The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Math. The lowest is 55% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Kolling Elementary School
Kolling Elementary School, in Saint John, Indiana, serves students from prekindergarten through fourth grade. It is a regular public school within the Lake Central School Corporation. The school is situated in a primarily residential suburb of Chicago, a community described by its own website as filled with quiet neighborhoods, quality schools, and churches. There is no traditional downtown core; schools, including Kolling, are distributed throughout the suburb rather than clustered in a single area.
The student body is enrolled in a size that is full for a primary school of this grade span. The composition is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic presence, smaller shares of Black and Asian students, and a small population identifying as multiracial. About one in six students is from a household that qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure that positions the school as serving a largely middle- to upper-middle-income population. This aligns with the local housing market. The town has been growing rapidly, with a tight housing supply and a homeowner vacancy rate that is low, indicating a competitive market for buyers. Home values in the area are substantially above the state benchmark and well above the national figure, reinforcing the affluence of the community. Data on English learner and special education populations was not available, so a family with a child in those categories would want to inquire about the school’s specific support programs.
On the 2024-25 ILEARN assessments, Kolling posted results that place it in a strong position compared to the typical elementary school in the area. In math, a majority of students scored at the proficient or above level. In English language arts, just over half of students met that same threshold. In science, again just over half were proficient or above. Participation rates on the math and ELA tests were very high, lending confidence to the results. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages performance across all tested subjects and grades, sits in the top quartile among the elementary-level schools in Lake County’s districts. This makes Kolling one of the stronger academic environments in the broader county context, though it is not at the very top of the range. A parent should note that proficiency in reading and writing lags behind math, which is a common pattern but still worth a conversation with the school about how the curriculum addresses literacy.
The school is part of the Lake Central School Corporation, which recently updated elementary school boundaries. This change determines which elementary school a residence falls under, so families choosing a home within the district should verify the boundary maps to ensure they are in the Kolling attendance zone. The school does not serve the highest grade levels, so there are no graduation rate data to report.
Saint John itself provides a family-oriented suburban context. The town has an extensive bicycle and pedestrian trail system that winds through subdivisions, over twenty parks, and the notable Shrine of Christ’s Passion. A new South Shore Line commuter rail station opened in early 2026, serving families who commute to Chicago. Kolling Elementary offers a consistent academic track in a growing, high-demand suburban community. For a family that can afford the local housing market and values a school performing well above the county average on state assessments, this is a straightforward fit. The soft spot is the lower literacy proficiency relative to math, and the missing data on special populations means a family with specific needs should follow up directly with the school.
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