Willow Springs Elem School, Willow Springs IL

Original Research by School Decision on Willow Springs Elem School

Willow Springs Elementary is a school serving about 410 students from pre-K through eighth grade in the small village of Willow Springs, roughly 17 miles southwest of Chicago. The building sits within a community that is mostly residential, hemmed in by Cook County Forest Preserves, with a semi-rural wooded character rather than suburban sprawl.

The school's state test results show a consistent pattern: lower performance in math, stronger performance in English language arts, and modest performance in science. In math, proficiency rates across grades third through eighth range from about 29 percent in third grade to a peak of roughly 53 percent in fourth grade, then settle into the mid-30s to low-40s. In English language arts, results are notably better. Third graders achieve proficiency at just under 47 percent, and the rate climbs steadily through the grades, reaching 60 percent by eighth grade. Science results are weaker, in the mid-30s for both the fifth and eighth grades tested. Participation in the state assessments is nearly universal, with rates above 97 percent across the school.

The student body is diverse. The enrollment reflects a substantial Hispanic population (just over 46 percent), a significant white population (roughly 38 percent), a considerable Black population (just under 12 percent), and smaller populations of Asian and multiracial students. Free-or-reduced-price-lunch data was not available in the data provided. Information about students with Individualized Education Programs and English learner enrollment counts and rates was also not available.

Positioned against other districts in Cook County, the school's overall proficiency index places it below the median. A parent may want to look further into what support is available for students who do not yet meet state standards, particularly in the elementary grades where foundational skills matter most.

The school sits in a village with limited walkability where nearly all errands require a car. Housing values in the area are moderate for the region. Willow Springs has modest growth underway—a substantial new rental community of several hundred units is under construction—though the village remains small and retains a quiet, semi-rural feel. Transit options include a Metra Heritage Corridor station serving weekday commutes to Chicago Union Station, and local Pace bus service. The surrounding Cook County Forest Preserves and trail systems are a defining feature of daily life, offering trails and natural areas that dominate the landscape more than commercial activity does.

The school has been in operation at its current location on Archer Avenue. District-wide changes of consequence to parents were not readily available in recent public reporting, so readers looking for current initiatives in curriculum, pedagogy, or student support should contact the school directly. State assessment proficiency criteria changed in 2025, meaning year-to-year trend comparison is not yet reliable.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 329%

School 29% · District 29%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 453%

School 53% · District 53%

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 35%

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 634%

School 34% · District 34%

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 734%

School 34% · District 34%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 840%

School 40% · District 40%

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 346%

School 46% · District 46%

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

Grade 453%

School 53% · District 53%

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 549%

School 49% · District 49%

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 656%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 755%

School 55% · District 55%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 860%

School 60% · District 60%

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Science

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 35%

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 837%

School 37% · District 37%

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

This schoolWillow Springs SD 108, 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.