Very Good
#878 of 3,813 schools in IL
Top 23% in state
Neil Elem School
Elementary School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
8555 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60619
Enrollment
249
Student-Teacher
10:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
249
Student-Teacher
10:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Chicago
#133 of 629
public schools
Illinois elementary schools
#562 of 2,326
In district
#132 of 621
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
School environment
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Neil Elem School
Neil Elem School is a regular public elementary school located in Chicago, Illinois. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, Neil Elem School offers a warm and nurturing environment with an enrollment of 249 students. The student-teacher ratio stands at 10:1, providing ample individual attention for each child.
Despite having room for academic growth, Neil Elem School focuses on fostering strong foundational skills in its young learners. With a MySchoolScout Rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranking in the 23rd percentile among Illinois schools, it is clear that there are opportunities for improvement. The school's current proficiency rates in ELA/Reading and Math hover around 8% and 6%, respectively, indicating areas where additional support could benefit students.
Neil Elem School is situated in a bustling urban setting, offering its students the chance to experience the vibrant culture of Chicago’s South Side. This location provides a rich backdrop for learning and community engagement, as students interact with diverse perspectives and resources available within the city.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Neil Elem School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Neil Elem School — Students at Neil Elem School score 6% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 9%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
88%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 5 test records from IL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: 8.4/10.
How Neil Elem School Compares
See how Neil Elem School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 7.5% (2019) to 5% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 12% (2019) to 7.5% (2022).
Location
8555 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60619
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Neil Elem School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ruggles Elem School (rated 7.4/10, 0.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Westcott Elem School (rated 7.1/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Pirie Elem Fine Arts & Academic C (rated 6.8/10, 0.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Chicago, see our Chicago schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| McDade Elem Classical School Chicago | 0.3 mi | 4.2 |
| Perspectives Chtr - Leadership Ac Chicago | 0.3 mi | 5.1 |
| Perspectives Chtr - HS of Tech Chicago | 0.3 mi | 5.4 |
| Lenart Elem Regional Gifted Ctr Chicago | 0.6 mi | 5.2 |
| Dixon Elem School Chicago | 0.6 mi | 4.8 |
| Pirie Elem Fine Arts & Academic C Chicago | 0.6 mi | 6.8 |
| Ruggles Elem School Chicago | 0.9 mi | 7.4 |
| Gillespie Elem School Chicago | 1.0 mi | 6.6 |
| RAEKWON'S SCHOLASTIC DAYCARE ACADEMY LLC Chicago | 0.9 mi | — |
| Simeon Career Academy High School Chicago | 0.9 mi | 5.8 |
| YCCS Chtr - Chatham Chicago | 1.0 mi | 5.6 |
| Turner-Drew Elem Language Academy Chicago | 1.1 mi | 4.8 |
| Burnside Elem Scholastic Academy Chicago | 1.0 mi | 6.0 |
| CHRISTIAN S.T.E.M. SCHOLARS ACADEMY Chicago | 1.1 mi | — |
| Westcott Elem School Chicago | 1.0 mi | 7.1 |
| Ryder Elem Math & Sci Spec School Chicago | 1.0 mi | 5.6 |
| Ashe Elem School Chicago | 1.0 mi | 6.4 |
| Harlan Community Academy HS Chicago | 1.4 mi | 6.9 |
| SOUTH CENTRAL SCHOOL MAIN CAMPUS Chicago | 1.1 mi | — |
| Harvard Elem School Chicago | 1.4 mi | 6.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 60619 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$43,403
Median Home Value
$213,000
Median Rent
$1,054/mo
Population
59,892
College Educated
27.5%
Homeownership
43.3%
Avg Commute
37.2 min
Poverty Rate
25.9%
Median Age
41.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Neil Elem School has a median household income of $43,403. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $213,000, with a median rent of $1,054/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.9%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute in the area is 37 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Beulah Park Elem School Zion, IL | 7.3 |
| Brown County Elementary School Mount Sterling, IL | 7.3 |
| C I Johnson Elem School Aurora, IL | 7.3 |
| CHICAGO JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Chicago, IL | 7.3 |
| Cuffe Math-Sci Tech Elem Academy Chicago, IL | 7.3 |
| DeSoto Elementary School De Soto, IL | 7.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Neil Elem School
What grades does Neil Elem School serve?
Neil Elem School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Neil Elem School?
Neil Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 249 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Neil Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Neil Elem School is 10:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Neil Elem School rank in IL?
Neil Elem School is ranked #878 out of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Neil Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?
Neil Elem School has a composite rating of 7.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Neil Elem School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Neil Elem School has 6.3% math proficiency and 8.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Neil Elem School a charter school?
No, Neil Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Neil Elem School a Title I school?
No, Neil Elem School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Neil Elem School?
88.0% of students at Neil 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.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 61 Somewhat Walkable
- Transit Score
- 69 Good Transit
- Bike Score
- 52 Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (4,030/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Chicago). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 249
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 88.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Cook County
- Phone
- (773) 535-3000
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299- District Enrollment
- 322,809
- Schools in District
- 643
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,699
- District Rank
- #132 of 621
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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