Skip to main content

Excellent

#275 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 7% in state

Waters Elem School

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

A Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 elementary school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.

4540 N Campbell Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

  • Math 48% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 44% proficient (2022)
  • 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.03 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency48% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency44% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency46% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)40% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
Resources & Environment8.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
District spending per student$22,699
Chronic Absenteeism17.9%

Students at Waters Elem School score 46% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.

Math Proficiency48%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency44%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 11 points since 2019, to 44% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
78%
ELA
80%
2010
Math
78%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
60%
ELA
70%
2013
Math
61%
ELA
66%
2014
Math
36%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
45%
ELA
50%
2016
Math
39%
ELA
47%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
54%
2018
Math
50%
ELA
59%
2019
Math
50%
ELA
59%
2020*
Math
48%
ELA
45%
2021*
Math
48%
ELA
45%
2022
ELA
44%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 60% (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

21.2%

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 Waters Elem 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 92Walker's Paradise
  • Transit 69Good Transit
  • Bike 84Very Bikeable
  • 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

$85,299

Median home value

$396,700

Median rent

$1,455/mo

College educated

53.8%

Homeownership

40.3%

Poverty rate

13.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60625; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Queen of Angels Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition7.0PK–80.2 mi284Compare →
Spark MontessoriPrivate · tuitionNot ratedPK–K0.5 mi7Compare →
St Matthias SchoolPrivate · tuition7.6K–80.5 mi255Compare →
Lawrence Hall SchoolPrivate · tuition6.44–120.6 mi41Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Chicago Public Schools Dist 299

Schools in district
643
Rank in district
#32 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

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

About Waters Elem School

Waters Elem School is a public elementary school in Chicago, IL, part of Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, serving approximately 659 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #275 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Waters Elem School

What grades does Waters Elem School serve?

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

How many students attend Waters Elem School?

Waters Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 659 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Waters Elem School is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Waters Elem School rank in IL?

Waters Elem School ranks #275 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Waters Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?

Waters Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 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 Waters Elem School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Waters Elem School has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Waters Elem School a charter school?

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

Is Waters Elem School a Title I school?

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

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

21.2% of students at Waters 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
659
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Cook County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.9%
Area population (ZIP 60625)
78,467
Area average commute
35.3 min
Area median age
36
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 60625; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.