asian, and a fifth as white, with smaller numbers of Black, two-or-more-races, and Native American students. Economically, free-or-reduced-price-lunch eligibility data was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the student population's economic composition if that context matters to them.
The most recent state test data available is from the 2024-25 school year and covers only grades three through five, since pre-K, kindergarten, and first and second grade are not tested under Illinois's assessment system. Across the tested grades, proficiency rates in mathematics and English language arts cluster in the mid-to-high-40s to low-50s—for example, third-grade math sits at roughly half of students achieving proficiency, while fifth-grade English language arts is just under half. Fifth-grade science proficiency is comparable, also near one half. These results are above the midpoint of performance within Cook County's districts when compared by overall proficiency index, placing Tarkington in the upper half of its county peers. The test participation rate has been strong, at or near complete participation across all grades. The state changed its proficiency cut scores in 2025, so direct trend comparison to prior years is not safe to compute.
The school is housed in one of Wheeling's elementary buildings, attending a neighborhood student assignment (though Wheeling CCSD 21 is undertaking its first boundary redistricting in several decades, with changes potentially taking effect in 2027-28 if approved). The school sits in Wheeling proper, a mixed-use Chicago suburb northwest of downtown that mixes significant manufacturing and industrial employment with residential neighborhoods and a known restaurant corridor. The town has been in active development mode, with transit-oriented apartments and mixed-use projects anchored around the Wheeling Town Center and Metra station. Housing values in the area are moderate compared to the state and national benchmarks, and rental markets remain relatively stable. The village is also growing visibly in student population, conducting a 2026 special census to capture recent enrollment changes.
The district itself is in the midst of multiple major investments. Over the course of the next few summers, schools including this one will see sizable construction and facility work—one of the district's most significant waves of improvement projects in years, funded partly by bond money that has already installed district-wide air conditioning, secured entrances, and space for full-day kindergarten classrooms. These visible infrastructure efforts are relevant to a family's sense of whether a school feels well-maintained and supported.
A significant piece of context is that CCSD 21 launched a boundary-redistricting effort in 2026 after roughly two decades without one. East-side schools, including some serving younger students, have grown crowded, while several west-side buildings have open seats. Any approved changes would not take effect until 2027-28 at the earliest, but this process is live and could affect which school a family's child attends if the family lives in certain neighborhoods. The district has published information about the Map Design Committee's work, so a parent considering this area may want to check the district's website to see current enrollment pressures and timeline.
Booth Tarkington's proficiency results place it at the upper half of its county's districts academically. Enrollment and demographic data were reported; special-education and English-learner counts were not publicly available, so a parent interested in those programs should contact the school. No data on attendance, discipline, staffing, or specific course and program offerings were included in this profile, and I would recommend asking the school directly about those dimensions of environment and support.
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