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Average

#2205 of 3,813 schools in IL

Whittier Elem School

Elementary School · Waukegan CUSD 60

901 N Lewis Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085

Enrollment

416

Student-Teacher

13:1

Score

5.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Illinois schools

#2,205 of 3,813

In Waukegan

#8 of 23

public schools

In district

#7 of 22

Waukegan CUSD 60

School environment

7.1 / 10

Very Good

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Whittier Elem School

5.9/10

Elementary School in Waukegan · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Edith M Smith Middle School

4.7/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Hyde Park Elem School

5.3/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Whittier Elem School

Whittier Elem School is a public elementary school in Waukegan, IL, part of Waukegan CUSD 60. Whittier Elem School serves approximately 416 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. Whittier Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #2,205 of 3,813 schools in IL.

Structured state assessment records for Whittier Elem School show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares0.5 pts above district
  • This school 5.9 · Average
  • District avg 5.4
  • IL avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Whittier Elem School sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

37% of students at Whittier Elem School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.0Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.65 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics3.4Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency2.5% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency10% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency6% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)14% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-7.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile15th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,843
Chronic Absenteeism36.8%

Whittier Elem School — Students at Whittier Elem School score 6% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

77.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 29.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 21.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
66%
ELA
39%
2010
Math
76%
ELA
44%
2011
Math
79%
ELA
52%
2012
Math
35%
ELA
27%
2013
Math
41%
ELA
25%
2014
Math
13%
ELA
12%
2015
Math
8%
ELA
10%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
11%
2017
Math
13%
ELA
15%
2018
Math
15%
ELA
17%
2019
Math
15%
ELA
17%
2020*
Math
2.5%
ELA
7.5%
2021*
Math
2.5%
ELA
7.5%
2022
ELA
10%

* 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: 7.0/10.

How Whittier Elem School Compares

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

Overall Score
5.9/10
42th percentile in IL
Academic
3.4/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
7.0/10
Very Good
Environment
7.1/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
77%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
32 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
36.8%

Location

901 N Lewis Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Whittier Elem School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. LEARN John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr (rated 8.9/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is MOST BLESSED TRINITY ACADEMY (rated 7.7/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Greenwood Elem School (rated 6.9/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Waukegan, see our Waukegan schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Edith M Smith Middle School Waukegan 0.2 mi 4.7
Hyde Park Elem School Waukegan 0.5 mi 5.3
Glenwood Elementary School Waukegan 0.5 mi 4.5
LEARN John Kathy Schreiber Chrtr Waukegan 0.6 mi 8.9
LIONS MATH AND SCIENCE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Waukegan 0.6 mi 6.8
Miguel Juarez Middle School Waukegan 0.8 mi 2.9
Clearview Elem School Waukegan 0.9 mi 5.2
Glen Flora Elem School Waukegan 0.7 mi 5.9
Early Learning Center Waukegan 0.9 mi 4.8
Robert E Abbott Middle School Waukegan 1.0 mi 3.2
ST ANASTASIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Waukegan 0.9 mi 6.8
Washington Elem School Waukegan 1.1 mi 3.1
Waukegan High School Waukegan 1.1 mi 4.7
North Elem School Waukegan 1.1 mi 3.0
MOST BLESSED TRINITY ACADEMY Waukegan 1.1 mi 7.7
Jack Benny Middle School Waukegan 1.6 mi 3.3
Greenwood Elem School Waukegan 1.4 mi 6.9
Andrew Cooke Magnet Elem School Waukegan 1.5 mi 5.5
MENTA ACADEMY NORTH Waukegan 1.6 mi 5.9
John R Lewis Middle School Waukegan 1.7 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60085 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$64,330

Median Home Value

$164,800

Median Rent

$1,133/mo

Population

72,763

College Educated

18.7%

Homeownership

46.6%

Avg Commute

25.4 min

Poverty Rate

17.2%

Median Age

33.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Big Hollow Primary School Ingleside, IL 5.9
Bond Elem School Chicago, IL 5.9
Bradley West Elem School Bradley, IL 5.9
Butterworth Elem School Moline, IL 5.9
Carman-Buckner Elem School Waukegan, IL 5.9
Charter Oak Primary School Peoria, IL 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Whittier Elem School

What grades does Whittier Elem School serve?

Whittier Elem School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Whittier Elem School?

Whittier Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 416 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Whittier Elem School is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Whittier Elem School rank in IL?

Whittier Elem School ranks #2,205 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Whittier Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?

Whittier Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 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 Whittier Elem School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Whittier Elem School has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Whittier Elem School a charter school?

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

Is Whittier Elem School a Title I school?

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

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

77.4% of students at Whittier 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
83 Very Walkable
Transit Score
34 Some Transit
Bike Score
51 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
416
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Free/Reduced Lunch
77.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Lake County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
36.8%

District

Waukegan CUSD 60
District Enrollment
13,666
Schools in District
22
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,843
District Rank
#7 of 22

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