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Excellent

#44 of 716 private schools in IL

Top 6% of private schools

Urban Prairie

Elementary School

1310 S ASHLAND AVE, Chicago, IL 60608

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 623 schools in Chicago. Learn more

Enrollment

125

Student-Teacher

7.1:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Chicago

#16 of 162

public schools

Illinois elementary schools

#20 of 471

About Urban Prairie

Urban Prairie is an elementary school located in the heart of Chicago’s dynamic South Side, at 1310 S Ashland Ave. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, Urban Prairie offers a unique educational experience with its mixed-grade structure. The school has a student body of 125 children and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 7.1:1, ensuring personalized attention for each child.

Urban Prairie is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment with its team of 18 full-time equivalent teachers. While the MySchoolScout rating currently stands at 4.4 out of 10, reflecting room for academic growth, the school's ranking in Illinois as #254 among 716 schools suggests that it is well-regarded within the city’s public education system. Urban Prairie is situated in a vibrant urban setting with plenty of opportunities for community engagement and cultural exploration.

With its dedicated staff and nurturing atmosphere, Urban Prairie aims to provide a strong foundation for young learners as they embark on their educational journey.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 125 students, Urban Prairie is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.1:1, Urban Prairie offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Urban Prairie operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$18,696
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$16,283
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.87x — At Risk
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
93%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$2.9M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 125 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Urban Prairie compares to 503 public schools serving similar grades in Chicago, IL

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.1:1
This School
vs
15.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
125
This School
vs
490
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.2
This School
vs
6.3
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 51.2% vs 0%
Hispanic 12.8% vs 0%
Black 4.8% vs 0%
Asian 4% vs 0%
Urban Prairie Chicago Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Urban Prairie (this school) 8.2
STEM Magnet Academy Elem 5.5
Acero Chtr - Bartolome de las 4.7
Pilsen Elem Community Academy 7.6
Cooper Elem Dual Language Academy 5.0
Orozco Elem Fine Arts & Sciences 9.3
Smyth J Elem School 7.2
Chicago World Language Academy 7.3
Perez Elem School 4.9
Galileo Elem Math & Sci Schol Acd 6.8
Jungman Elem School 6.1
Young Magnet High School 8.7
Irving Elem School 7.5
Whittier Elem School 7.2
Walsh Elem School 5.5
Pickard Elem School 8.6
Dett Elem School 7.3
Brown W Elem School 7.5
Rudolph Elem Learning Center
Plamondon Elem School 7.3
Ruiz Elem School 4.6

Showing 20 of 503 schools. View all schools in Chicago

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IL.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 8.9 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 5.5 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,188
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 64%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 125
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IL

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 51.2%
Two or More 27.2%
Hispanic 12.8%
Black 4.8%
Asian 4.0%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1310 S ASHLAND AVE, Chicago, IL 60608

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Urban Prairie 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 notably higher. Another option is URBAN PRAIRIE WALDORF SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10), with a very similar rating. Additionally, CHILDREN OF PEACE SCHOOL (rated 8.0/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Chicago, see our Chicago schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.8 mi
School Distance Rating
URBAN PRAIRIE WALDORF SCHOOL Chicago 0.0 mi 8.3
STEM Magnet Academy Elem Chicago 0.3 mi 5.5
Acero Chtr - Bartolome de las Chicago 0.4 mi 4.7
CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE Chicago 0.4 mi
Pilsen Elem Community Academy Chicago 0.5 mi 7.6
Chicago Technology Academy HS Chicago 0.4 mi 5.8
CHILDREN OF PEACE SCHOOL Chicago 0.5 mi 8.0
Cooper Elem Dual Language Academy Chicago 0.6 mi 5.0
Noble St Chtr-UIC College Prep Chicago 0.5 mi 5.4
ST PIUS V SCHOOL Chicago 0.7 mi 5.6
Orozco Elem Fine Arts & Sciences Chicago 0.6 mi 9.3
ST PROCOPIUS SCHOOL Chicago 0.6 mi 6.0
Chicago World Language Academy Chicago 0.8 mi 7.3
Juarez Community Academy HS Chicago 0.8 mi 7.4
Perez Elem School Chicago 0.8 mi 4.9
ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREP Chicago 0.7 mi 6.6
Smyth J Elem School Chicago 0.7 mi 7.2
Young Magnet High School Chicago 0.9 mi 8.7
Galileo Elem Math & Sci Schol Acd Chicago 0.8 mi 6.8
CHICAGO HOPE ACADEMY Chicago 0.8 mi 7.3

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 Urban Prairie 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
Betsy Ross Elem School Forest Park, IL 8.2
Cairo Elementary School Cairo, IL 8.2
Dongola Elementary School Dongola, IL 8.2
P L Bolin Elem School East Peoria, IL 8.2
AKIBA-SCHECHTER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Chicago, IL 8.1
Astoria Elem School Astoria, IL 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Urban Prairie

What grades does Urban Prairie serve?

Urban Prairie serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Urban Prairie?

Urban Prairie has an enrollment of approximately 125 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Urban Prairie?

The student-teacher ratio at Urban Prairie is 7.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Urban Prairie rank in IL?

Urban Prairie is ranked #44 out of 716 private schools in IL.

What is Urban Prairie's MySchoolScout rating?

Urban Prairie has a composite rating of 8.2 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.

Is Urban Prairie a private school?

Yes, Urban Prairie is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Urban Prairie a religious school?

No, Urban Prairie is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
86 Very Walkable
Transit Score
71 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
81 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,030/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
125
Gender Split
54% M / 46% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
165 days
Setting
Large City
County
COOK
Data Year
2022–2023

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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