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#2373 of 3,813 schools in IL

Prairie Trail School

Elementary School · Gurnee SD 56

13600 W Wadsworth Rd, Wadsworth, IL 60083

Enrollment

405

Student-Teacher

11.6:1

Score

5.8

Grades

3rd – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Wadsworth

#2 of 2

public schools

Illinois elementary schools

#1,429 of 2,326

In district

#4 of 4

Gurnee SD 56

School environment

8.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Prairie Trail School

Prairie Trail School is an elementary school located in Wadsworth, Illinois, in the heart of Lake County. Situated at 13600 W Wadsworth Rd, it serves students from third to fifth grade. With a total enrollment of 405 students and a student-teacher ratio of 11.6:1, Prairie Trail School provides a supportive learning environment with ample individual attention for each child.

The school has 35 full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to teaching grades three through five. Although the MySchoolScout rating is 5.2 out of 10 and the state ranking places it at number 2109 out of 3819 schools in Illinois (45th percentile), Prairie Trail School focuses on student development with room for academic growth, particularly in ELA/Reading and Math, where only 15% and 16% of students are proficient or above respectively. Despite these challenges, the school continues to foster a nurturing educational environment.

Prairie Trail School is nestled within a large suburban area, offering its students easy access to community resources and local amenities while maintaining a close-knit feel typical of smaller communities.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.8Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-4.05 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics4.0Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency11%
Reading/ELA Proficiency13%
Overall Proficiency12%
Expected (poverty-adj.)22%
vs. Expected-9.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile21th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,025

Prairie Trail School — Students at Prairie Trail School score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

59.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 15.5%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 15.3%
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
20%
ELA
23%
2021*
Math
11%
ELA
10%
2022
ELA
13%

* 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: 5.8/10.

How Prairie Trail School Compares

See how Prairie Trail School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.8/10
38th percentile in IL
Academic
4.0/10
4.0/10
Growth
5.8/10
Above average
Environment
8.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
60%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
35 teachers

Location

13600 W Wadsworth Rd, Wadsworth, IL 60083

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Prairie Trail School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. OUR LADY OF HUMILITY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 3.1 miles away, in nearby Beach Park), which scores notably higher. Another option is ST PATRICK SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Beulah Park Elem School (rated 7.3/10, 3.3 miles away, in nearby Zion), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Wadsworth, see our Wadsworth schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Beach Park Middle School Beach Park 1.7 mi 6.7
ST PATRICK SCHOOL Wadsworth 1.4 mi 7.7
Zion-Benton Twnshp Hi Sch Zion 2.2 mi 6.4
H R McCall Elem School Waukegan 2.3 mi 5.1
Oak Crest School Beach Park 2.2 mi 7.2
Spaulding Elementary School Gurnee 3.1 mi 6.9
Kenneth Murphy School Beach Park 2.4 mi 4.7
Oakdale Elem School Waukegan 3.1 mi 6.2
West Elementary School Zion 2.6 mi 5.0
Newport Elem School Wadsworth 2.9 mi 5.9
LAKE COUNTY BAPTIST SCHOOL Waukegan 2.8 mi 8.3
GURNEE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Gurnee 3.3 mi 6.3
Little Fort Elem School Waukegan 3.3 mi 6.0
Early Learning Center Waukegan 3.8 mi 4.8
Elmwood Elem School Zion 3.1 mi 4.8
OUR LADY OF HUMILITY SCHOOL Beach Park 3.1 mi 8.4
Shiloh Park Middle School Zion 3.1 mi 5.8
Clearview Elem School Waukegan 3.8 mi 7.1
Beulah Park Elem School Zion 3.3 mi 7.3
Jack Benny Middle School Waukegan 3.7 mi 4.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60083 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$111,912

Median Home Value

$286,400

Median Rent

$1,702/mo

Population

9,655

College Educated

39.1%

Homeownership

93.7%

Avg Commute

27.9 min

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Median Age

43.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Prairie Trail School has a median household income of $111,912. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $286,400, with a median rent of $1,702/month. The local poverty rate of 4.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 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
Acero Chtr - Rufino Tamayo Elem Chicago, IL 5.8
Belmont-Cragin Elem School Chicago, IL 5.8
Burley Elem School Chicago, IL 5.8
Buzz Aldrin Elem School Schaumburg, IL 5.8
CICS - Bond Campus Chicago, IL 5.8
Chatham Elem School Chatham, IL 5.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Prairie Trail School

What grades does Prairie Trail School serve?

Prairie Trail School serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.

How many students attend Prairie Trail School?

Prairie Trail School has an enrollment of approximately 405 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Trail School?

The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Trail School is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Prairie Trail School rank in IL?

Prairie Trail School is ranked #2373 out of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Prairie Trail School's MySchoolScout rating?

Prairie Trail School has a composite rating of 5.8 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 Prairie Trail School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Prairie Trail School has 15.5% math proficiency and 15.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Prairie Trail School a charter school?

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

Is Prairie Trail School a Title I school?

No, Prairie Trail School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prairie Trail School?

59.5% of students at Prairie Trail 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 →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
3rd – 5th
Enrollment
405
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Free/Reduced Lunch
59.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Lake County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Gurnee SD 56
District Enrollment
1,891
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,266
District Rank
#4 of 4

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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