Average
#2610 of 3,813 schools in IL
Highlands Elem School
Elementary School · Prairie-hills Esd 144 · Hazel Crest, IL
A Prairie-hills Esd 144 elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3420 Laurel Ln, Hazel Crest, IL 60429
- Math 8% proficient (2021)
- Reading 17% proficient (2022)
- 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Highlands Elem School score 12% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 6%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 18 points since 2019, to 17% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 40% (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
94.1%
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 Highlands 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 24Car-Dependent
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,257/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hazel Crest), 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
$62,231
Median home value
$180,800
Median rent
$1,440/mo
College educated
23.5%
Homeownership
69.3%
Poverty rate
21.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60429; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nob Hill Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–5 | 0.4 mi | 181 | Compare → |
| Mae Jemison SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 359 | Compare → |
| Markham Park Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 290 | Compare → |
| Prairie-hills Steam AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–4 | 1.0 mi | 105 | 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.
Prairie-hills Esd 144
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #5 of 8
- District spending per student
- $19,068NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 30.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Highlands Elem School is listed in Prairie-Hills ESD 144; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Highlands Elem School
Highlands Elem School is a public elementary school in Hazel Crest, IL, part of Prairie-hills Esd 144, serving approximately 290 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #2,610 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Highlands Elem School
What grades does Highlands Elem School serve?
Highlands Elem School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Highlands Elem School?
Highlands Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 290 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands 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 Highlands Elem School rank in IL?
Highlands Elem School ranks #2,610 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Highlands Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?
Highlands Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Highlands Elem School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Highlands Elem School has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Highlands Elem School a charter school?
No, Highlands Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Highlands Elem School a Title I school?
No, Highlands Elem School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highlands Elem School?
94.1% of students at Highlands 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 290
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Cook County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.1%
- Phone
- (708) 335-9773
- Area population (ZIP 60429)
- 14,602
- Area average commute
- 29.2 min
- Area median age
- 34.8
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 60429; 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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