Olson Elementary School, Woodstock IL

Original Research by School Decision on Olson Elementary School

Olson Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Woodstock, an outer Chicago exurb and McHenry County seat anchored by a preserved 19th-century downtown. The school enrolls a diverse student body: about half white, a substantial share Hispanic, and smaller shares of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Enrollment is modest, centered around the school's core grades of first through fifth.

On Illinois state assessments for 2024-25, Olson's results show a pattern of strength in early grades that narrows into middle elementary. In third-grade English language arts, proficiency is solid. By fourth grade, English language arts proficiency remains respectable, though math proficiency drops considerably. Fifth grade shows a reversal: English language arts holds firm, but math proficiency falls further. Science proficiency in fifth grade is notably low. Across tested grades in math and English language arts, Olson's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among McHenry County's district schools, a meaningful position. The state changed its assessment cut scores this year, so year-to-year trend comparison is not yet possible. Test participation rates are strong, showing consistent engagement with the assessment process.

A parent may want to look into math performance further with the school, particularly the downward slope in the upper elementary grades. The pattern suggests that while the school establishes solid fundamentals in reading and early numeracy, sustained math growth becomes more challenging as material deepens. Understanding whether this reflects a curriculum shift, instructional approach, student skill gaps upon entry, or other factors would help a family decide if additional tutoring or summer support might be necessary.

The school sits in Woodstock's broader community context. The city is experiencing meaningful growth for the first time in roughly a decade, with a major residential development approved and downtown redevelopment discussions underway. The Woodstock CUSD 200 district itself has taken a notable affordability step by lowering its property tax levy for the 2025 cycle while paying down debt, offering families some relief in a county known for high property taxes. The district has also launched new work-based learning pathways for high school students, signaling a shift toward career-aligned academics. Housing values in the area are mid-range for the region, and rental costs remain moderate relative to comparable metros.

No data was available on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education identification rates, English learner counts, or discipline. The school does not serve sixth grade, so no testing results exist for that level. Olson is a regular public school, not a magnet or charter, serving a traditional elementary model in a town with both small-town texture and steady commuter ties to Chicago.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 49% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 444%

School 44% · District 41% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

Grade 534%

School 34% · District 32% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 369%

School 69% · District 61% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 466%

School 66% · District 65% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 573%

School 73% · District 68% · ▲ 5 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 538%

School 38% · District 37% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

This schoolWoodstock CUSD 200, 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.