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Very Good

#725 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 19% in state

Taft High School

High School · Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 · Chicago, IL

A Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 high school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.

6530 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60631

  • Math 25% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 32% proficient (2022)
  • 5/5 advanced STEM subjects

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.1Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.63 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics7.7Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency25% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency29% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)24% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+4.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile65th
College Readiness9.9Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation33.3%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment2.6Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.1:1
District spending per student$22,699
Chronic Absenteeism61.8%

Students at Taft High School score 28% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.

Math Proficiency25%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency32%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 32% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
62%
ELA
63%
2010
Math
51%
ELA
55%
2011
Math
56%
ELA
59%
2012
Math
56%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
53%
ELA
58%
2014
Math
29%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
25%
ELA
34%
2016
Math
34%
ELA
40%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
38%
2018
Math
39%
ELA
44%
2019
Math
39%
ELA
44%
2020*
Math
25%
ELA
30%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
30%
2022
ELA
32%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 45% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

54.5%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Taft High 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 64Somewhat Walkable
  • Transit 50Good Transit
  • Bike 55Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,030/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

$117,688

Median home value

$431,400

Median rent

$1,604/mo

College educated

50.1%

Homeownership

74.2%

Poverty rate

6.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60631; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offeredIB Programme
33.3% participation·State avg: 2.7 AP courses·699 IB enrolled·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics23sports offered
11 boys'·12 girls'·41 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Resurrection College Prep High SchoolPrivate · tuition6.0private9–121.3 mi458Compare →
Logos Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition4.4privatePK–122.0 mi234Compare →
Ridgewood Comm High SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.99–122.0 mi943Compare →
Rickover Naval Academy High SchlEnrollment path unverified6.29–122.2 mi508Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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
#77 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

Taft High School is listed in Chicago Public Schools Dist 299; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Taft High School

Taft High School is a public high school in Chicago, IL, part of Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, serving approximately 4,416 students in grades 7th-12th with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #725 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Taft High School

What grades does Taft High School serve?

Taft High School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.

How many students attend Taft High School?

Taft High School has an enrollment of approximately 4,416 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Taft High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Taft High School is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Taft High School rank in IL?

Taft High School ranks #725 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Taft High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Taft High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 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 Taft High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Taft High School has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Taft High School a charter school?

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

Is Taft High School a Title I school?

No, Taft High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Taft High School?

54.5% of students at Taft High 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
7th – 12th
Enrollment
4,416
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
274
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Cook County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
61.8%
Area population (ZIP 60631)
30,308
Area average commute
29.9 min
Area median age
42.5
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 60631; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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