Below Average
#2989 of 3,813 schools in IL
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES
Elementary School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
8401 S Saginaw Ave, Chicago, IL 60617
Enrollment
535
Student-Teacher
14.9:1
Score
4.9
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
535
Student-Teacher
14.9:1
Score
4.9
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Illinois schools
#2,989 of 3,813
In Chicago
#491 of 630
public schools
In district
#483 of 621
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
School environment
7.7 / 10
Very Good
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Great Lakes Academy Charter ES
Elementary School in Chicago · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Coles Elem Language Academy
0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Ninos Heroes Elem Academic Ctr
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Great Lakes Academy Charter ES
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES is a public elementary school in Chicago, IL, part of Chicago Public Schools Dist 299. Great Lakes Academy Charter ES serves approximately 535 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Great Lakes Academy Charter ES has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #2,989 of 3,813 schools in IL.
Structured state assessment records for Great Lakes Academy Charter ES show 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2021) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2022).
- This school 4.9 · Below Average
- District avg 5.9
- IL avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES is a charter school: publicly funded, but run with more independence than a traditional district school. Many charters are built around a specific model or focus, so it's worth understanding this one's mission, how enrollment works, and how it differs from the district schools nearby.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES — Students at Great Lakes Academy Charter ES score 16% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 9%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
87.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 13 test records from IL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 2.8/10.
How Great Lakes Academy Charter ES Compares
See how Great Lakes Academy Charter ES performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
8401 S Saginaw Ave, Chicago, IL 60617
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Great Lakes Academy Charter ES may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. LEARN Chtr - South Chicago Campus (rated 7.1/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sullivan Elem School (rated 6.9/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Mann Elem School (rated 6.6/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Chicago, see our Chicago schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Coles Elem Language Academy Chicago | 0.3 mi | 4.0 |
| Ninos Heroes Elem Academic Ctr Chicago | 0.4 mi | 4.7 |
| Bowen High School Chicago | 0.6 mi | 6.2 |
| Noble St Chtr-Baker Campus Chicago | 0.6 mi | 6.7 |
| IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL - EXCHANGE Chicago | 0.6 mi | 5.7 |
| EPIC Academy High School Chicago | 0.5 mi | 4.2 |
| Hoyne Elem School Chicago | 0.8 mi | 4.3 |
| Bradwell Comm Arts & Sci Elem Sch Chicago | 0.9 mi | 5.3 |
| Mireles Elem Academy Chicago | 0.8 mi | 6.3 |
| ST JUDE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE Chicago | 0.8 mi | — |
| Chicago Vocational Career Acad HS Chicago | 0.8 mi | 4.5 |
| SOUTH CENTRAL COMMUNITY SERVICES - SOUTH SHORE Chicago | 1.1 mi | — |
| Mann Elem School Chicago | 0.9 mi | 6.6 |
| Sullivan Elem School Chicago | 0.9 mi | 6.9 |
| Thorp J N Elem School Chicago | 1.0 mi | 5.7 |
| LEARN Chtr - South Chicago Campus Chicago | 1.0 mi | 7.1 |
| Powell Elem Paideia Comm Academy Chicago | 1.2 mi | 3.3 |
| YCCS-Sullivan House Alt HS Chicago | 1.0 mi | 5.2 |
| Black Magnet Elem School Chicago | 1.2 mi | 5.3 |
| Warren Elem School Chicago | 1.3 mi | 5.4 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 60617 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$51,237
Median Home Value
$168,200
Median Rent
$1,010/mo
Population
79,284
College Educated
20.2%
Homeownership
56.2%
Avg Commute
37.3 min
Poverty Rate
23.2%
Median Age
38.3
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BLESSED SACRAMENT Springfield, IL | 4.9 |
| Carl Sandburg Elem School Charleston, IL | 4.9 |
| Catalyst Charter-Circle Rock ES Chicago, IL | 4.9 |
| Central Elem School Lewistown, IL | 4.9 |
| Corkery Elem School Chicago, IL | 4.9 |
| Drexel Elem School Cicero, IL | 4.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Great Lakes Academy Charter ES
What grades does Great Lakes Academy Charter ES serve?
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Great Lakes Academy Charter ES?
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES has an enrollment of approximately 535 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Great Lakes Academy Charter ES?
The student-teacher ratio at Great Lakes Academy Charter ES is 14.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Great Lakes Academy Charter ES rank in IL?
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES ranks #2,989 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Great Lakes Academy Charter ES's MySchoolScout rating?
Great Lakes Academy Charter ES has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 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 Great Lakes Academy Charter ES?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Great Lakes Academy Charter ES has 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2021) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2022).
Is Great Lakes Academy Charter ES a charter school?
Yes, Great Lakes Academy Charter ES is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Great Lakes Academy Charter ES a Title I school?
No, Great Lakes Academy Charter ES is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Great Lakes Academy Charter ES?
87.3% of students at Great Lakes Academy Charter ES qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 535
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 87.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Cook County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.0%
- Phone
- (773) 503-3040
Resources & Links
District
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299- District Enrollment
- 322,809
- Schools in District
- 643
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,699
- District Rank
- #483 of 621
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