The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Math. The lowest is 39% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Southridge Elementary School
Southridge Elementary School sits in the southern part of Highland, a predominantly residential suburb in Lake County that is part of the Chicago metro area. The school serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade and is one of four elementary schools in the School Town of Highland district. The surrounding community is largely built out, with population that has been stable to slightly declining, and the town has a range of older subdivisions, a small downtown corridor, and over twenty parks. Home values have appreciated in recent years, and the housing market reflects the kind of established suburban setting where families often look for a dependable neighborhood school.
The student body at Southridge is diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial Hispanic population, and smaller groups of Black, multiracial, and Asian students. A meaningful portion of students come from low-income households, as indicated by federal meal program eligibility. This economic diversity is a defining feature of the school community.
Academically, the school’s state test results on the ILEARN assessments present a mixed picture. In mathematics, a solid majority of students met or exceeded the state’s proficiency standard, placing Southridge in the top quarter of elementary schools across Lake County when an overall proficiency index is considered across tested subjects. That math result is a clear strength. In English language arts, the share of students reaching proficiency was lower, falling short of the majority mark. Science results showed about half of students proficient, while social studies, tested only in fifth grade, came in below that level. For a family considering this school, the gap between math and reading outcomes is worth a conversation with the school about how literacy instruction is structured and what supports are available for students who need them. The school had very high participation on state tests, which makes the results reliable for understanding general performance.
No data was available on chronic absenteeism, special education enrollment, or English learner identification, so those areas cannot be assessed from the information provided. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
Southridge is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and information on Title I status was not included in the data. The district has not had any major recent changes such as a referendum or curriculum overhaul that cleared a four-year window for lasting impact, based on publicly available reporting. That stability may appeal to families who want continuity.
The school’s size is moderate for an elementary building serving a single grade band. The neighborhoods surrounding the school, including the Southridge subdivision itself, feed into it, and the area is auto-oriented with some walkability concentrated in the downtown corridor a few miles north. The nearby Erie Lackawanna Trail provides a pedestrian and cycling route through town, but daily school drop-off and pickup will largely be by car for most families.
For a parent weighing this school, the takeaway is this: Southridge offers a strong math program relative to its county peers, a diverse student body, and a stable district context. The reading scores are a softer spot, and a family would want to understand how the school addresses that. The community is a settled suburb with limited new development, so the neighborhood is likely to feel familiar and steady rather than in flux. This is a school that fits a family looking for a solid, diverse elementary option in a mature suburban setting, with the understanding that literacy outcomes are an area to engage the school on directly.
See more original research from School Decision →