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John J Pershing Magnet Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1741^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Pershing Elementary Humanities Magnet is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Chicago, Illinois, part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299. With 396 students, the school has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state, ranking in the bottom half of Illinois elementary schools over the past decade.

Pershing Elementary struggles academically, with only 29.6% of students proficient in English Language Arts and just 7.9% proficient in math, far below the district and state averages. The school also faces high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 43.2% in recent years. Pershing's performance is particularly concerning for its African American and low-income students, who rank in the bottom half and bottom 18% of Illinois elementary schools, respectively. Despite spending significantly more per student ($23,647 in 2023-2024) than the district and state averages, these additional resources have not translated to better academic outcomes.

Interestingly, several nearby schools, such as Ward J Elementary, Healy Elementary, and Bronzeville Classical Elementary, significantly outperform Pershing on academic measures, despite being in the same general area. This suggests that the school's struggles are not solely due to its location or student demographics. Additionally, despite being designated as a "Humanities Magnet" school, Pershing's academic performance does not reflect a strong focus on the humanities, with test scores in core subjects like English Language Arts and Math well below state and district averages.

439

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,245

Per pupil spending ?

83.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3200 S Calumet Ave
Chicago, IL 60616-4866

(773) 534-9272

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students who attend John J Pershing Magnet Elementary usually attend:

High:

Phillips Academy High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

89.3%

Hispanic:

5.5%

White:

2.1%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare John J Pershing Magnet Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 36th percentile in 2015 → 15th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (20% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (43% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school20%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

1,741^st of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 21 pts since 2015

From bottom 36% (2015) to bottom 15% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,116^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 18%▼ down 18 pts since 2015

From bottom 37% (2015) to bottom 18% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

281^st of 451Elementary Schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299

698^th of 811Chicago Public Schools District 299 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	17.1	1741 of 2056	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.8	1817 of 2067	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.0	1549 of 2077	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	1635 of 2082	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.9	1415 of 1948	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.3	1469 of 2086	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.2	1321 of 2037	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	27.9	1475 of 2044	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	45.7	1039 of 2046	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	33.7	1306 of 2052	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	36.4	1393 of 2093	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	27.0	1639 of 2022	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	40.3	1400 of 2030	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2003	26.2	1594 of 2020	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	36.2	434 of 688	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.4	420 of 655	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.2	221 of 692	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.8	242 of 684	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.3	92 of 428	78.5%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	228 of 711	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.9	134 of 698	80.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	19.9	1591 of 1942	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	1645 of 1942	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.3	1318 of 1957	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.5	1469 of 1970	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.1	1429 of 1680	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.6	1506 of 2019	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.5	1274 of 1964	35.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	24.3	1470 of 1800	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.9	1566 of 1793	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.4	1213 of 1808	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.9	1236 of 1763	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.1	932 of 1514	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.7	1085 of 1816	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.2	846 of 1765	52.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	15.0	1701 of 1947	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.4	1747 of 1959	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.7	1574 of 1984	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.8	1603 of 1977	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.8	1147 of 1707	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.2	1327 of 2019	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.9	1214 of 1972	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2019	34.4	749 of 1194	37.3%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.0	1116 of 1368	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.6	1131 of 1363	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.7	972 of 1367	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.2	1124 of 1369	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.4	1037 of 1241	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.8	1097 of 1356	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.7	1043 of 1293	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	24.2	995 of 1293	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	34.7	820 of 1294	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.2	822 of 1302	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	40.7	807 of 1322	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	36.6	838 of 1209	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2004	53.4	659 of 1204	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2003	62.4	496 of 1185	58.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	43.5	293 of 574	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.8	311 of 548	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.4	161 of 569	71.7%	★★★★☆
2022	40.4	289 of 573	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.5	187 of 385	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.8	230 of 565	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.9	203 of 511	60.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.6	993 of 1248	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.7	1110 of 1251	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.8	949 of 1275	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.1	1155 of 1286	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.2	934 of 1017	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	20.0	1047 of 1276	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.1	1108 of 1226	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	26.8	944 of 1229	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.9	904 of 1219	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.4	707 of 1234	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.3	953 of 1221	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.6	818 of 1019	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.8	892 of 1217	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.5	890 of 1161	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	19.4	1045 of 1271	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.7	965 of 1264	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.4	876 of 1292	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.4	929 of 1286	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.1	842 of 1048	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.6	996 of 1296	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.4	828 of 1223	32.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2021	41.8	264 of 548	51.8%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Special Education (2019)37th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2025)37th percentile+22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)18th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)18th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)13th percentile-3 vs school

Middle school

Special Education (2021)52nd percentile+35 vs school

African American (2025)49th percentile+31 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)23rd percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)20th percentile~ school

Male (2025)18th percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts30%-23 vs state

Science20%-22 vs state

Mathematics8%-31 vs state

★

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Schools Near John J Pershing Magnet Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISA Science (2025)		IAR English Language Arts (2025)							IAR Mathematics (2025)							% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Pneumococcal (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Pneumococcal All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
John J Pershing Magnet Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	3200 S Calumet Ave	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-9272	439	32	13.7	83.1%	9 (2.1%)	392 (89.3%)	24 (5.5%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.4%)	17.1	1741^st of 2056 public elementary schools	15.3%		15.8	1817^th of 2067 public elementary schools	12.1%	76	18.6	22.4	9.7	22.2	40.0	51.2	27.9	20.4	29.6	9.7	5.7	7.0	5.0	9.3	10.2	7.9	82.2	85.9	85.9	85.9	90.5	85.9	84.4	6.5	23.1	$21,245	$4,793	$16,451
James R Doolittle Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	535 E 35th St	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1040	257	21	12.5	84.8%	0 (0.0%)	252 (98.1%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7.2	2020^th of 2056 public elementary schools	1.8%		10.4	2025^th of 2067 public elementary schools	2.0%	5	10.7	16.7	4.3	18.4	13.8	8.3	23.8	22.2	15.0	4.3	7.9	0.0	8.3	0.0	0.0	3.9	81.3	85.9	85.9	85.9	91.2	85.1	79.8	9.2	12.6	$24,891	$4,318	$20,573
Wells Preparatory Elementary Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	249 E 37th St	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1204	308	22	14.0	82.8%	2 (0.6%)	296 (96.1%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	33.4	1349^th of 2056 public elementary schools	34.4%		29.2	1421^st of 2067 public elementary schools	31.3%	72	22.6	14.3	25.9	38.5	44.4	66.7	78.3	78.6	53.6	28.6	23.1	25.8	16.7	17.4	14.3	21.4	77.8	82.2	82.2	82.2	93.8	80.6	79.4	10.9	12.8	$22,776	$2,969	$19,807
Drake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2710 S Dearborn St	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-9129	302	25	12.3	97.7%	0 (0.0%)	285 (94.4%)	15 (5.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11.7	1884^th of 2056 public elementary schools	8.4%		14.3	1876^th of 2067 public elementary schools	9.2%	8	6.1	15.4	9.7	25.7	19.4	29.0	38.5	34.5	25.5	25.8	11.8	8.3	3.2	7.7	3.4	10.2	73.1	77.1	77.1	77.1	92.0	76.7	74.1		18.6	$27,200	$4,437	$22,763
Univ of Chicago Charter-Donoghue	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	707 E 37th St	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 285-5301	499	23	21.6	84.6%	0 (0.0%)	474 (95.0%)	16 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	32.8	1361^st of 2056 public elementary schools	33.8%		33.1	1308^th of 2067 public elementary schools	36.7%	53	24.4		37.8	33.3	57.7				42.7	33.3	17.1	25.6				25.3										$18,355	$1,216	$17,139
Ward J Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2701 S Shields Ave	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-9050	500	33	15.1	79.0%	22 (4.4%)	32 (6.4%)	52 (10.4%)	384 (76.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.0%)	77.6	446^th of 2056 public elementary schools	78.3%		69.8	553^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	73.2%	107	52.8	60.4	54.3	67.4	57.7	60.9	68.5	66.0	62.6	67.4	62.8	59.6	58.7	66.7	64.2	63.3	96.8	98.6	98.6	98.6	97.6	98.0	97.4	7.9	32.1	$18,340	$1,904	$16,437
Healy Elementary School	Public	K-8	3010 S Parnell Ave	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-9190	1,194	71	16.8	79.2%	61 (5.1%)	40 (3.4%)	190 (15.9%)	886 (74.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	13 (1.1%)	87.2	241^st of 2056 public elementary schools	88.3%		87.7	227^th of 2067 public elementary schools	89.0%	14	61.5	61.2	64.4	71.1	66.7	84.1	76.8	76.1	73.4	71.2	70.4	61.8	67.4	62.0	70.1	67.2	95.6	98.1	98.1	98.1	97.3	97.6	97.4		33.3	$15,072	$1,838	$13,233
Bronzeville Classical Elementary School	Public	K-8	8 W Root St	Chicago	60609	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 535-8085	458	26	17.6	16.6%	23 (5.0%)	340 (74.2%)	22 (4.8%)	41 (9.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.8%)	97.1	23^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	98.9%		97.3	42^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	98.0%	19	75.4	84.0	76.8	92.7	98.2	94.6	97.4	100.0	92.4	89.3	89.3	73.7	82.1	71.8	60.0	79.9	94.1	96.2	96.2	96.2	97.2	95.7	95.5		13.7	$15,884	$963	$14,921
Minnie Minoso Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	3527 S Wallace St	Chicago	60609	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1732	304	29	10.5	89.8%	38 (12.5%)	137 (45.1%)	98 (32.2%)	18 (5.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.6%)	24.6	1568^th of 2056 public elementary schools	23.7%		25.1	1542^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	25.4%	26	35.7	27.8	27.3	18.2	46.4	46.2	52.0	58.3	41.8	4.5	6.1	17.9	15.4	20.0	22.2	14.7	79.3	83.1	83.1	83.1	93.4	82.5	81.5		22.6	$29,628	$2,694	$26,934
National Teachers Elementary Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	55 W Cermak Rd	Chicago	60616	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-9970	795	49	16.2	46.2%	77 (9.7%)	583 (73.3%)	55 (6.9%)	34 (4.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (5.7%)	45.6	1092^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	46.9%		56.3	795^th of 2067 public elementary schools	61.5%	297	40.2	21.7	38.3	42.9	46.3	46.5	35.4	41.7	42.1	39.8	36.7	38.6	29.4	6.5	21.3	30.0	91.4	94.2	94.2	94.2	96.5	94.3	92.7	5.5	20.3	$16,081	$2,268	$13,813

Frequently Asked Questions about John J Pershing Magnet Elementary

What schools do graduates of John J Pershing Magnet Elementary attend?

Students who attend John J Pershing Magnet Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Phillips Academy High School

How many students attend John J Pershing Magnet Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 439 students attended John J Pershing Magnet Elementary.

What district is John J Pershing Magnet Elementary in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

Is John J Pershing Magnet Elementary a good school?

John J Pershing Magnet Elementary ranks in the bottom 15.3% of Illinois elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of John J Pershing Magnet Elementary?

Students at John J Pershing Magnet Elementary are 89% African American, 5% Hispanic, 2% White, 2% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.