Average
#2568 of 3,813 schools in IL
Nicholson Elem School
Elementary School · Aurora West USD 129 · Montgomery, IL
An Aurora West USD 129 elementary school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
649 N Main St, Montgomery, IL 60538
- Math 3% proficient (2021)
- Reading 17% proficient (2022)
- 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Nicholson Elem School score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 43 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 17% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 30% (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
55.5%
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 Nicholson 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 33Car-Dependent
- Bike 58Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,036/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Montgomery), 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
$92,064
Median home value
$253,900
Median rent
$1,845/mo
College educated
25.2%
Homeownership
79.5%
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60538; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose E Krug Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 275 | Compare → |
| C M Bardwell Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.1 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 686 | Compare → |
| G N Dieterich Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 494 | Compare → |
| Fearn Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | K–5 | Not available | 465 | 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.
Aurora West USD 129
- Schools in district
- 17
- Rank in district
- #6 of 16
- District spending per student
- $16,379NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Nicholson Elem School is listed in Aurora West USD 129; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Nicholson Elem School
Nicholson Elem School is a public elementary school in Montgomery, IL, part of Aurora West USD 129, serving approximately 330 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #2,568 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Nicholson Elem School
What grades does Nicholson Elem School serve?
Nicholson Elem School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Nicholson Elem School?
Nicholson Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 330 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nicholson Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nicholson Elem School is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Nicholson Elem School rank in IL?
Nicholson Elem School ranks #2,568 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Nicholson Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?
Nicholson 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 Nicholson Elem School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Nicholson Elem School has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Nicholson Elem School a charter school?
No, Nicholson Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Nicholson Elem School a Title I school?
No, Nicholson Elem School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Nicholson Elem School?
55.5% of students at Nicholson 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 330
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Kane County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.3%
- Phone
- (630) 301-5013
- Area population (ZIP 60538)
- 30,395
- Area average commute
- 31.9 min
- Area median age
- 35.6
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 60538; 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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