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Excellent

#171 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 5% in state

Pickard Elem School

Elementary School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

2301 W 21st Pl, Chicago, IL 60608

Enrollment

293

Student-Teacher

10.9:1

Score

8.6

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Chicago

#15 of 629

public schools

Illinois elementary schools

#127 of 2,326

In district

#15 of 621

Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

School environment

9.3 / 10

Exceptional

About Pickard Elem School

Pickard Elem School is a public elementary school in Chicago, IL, part of the Chicago Public Schools Dist 299. The school serves approximately 293 students in grades Pre-K – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 10.9:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 95.5th percentile among IL schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 23% proficiency in math and 24% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.3/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $70,704, where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.92 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics7.9Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency20%
Reading/ELA Proficiency25%
Overall Proficiency23%
Expected (poverty-adj.)7%
vs. Expected+15.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile68th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.3Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,089

Pickard Elem School — Students at Pickard Elem School score 22% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 7%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

92.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 22.5%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 24.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 5 test records from IL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
25%
ELA
23%
2021*
Math
20%
ELA
24%
2022
ELA
25%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Pickard Elem School Compares

See how Pickard Elem School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.6/10
96th percentile in IL
Academic
7.9/10
7.9/10
Growth
8.8/10
Above average
Environment
9.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
93%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
27 teachers

Location

2301 W 21st Pl, Chicago, IL 60608

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Pickard Elem School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Orozco Elem Fine Arts & Sciences (rated 9.3/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Telpochcalli Elem School (rated 7.7/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Chalmers Elem Specialty School (rated 7.6/10, 1.1 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Chicago, see our Chicago schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Finkl Elem School Chicago 0.3 mi 6.3
Ruiz Elem School Chicago 0.4 mi 4.6
IHSCA Charter High School Chicago 0.5 mi 5.0
IJLA Charter High School Chicago 0.5 mi 6.4
Acero Chtr - Octavio Paz Elem Sch Chicago 0.5 mi 7.1
Whittier Elem School Chicago 0.5 mi 7.2
Orozco Elem Fine Arts & Sciences Chicago 0.6 mi 9.3
Plamondon Elem School Chicago 0.7 mi 7.3
YCCS-Latino Youth Alternative HS Chicago 0.6 mi 6.3
Hammond Elem School Chicago 0.6 mi 6.5
Telpochcalli Elem School Chicago 0.8 mi 7.7
Noble St Chtr-UIC College Prep Chicago 1.0 mi 5.4
Saucedo Elem Scholastic Academy Chicago 0.8 mi 6.5
Cooper Elem Dual Language Academy Chicago 0.9 mi 5.0
Spry Elem Community School Chicago 0.9 mi 7.0
Spry Community Links High School Chicago 0.9 mi 8.0
Acero Chtr - Bartolome de las Chicago 0.9 mi 4.7
CHICAGO HOPE ACADEMY Chicago 1.2 mi 7.3
Chalmers Elem Specialty School Chicago 1.1 mi 7.6
ST PIUS V SCHOOL Chicago 0.9 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60608 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,704

Median Home Value

$341,500

Median Rent

$1,208/mo

Population

81,459

College Educated

34.3%

Homeownership

40.2%

Avg Commute

30.1 min

Poverty Rate

17.9%

Median Age

34.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Pickard Elem School has a median household income of $70,704. It is an area where 34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $341,500, with a median rent of $1,208/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.9%. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bristol Grade School Bristol, IL 8.6
Edgewood Elem School Woodridge, IL 8.6
Hoover Wood Elem School Batavia, IL 8.6
Hynes Elem School Morton Grove, IL 8.6
Ideal Elem School Countryside, IL 8.6
LATIN SCHOOL OF CHICAGO LOWER Chicago, IL 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pickard Elem School

What grades does Pickard Elem School serve?

Pickard Elem School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Pickard Elem School?

Pickard Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 293 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pickard Elem School?

The student-teacher ratio at Pickard Elem School is 10.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Pickard Elem School rank in IL?

Pickard Elem School is ranked #171 out of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Pickard Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?

Pickard Elem School has a composite rating of 8.6 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 Pickard Elem School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Pickard Elem School has 22.5% math proficiency and 24.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Pickard Elem School a charter school?

No, Pickard Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Pickard Elem School a Title I school?

No, Pickard Elem School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pickard Elem School?

92.8% of students at Pickard 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
87 Very Walkable
Transit Score
68 Good Transit
Bike Score
65 Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,030/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Chicago). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
293
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
27
Free/Reduced Lunch
92.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Cook County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Chicago Public Schools Dist 299
District Enrollment
322,809
Schools in District
643
Per-Pupil Spending
$22,699
District Rank
#15 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 methodology

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