Very Good
#1219 of 3,813 schools in IL
Top 32% in state
Dirksen Elem School
Elementary School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 · Chicago, IL
A Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 elementary school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
8601 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60656
- Math 31% proficient (2021)
- Reading 27% proficient (2022)
- 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Dirksen Elem School score 29% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 23 points since 2019, to 27% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 54% (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
77.9%
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 Dirksen Elem School 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 67Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 33Some Transit
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
$88,000
Median home value
$344,400
Median rent
$1,388/mo
College educated
41.7%
Homeownership
64.3%
Poverty rate
7.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60656; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennoyer Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–8 | 0.2 mi | 435 | Compare → |
| Brickton Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | PK–8 | 0.4 mi | 42 | Compare → |
| J Leigh Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | PK–4 | 0.8 mi | 622 | Compare → |
| St Eugene Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.9private | K–8 | 0.8 mi | 197 | 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.
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
- #149 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
Dirksen Elem School is listed in Chicago Public Schools Dist 299; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Dirksen Elem School
Dirksen Elem School is a public elementary school in Chicago, IL, part of Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, serving approximately 1,213 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,219 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dirksen Elem School
What grades does Dirksen Elem School serve?
Dirksen Elem School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Dirksen Elem School?
Dirksen Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 1,213 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dirksen Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dirksen Elem School is 18.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dirksen Elem School rank in IL?
Dirksen Elem School ranks #1,219 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Dirksen Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?
Dirksen Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Dirksen Elem School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dirksen Elem School has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Dirksen Elem School a charter school?
No, Dirksen Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dirksen Elem School a Title I school?
No, Dirksen Elem School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dirksen Elem School?
77.9% of students at Dirksen 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,213
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 67
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Cook County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.3%
- Phone
- (773) 534-1090
- Area population (ZIP 60656)
- 28,726
- Area average commute
- 31.2 min
- Area median age
- 41.6
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 60656; 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
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