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Excellent

#300 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 8% in state

Bell Elem School

Elementary School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

3730 N Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Enrollment

848

Student-Teacher

14.6:1

Score

8.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Illinois schools

#300 of 3,813

In Chicago

#35 of 630

public schools

In district

#35 of 621

Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

Academic performance

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Bell Elem School

8.5/10

Elementary School in Chicago · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Benedict Preparatory School

6.4/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Lane Technical High School

8.9/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Bell Elem School

Bell Elem School is a public elementary school in Chicago, IL, part of Chicago Public Schools Dist 299. Bell Elem School serves approximately 848 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Bell Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #300 of 3,813 schools in IL.

Structured state assessment records for Bell Elem School show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares2.6 pts above district
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • District avg 5.9
  • IL avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.96 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency57% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency55% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency56% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)44% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+12.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile91th
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$22,699
Chronic Absenteeism15.1%

Bell Elem School — Students at Bell Elem School score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

11.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 74.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 73.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
97%
ELA
94%
2010
Math
97%
ELA
94%
2011
Math
98%
ELA
96%
2012
Math
89%
ELA
91%
2013
Math
90%
ELA
89%
2014
Math
63%
ELA
74%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
74%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
69%
2017
Math
64%
ELA
69%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
59%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
59%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
53%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
53%
2022
ELA
55%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.9/10.

How Bell Elem School Compares

See how Bell Elem School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
92th percentile in IL
Academic
9.4/10
Excellent
Growth
7.9/10
Very Good
Environment
8.8/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
12%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
58 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.1%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

3730 N Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bell Elem School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Hamilton Elem School (rated 9.2/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Coonley Elem School (rated 8.9/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Waters Elem School (rated 8.6/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Chicago, see our Chicago schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.9 mi
School Distance Rating
ST BENEDICT PREPARATORY SCHOOL Chicago 0.3 mi 6.4
Lane Technical High School Chicago 0.4 mi 8.9
Audubon Elem School Chicago 0.4 mi 6.8
Coonley Elem School Chicago 0.4 mi 8.9
DEPAUL COLLEGE PREP Chicago 0.6 mi 6.5
THRESHOLDS Chicago 0.7 mi
PRAIRIE LAND MONTESSORI Chicago 0.6 mi
CHICAGO JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Chicago 0.6 mi 7.3
NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Chicago 0.9 mi 7.0
PILGRIM LUTHERAN SCHOOL Chicago 0.8 mi 6.1
LAKEVIEW PRESCHOOL ACADEMY Chicago 0.7 mi
QUEEN OF ANGELS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Chicago 1.0 mi 7.0
RAVENSWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Chicago 1.0 mi 8.1
ST ANDREW SCHOOL Chicago 0.8 mi 6.7
Jahn Elem School Chicago 0.9 mi 6.3
Alcott College Prep Chicago 1.0 mi 6.1
Waters Elem School Chicago 1.1 mi 8.6
GREENFIELDS ACADEMY Chicago 0.9 mi 6.8
SPARK MONTESSORI Chicago 1.0 mi
Hamilton Elem School Chicago 0.9 mi 9.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60618 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,558

Median Home Value

$538,300

Median Rent

$1,534/mo

Population

91,896

College Educated

55.4%

Homeownership

48.6%

Avg Commute

34.3 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

35.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Beebe Elem School Naperville, IL 8.5
Munhall Elem School Saint Charles, IL 8.5
Northview Elem School Peru, IL 8.5
Oliver Julian Kendall Elem School Naperville, IL 8.5
Saratoga Elem School Morris, IL 8.5
Danielle-Joy Peterson Elem Sch Naperville, IL 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bell Elem School

What grades does Bell Elem School serve?

Bell Elem School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Bell Elem School?

Bell Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 848 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bell Elem School?

The student-teacher ratio at Bell Elem School is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bell Elem School rank in IL?

Bell Elem School ranks #300 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Bell Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?

Bell Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Bell Elem School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bell Elem School has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Bell Elem School a charter school?

No, Bell Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Bell Elem School a Title I school?

No, Bell Elem School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bell Elem School?

11.8% of students at Bell Elem School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
78 Very Walkable
Transit Score
66 Good Transit
Bike Score
82 Very Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
848
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
58
Free/Reduced Lunch
11.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Cook County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.1%

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