Very Good
#788 of 3,813 schools in IL
Top 21% in state
Columbia Explorers Elem Academy
Elementary School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 · Chicago, IL
A Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 elementary school where students score 13 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4520 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60632
- Math 16% proficient (2021)
- Reading 25% proficient (2022)
- 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Columbia Explorers Elem Academy score 20% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 8%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 13 points since 2019, to 25% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
90.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Columbia Explorers Elem Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Chicago map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 88Very Walkable
- Transit 63Good Transit
- Bike 55Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,030/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Chicago), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$60,576
Median home value
$240,600
Median rent
$1,057/mo
College educated
13.3%
Homeownership
57.9%
Poverty rate
15.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60632; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunsaulus Elem Scholastic AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–8 | 0.3 mi | 659 | Compare → |
| Acero Chtr - Officer Marquez ElemCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.7 | K–8 | 0.4 mi | 517 | Compare → |
| Pope John Paul II Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | PK–8 | 0.4 mi | 125 | Compare → |
| Acero Chtr-brighton Park Elem SchCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.6 | K–8 | 0.6 mi | 475 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
- Schools in district
- 643
- Rank in district
- #85 of 621
- District spending per student
- $22,699NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 20.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Columbia Explorers Elem Academy is listed in Chicago Public Schools Dist 299; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Columbia Explorers Elem Academy
Columbia Explorers Elem Academy is a public elementary school in Chicago, IL, part of Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, serving approximately 725 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #788 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Columbia Explorers Elem Academy
What grades does Columbia Explorers Elem Academy serve?
Columbia Explorers Elem Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Columbia Explorers Elem Academy?
Columbia Explorers Elem Academy has an enrollment of approximately 725 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Explorers Elem Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Explorers Elem Academy is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Columbia Explorers Elem Academy rank in IL?
Columbia Explorers Elem Academy ranks #788 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Columbia Explorers Elem Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Columbia Explorers Elem Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Columbia Explorers Elem Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Columbia Explorers Elem Academy has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Columbia Explorers Elem Academy a charter school?
No, Columbia Explorers Elem Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Columbia Explorers Elem Academy a Title I school?
No, Columbia Explorers Elem Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Columbia Explorers Elem Academy?
90.2% of students at Columbia Explorers Elem Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 725
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Cook County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.3%
- Phone
- (773) 535-4050
- Area population (ZIP 60632)
- 87,831
- Area average commute
- 32.6 min
- Area median age
- 34.5
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 60632; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.