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Average

#2203 of 3,813 schools in IL

Carman-buckner Elem School

Elementary School · Waukegan CUSD 60

520 Helmholz Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085

Enrollment

485

Student-Teacher

12.8:1

Score

5.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Illinois schools

#2,203 of 3,813

In Waukegan

#6 of 23

public schools

In district

#5 of 22

Waukegan CUSD 60

School environment

7.6 / 10

Very Good

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Carman-buckner Elem School

5.9/10

Elementary School in Waukegan · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Menta Academy North

5.9/10

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

Andrew Cooke Magnet Elem School

5.5/10

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

About Carman-buckner Elem School

Carman-buckner Elem School is a public elementary school in Waukegan, IL, part of Waukegan CUSD 60. Carman-buckner Elem School serves approximately 485 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Carman-buckner Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #2,203 of 3,813 schools in IL.

Structured state assessment records for Carman-buckner Elem School show 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 16% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.5 pts above district
  • This school 5.9 · Average
  • District avg 5.4
  • IL avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Carman-buckner Elem School sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

35% of students at Carman-buckner Elem School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.4Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.92 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics3.9Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency2.5% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency9% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency6% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)10% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-4.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile20th
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,843
Chronic Absenteeism34.6%

Carman-buckner Elem School — Students at Carman-buckner Elem School score 6% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 10%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

85.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 22.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 15.5% (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
64%
ELA
34%
2010
Math
69%
ELA
43%
2011
Math
71%
ELA
48%
2012
Math
35%
ELA
25%
2013
Math
31%
ELA
22%
2014
Math
4%
ELA
5%
2015
Math
3%
ELA
7%
2016
Math
3%
ELA
4%
2017
Math
0.5%
ELA
0.5%
2018
Math
5%
ELA
7%
2019
Math
5%
ELA
7%
2020*
Math
2.5%
ELA
2.5%
2021*
Math
2.5%
ELA
2.5%
2022
ELA
9%

* 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: 6.4/10.

How Carman-buckner Elem School Compares

See how Carman-buckner Elem School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.9/10
42th percentile in IL
Academic
3.9/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
6.4/10
Average
Environment
7.6/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
86%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
34.6%

Location

520 Helmholz Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Carman-buckner Elem School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. LEARN John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr (rated 8.9/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is MOST BLESSED TRINITY ACADEMY (rated 7.7/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, LIONS MATH AND SCIENCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 6.8/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Waukegan, see our Waukegan schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
MENTA ACADEMY NORTH Waukegan 0.3 mi 5.9
Andrew Cooke Magnet Elem School Waukegan 0.5 mi 5.5
Evelyn Alexander School North Chicago 0.8 mi 5.6
Waukegan High School Waukegan 0.8 mi 4.7
Robert E Abbott Middle School Waukegan 0.9 mi 3.2
MOST BLESSED TRINITY ACADEMY Waukegan 1.1 mi 7.7
Miguel Juarez Middle School Waukegan 1.1 mi 2.9
Lyon Magnet Elementary School Waukegan 0.9 mi 4.2
John R Lewis Middle School Waukegan 1.0 mi 5.7
North Elem School Waukegan 1.4 mi 3.0
LIONS MATH AND SCIENCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Waukegan 1.4 mi 6.8
Hyde Park Elem School Waukegan 1.4 mi 5.3
North Chicago Community High Sch North Chicago 1.6 mi 6.5
Washington Elem School Waukegan 1.4 mi 3.1
Glen Flora Elem School Waukegan 1.9 mi 5.9
Edith M Smith Middle School Waukegan 1.8 mi 4.7
ST ANASTASIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Waukegan 2.0 mi 6.8
Whittier Elem School Waukegan 1.9 mi 5.9
Neal Math Science Academy North Chicago 1.9 mi 5.8
LEARN John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr Waukegan 2.2 mi 8.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60085 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$64,330

Median Home Value

$164,800

Median Rent

$1,133/mo

Population

72,763

College Educated

18.7%

Homeownership

46.6%

Avg Commute

25.4 min

Poverty Rate

17.2%

Median Age

33.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Big Hollow Primary School Ingleside, IL 5.9
Bradley West Elem School Bradley, IL 5.9
Charter Oak Primary School Peoria, IL 5.9
Franklin Elem Fine Arts Center Chicago, IL 5.9
G Stanley Hall Elem School Glendale Heights, IL 5.9
Glen Flora Elem School Waukegan, IL 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Carman-buckner Elem School

What grades does Carman-buckner Elem School serve?

Carman-buckner Elem School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Carman-buckner Elem School?

Carman-buckner Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 485 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Carman-buckner Elem School?

The student-teacher ratio at Carman-buckner Elem School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Carman-buckner Elem School rank in IL?

Carman-buckner Elem School ranks #2,203 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Carman-buckner Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?

Carman-buckner Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 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 Carman-buckner Elem School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Carman-buckner Elem School has 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 16% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Carman-buckner Elem School a charter school?

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

Is Carman-buckner Elem School a Title I school?

No, Carman-buckner Elem School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Carman-buckner Elem School?

85.8% of students at Carman-buckner 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
54 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
34 Some Transit
Bike Score
42 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
485
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Free/Reduced Lunch
85.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Lake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.6%

District

Waukegan CUSD 60
District Enrollment
13,666
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,843
District Rank
#5 of 22

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