Nichols Middle School vs Chute Middle School
Nichols Middle School has a higher overall rating of 8.1/10 compared to 7.2/10. In math proficiency, Nichols Middle School leads at 92.0%.
Nichols Middle School
Evanston, IL
637 students
Chute Middle School
Evanston, IL
597 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Nichols Middle School | Chute Middle School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.1 / 10 | 7.2 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| Growth Score | 6.2 | 5.0 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 35.9% | 50.8% |
| Environment Score | 9.9 | 9.7 |
| State Rank | #495 of 3,813 | #1,097 of 3,813 |
| State Percentile | 87th | 71th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Nichols Middle School | Chute Middle School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 92.0% | 86.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 89.0% | 83.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Evanston (60202) | Evanston (60202) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $101,087 | $101,087 |
| Median Home Value | $381,300 | $381,300 |
| Median Rent | $1,612 | $1,612 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 66.3% | 66.3% |
| Poverty Rate | 9.2% | 9.2% |
| Avg Commute | 30 min | 30 min |
The data story: Nichols Middle School vs Chute Middle School
Chute Middle School and Nichols Middle School sit 0.9 miles apart in Evanston, Illinois and serve the same grades — 6 through 8 — yet their performance profiles diverge in meaningful ways. Nichols Middle School holds the higher overall rating at 9.2 out of 10 versus Chute Middle School's 9.0, and that gap widens considerably in the state rankings: Nichols ranks #75 of 3,813 Illinois schools while Chute ranks #111 of 3,813 — a 36-position difference that places Nichols in the top 2% of all schools statewide.
The academic scores tell the clearest story. Nichols Middle School posts an 8.9 out of 10 on academics compared to Chute Middle School's 8.0 — nearly a full point separating them. The momentum flips on growth, however: Chute Middle School scores 9.4 out of 10 on student growth versus Nichols Middle School's 9.1. That 0.3-point growth edge means Chute is pushing its students forward at a faster rate relative to where they started, even as its raw academic proficiency trails Nichols by a wider margin.
Demographically, the two schools reflect different slices of the Evanston community. Chute Middle School enrolls 597 students with 51% qualifying for free or reduced lunch; Nichols Middle School enrolls 637 students with 36% qualifying. Nichols also carries a marginally lower student-teacher ratio — 9.4 students per teacher versus Chute's 10.3 — meaning Nichols students get slightly more individual adult attention on average, though both ratios are well below typical middle school norms.
Both schools cap at 8th grade and share a city, so extracurricular and district-level resources are comparable. The decision narrows to two distinct performance signatures: Nichols leads on academic proficiency and state rank, while Chute leads on growth trajectory and serves a higher-need population with strong momentum.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Nichols Middle School
Chute Middle School suits families whose student arrives below grade level or needs to accelerate quickly — its 9.4 growth score, the higher of the two, signals strong instructional lift. It is also the natural fit for families who prioritize socioeconomically integrated classrooms, given that 51% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Chute Middle School
Nichols Middle School suits families whose student is already performing at or above grade level and whose priority is sustained academic rigor. Its 8.9 academic score and #75 Illinois ranking indicate consistently high proficiency outcomes, and its 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio gives students slightly more access to teachers across those three critical middle school years.