Below Average
#3129 of 3,813 schools in IL
Northwest Middle School
Middle School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 · Chicago, IL
A Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 middle school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.
5252 W Palmer St, Chicago, IL 60639
- Math 8% proficient (2021)
- Reading 7% proficient (2022)
- 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Northwest Middle School score 7% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 59 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 7% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 25% (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
77.6%
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 Northwest Middle 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 75Very Walkable
- Transit 62Good Transit
- Bike 77Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,030/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Chicago), 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
$59,710
Median home value
$289,000
Median rent
$1,212/mo
College educated
15.2%
Homeownership
47.6%
Poverty rate
16.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60639; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Science Acad-belmontCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.1 | K–9 | 0.7 mi | 672 | Compare → |
| Pactt Learning CenterPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 3–12 | 2.8 mi | 28 | Compare → |
| Elm Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 6–8 | 3.0 mi | 622 | Compare → |
| Chicago Jesuit AcademyPrivate · tuition | 8.1private | 3–8 | 3.1 mi | 174 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
- Schools in district
- 643
- Rank in district
- #509 of 621
- District spending per student
- $22,699NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 20.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Northwest Middle School is listed in Chicago Public Schools Dist 299; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Northwest Middle School
Northwest Middle School is a public middle school in Chicago, IL, part of Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, serving approximately 518 students in grades 6th-8th with a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10 and ranks #3,129 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Northwest Middle School
What grades does Northwest Middle School serve?
Northwest Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Northwest Middle School?
Northwest Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 518 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwest Middle School is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Northwest Middle School rank in IL?
Northwest Middle School ranks #3,129 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Northwest Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Northwest Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 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 Northwest Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Northwest Middle School has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Northwest Middle School a charter school?
No, Northwest Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Northwest Middle School a Title I school?
No, Northwest Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northwest Middle School?
77.6% of students at Northwest Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 518
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 40
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Cook County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.4%
- Phone
- (773) 534-3250
- Area population (ZIP 60639)
- 84,505
- Area average commute
- 36.9 min
- Area median age
- 36.1
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 60639; 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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