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Mays Elementary Academy

Public Grades PK, KG-8

2032^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 1% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Mays Elementary Academy is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Chicago, Illinois, part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299. Despite higher per-student spending, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom 5-10% of Illinois elementary schools, with significant underperformance in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency compared to the district and state averages.

Mays Elementary Academy faces several key challenges, including extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 55.1% over the past few years. The school also struggles to effectively serve its student subgroups, ranking in the bottom 30-40% of Illinois elementary schools for African American students, low socioeconomic status students, and both male and female students. Interestingly, nearby schools like King Academy of Social Justice, Bond Elementary School, and Parker Elementary Community Academy also struggle academically but generally outperform Mays Elementary Academy.

The challenges faced by Mays Elementary Academy appear to be systemic issues within the Chicago Public Schools District 299, as the district is ranked 698 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism, improving resource allocation, and implementing more targeted and equitable interventions will be crucial for the school and the district to improve educational outcomes for all students.

277

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,656

Per pupil spending ?

67.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6656 S Normal Blvd
Chicago, IL 60621-2558

(773) 535-3892

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

African American:

89.2%

Hispanic:

8.3%

Two or more races:

1.8%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Mays Elementary Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 10th percentile in 2015 → 1st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (8% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (1st percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (55% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school8%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

2,032^nd of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 9 pts since 2015

From bottom 10% (2015) to bottom 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,306^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 5%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From bottom 17% (2015) to bottom 5% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

438^th 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	6.5	2032 of 2056	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.1	2035 of 2067	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.9	2046 of 2077	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.8	2010 of 2082	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.5	1879 of 1948	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.0	2012 of 2086	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	13.6	1865 of 2037	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	16.4	1783 of 2044	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	12.7	1900 of 2046	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	15.2	1841 of 2052	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	12.4	1904 of 2093	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	34.7	1498 of 2167	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.0	1406 of 2166	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	45.4	1383 of 2147	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	37.2	1536 of 2139	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	26.0	1701 of 2120	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	42.0	1421 of 2092	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	38.1	1540 of 2095	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	35.6	1583 of 2086	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	6.9	1861 of 2022	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	11.5	1807 of 2030	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	2.0	1976 of 2020	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.8	612 of 688	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.1	602 of 655	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.1	611 of 692	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.5	563 of 684	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.0	347 of 428	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.5	572 of 711	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.9	427 of 698	38.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	7.8	1898 of 1942	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.8	1893 of 1942	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.1	1924 of 1957	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.2	1888 of 2019	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.5	1605 of 1964	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.3	1767 of 1800	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.5	1760 of 1793	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.0	1782 of 1808	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.1	1672 of 1763	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.1	1444 of 1514	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.3	1728 of 1816	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	21.3	1548 of 1765	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	6.3	1927 of 1947	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.4	1919 of 1959	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.4	1947 of 1984	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.4	1937 of 1977	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.9	1965 of 2019	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.9	1904 of 1972	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	10.4	1306 of 1368	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.3	1306 of 1363	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.4	1331 of 1367	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.5	1194 of 1369	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.8	1173 of 1241	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.4	1186 of 1356	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.5	1098 of 1293	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	17.5	1097 of 1293	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	16.7	1152 of 1294	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	19.6	1086 of 1302	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	11.8	1214 of 1322	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	34.9	946 of 1367	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	47.3	836 of 1365	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.0	913 of 1344	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	30.9	1014 of 1327	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	50.4	774 of 1318	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	59.7	627 of 1293	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	36.0	930 of 1287	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	38.1	895 of 1272	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	28.6	442 of 574	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.3	458 of 548	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.7	503 of 569	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.1	354 of 573	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.3	301 of 385	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.4	328 of 565	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.4	264 of 511	48.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	8.8	1210 of 1248	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.3	1243 of 1251	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.6	1235 of 1275	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	1029 of 1286	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.6	990 of 1276	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.5	1025 of 1226	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	15.2	1146 of 1229	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.6	1118 of 1219	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.8	1188 of 1234	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	24.4	1005 of 1221	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.3	942 of 1019	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.3	995 of 1217	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.6	911 of 1161	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	17.6	1091 of 1271	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.9	1133 of 1264	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.1	1242 of 1292	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.6	1173 of 1286	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.3	1267 of 1296	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.9	1079 of 1223	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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

African American (2025)11th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)1st percentile~ school

Middle school

African American (2025)23rd percentile+18 vs school

Male (2025)14th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)7th percentile~ school

Female (2025)3rd percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts16%-37 vs state

Mathematics8%-31 vs state

Science4%-39 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mays Elementary Academy

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
Mays Elementary Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	6656 S Normal Blvd	Chicago	60621	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3892	277	16	17.8	67.9%	0 (0.0%)	247 (89.2%)	23 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (1.8%)	6.5	2032^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	1.2%		10.1	2035^th of 2067 public elementary schools	1.5%	3	0.0	8.0	13.3	12.2	20.8	13.6	17.6	19.2	15.8	13.3	5.0	0.0	0.0	11.8	12.5	7.5	79.2	82.1	82.1	82.1	93.3	82.1	77.1	4.2	13.8	$19,656	$2,712	$16,944
Kershaw Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	6450 S Lowe Ave	Chicago	60621	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3050	226	25	9.0	88.9%	0 (0.0%)	217 (96.0%)	8 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23.7	1587^th of 2056 public elementary schools	22.8%		23.7	1580^th of 2067 public elementary schools	23.6%	7	18.2	30.0	26.3	28.6	40.9	38.9	61.1	40.0	38.9	31.6	28.6	18.2	5.6	11.1	0.0	17.6	94.4	99.1	99.1	99.1	97.7	96.3	95.4	7.9	23.7	$30,001	$3,946	$26,055
Bass Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1140 W 66th St	Chicago	60621	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3275	313	25	12.3	98.1%	1 (0.3%)	279 (89.1%)	31 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	9.2	1962^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	4.6%		13.7	1906^th of 2067 public elementary schools	7.8%	56	11.5	14.3	8.6	10.0	19.2	26.9	8.7	33.3	17.6	12.1	3.3	15.4	0.0	13.0	17.2	10.2	85.7	94.4	94.4	94.4	96.9	93.7	86.0	10.8	22.0	$22,767	$3,573	$19,194
King Academy of Social Justice	Public	PK, KG-8	644 W 71st St	Chicago	60621	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3875	213	23	9.4	87.8%	2 (0.9%)	180 (84.5%)	29 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	7.7	2009^th of 2056 public elementary schools	2.3%		14.1	1889^th of 2067 public elementary schools	8.6%	120	4.2	10.7	14.8	13.6	24.0	11.5	24.0	7.4	15.8	3.7	4.8	12.0	0.0	8.3	3.4	5.3	77.6	85.2	85.2	85.2	93.6	85.2	79.2	4.4	22.0	$23,345	$4,215	$19,129
Barbara A Sizemore Campus	Public, Charter	K-8	6547 S Stewart Ave	Chicago	60621	Cook County	Betty Shabazz Internl Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 651-1661	231	14	16.5	99.6%	0 (0.0%)	223 (96.5%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.2%)	21.1	1638^th of 2056 public elementary schools	20.3%		18.5	1724^th of 2067 public elementary schools	16.6%	86	18.2	29.6	30.8	16.7	27.3	50.0	54.5	51.9	39.4	30.8	11.1	4.5	18.2	18.2	16.0	17.0										$24,094	$1,940	$22,153
Bond Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	7050 S May St	Chicago	60621	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3480	233	25	9.2	95.7%	3 (1.3%)	201 (86.3%)	27 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	10.2	1941^st of 2056 public elementary schools	5.6%		17.6	1751^st of 2067 public elementary schools	15.3%	190	13.0	15.4	13.3	9.5	20.8	20.0	7.1	21.4	15.7	26.7	0.0	4.2	10.0	7.7	0.0	7.6	91.2	95.8	95.8	95.8	98.5	95.4	89.7	8.8	21.1	$29,055	$3,558	$25,497
Parker Elementary Community Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	6800 S Stewart Ave	Chicago	60621	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3375	367	26	14.1	93.2%	1 (0.3%)	348 (94.8%)	17 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10.5	1929^th of 2056 public elementary schools	6.2%		16.8	1777^th of 2067 public elementary schools	14.0%	152	9.4	13.2	16.7	6.3	33.3	27.8	37.5	23.7	24.4	13.3	0.0	12.1	0.0	9.4	0.0	5.5	94.4	97.8	97.8	97.8	96.1	97.5	91.7	15.0	28.1	$23,949	$3,669	$20,280
Nicholson Technical Academy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	6006 S Peoria St	Chicago	60621	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3285	487	32	15.1	92.4%	21 (4.3%)	367 (75.4%)	94 (19.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	10	1950^th of 2056 public elementary schools	5.2%		13.1	1938^th of 2067 public elementary schools	6.2%	12	6.7	18.6	18.4	17.9	15.2	11.3	25.0	6.8	15.9	31.3	12.8	2.2	0.0	3.8	4.4	9.0	76.6	80.9	80.9	80.9	90.8	79.8	76.3	4.4	18.4	$19,351	$3,524	$15,826
Wentworth Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1340 W 71st St	Chicago	60636	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3394	433	37	11.7	97.5%	3 (0.7%)	325 (75.1%)	105 (24.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6.2	2037^th of 2056 public elementary schools	0.9%		10.6	2021^st of 2067 public elementary schools	2.2%	16	2.9	20.0	2.6	9.3	12.1	18.9	26.9	21.6	14.4	2.6	6.8	5.9	2.7	3.8	5.4	4.6	87.9	91.3	91.3	91.3	95.1	90.8	86.1	11.1	20.6	$23,894	$3,479	$20,415
Providence-Englewood Elementary Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	6515 S Ashland Ave	Chicago	60636	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 434-0202	428	31	13.9	97.0%	1 (0.2%)	393 (91.8%)	31 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21.1	1639^th of 2056 public elementary schools	20.3%		30.6	1377^th of 2067 public elementary schools	33.4%	262	17.1	7.7	15.6	26.9	34.1	43.5	37.5	15.4	29.2	24.4	19.2	14.6	19.6	25.0	10.3	19.2										$18,786	$728	$18,058

Frequently Asked Questions about Mays Elementary Academy

How many students attend Mays Elementary Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 277 students attended Mays Elementary Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Mays Elementary Academy?

Students at Mays Elementary Academy are 89% African American, 8% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Is Mays Elementary Academy a good school?

Mays Elementary Academy ranks in the bottom 1.2% of Illinois elementary schools.

What district is Mays Elementary Academy in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

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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.