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Needs Improvement

#3744 of 3,813 schools in IL

Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch

Elementary School · Dekalb Cusd 428 · Dekalb, IL

A Dekalb Cusd 428 elementary school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.

3225 Sangamon Dr, Dekalb, IL 60115

  • Math 3% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 12% proficient (2022)
  • 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress1.6Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-7.27 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics4.1Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency2.5% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency12% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency7% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)11% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-3.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile22th
Resources & Environment5.4Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.5:1
District spending per student$18,665
Chronic Absenteeism37.5%

Students at Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch score 7% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 11%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.

Math Proficiency3%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency12%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 70 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 12% recently.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
87%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
92%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2015
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
12%
2017
Math
17%
ELA
12%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
12%
2019
Math
17%
ELA
12%
2020*
Math
3%
ELA
3%
2021*
Math
3%
ELA
3%
2022
ELA
12%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 33% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

83.3%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch 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 4Car-Dependent
  • Transit 0Minimal Transit
  • Bike 30Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,910/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Dekalb), 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

$46,808

Median home value

$205,700

Median rent

$1,018/mo

College educated

35.8%

Homeownership

42.8%

Poverty rate

26.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60115; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Jefferson Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.8K–51.3 mi321Compare →
Littlejohn Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.4K–52.1 mi361Compare →
South Prairie Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.5PK–52.8 mi367Compare →
Founders Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.8K–53.2 mi543Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Dekalb Cusd 428

Schools in district
12
Rank in district
#12 of 12
District spending per student
$18,665NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
16.7%Census SAIPE · 2024

Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch is listed in DeKalb CUSD 428; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch

Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch is a public elementary school in Dekalb, IL, part of Dekalb Cusd 428, serving approximately 323 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #3,744 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch

What grades does Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch serve?

Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch?

Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch has an enrollment of approximately 323 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch?

The student-teacher ratio at Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch is 13.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch rank in IL?

Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch ranks #3,744 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch's MySchoolScout rating?

Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch has 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch a charter school?

No, Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch a Title I school?

No, Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch?

83.3% of students at Gwendolyn Brooks Elem Sch 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
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
323
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Type
regular
Setting
Small Suburb
County
DeKalb County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
37.5%
Area population (ZIP 60115)
42,461
Area average commute
22.9 min
Area median age
26
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 60115; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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