Dr Ml King JR Literary&fine Arts

Dr. ML King Jr. Literary & Fine Arts School earns a composite score of 9.2 out of 10 — an Exceptional rating — and ranks first among all 16 public schools in Evanston.

Serving 367 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, it outperforms 98% of Illinois public schools, placing 58th out of 3,813 statewide. Among elementary schools specifically, the standing sharpens further: 49th out of 2,326 in Illinois. The school's growth score of 9.4 out of 10 is its strongest signal.

Students here advance faster academically than the vast majority of their Illinois peers, regardless of where they start. Academic achievement scores 8.4 out of 10, reflecting consistent, measurable outcomes across grade levels rather than a single high-performing cohort carrying the average. Small class sizes back both numbers.

A 7.2-to-1 student-teacher ratio gives teachers real bandwidth to individualize instruction — a ratio most public schools in the state cannot match. The literary and fine arts focus runs through the curriculum as an organizing principle, not an elective add-on. Parents comparing elementary options in Evanston will find no public school in the city with a stronger composite profile.

King sits alone at the top of that list.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.2:1, Dr Ml King JR Literary&fine Arts offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.