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Coles Elementary Language Academy

Public Grades PK, KG-8

Summary

Coles Elementary Language Academy serves 286 students in prekindergarten through eighth grade in Chicago Public Schools District 299. The school’s latest results show a mixed picture: math is stronger than the district’s, while English language arts (ELA) trails both the district and state. The most pressing concern is attendance: chronic absenteeism was 50% in 2025–2026, 11 percentage points above the district and 26 points above the state.

Compared with nearby schools, Coles’ all-grades math result is a relative strength: 34% in 2025–2026, versus 29% for the district and 40% statewide, placing it third among Coles and 10 nearby schools. Its nearby-school average was 22%. ELA was weaker at 36%, compared with 46% for the district and 56% for the state; the nearby-school average was 42%, and Coles ranked fourth-lowest among the 11 schools. Results also vary by grade: reported seventh- and eighth-grade math proficiency was 65% in each grade, while eighth-grade ELA was 40%, below the district’s 56% and state’s 63%.

Results have improved in some areas, but the school’s standing remains mixed. ELA rose from 15% in 2023–2024 to 36% in 2025–2026, and math increased from 26% in 2024–2025 to 34% the following year. Chronic absenteeism has fallen from 60% in 2021–2022, though it has fluctuated and remains high. SchoolDigger placed Coles at the 36th percentile with 2 stars in 2024–2025, up from the 3rd percentile and 0 stars in 2020–2021; its percentile was fourth-highest among the nearby group. A notable group-specific result: SchoolDigger’s statewide effectiveness measure for African American students reached the 66th percentile in 2024–2025, compared with the school’s overall 36th percentile. The student–teacher ratio was 12.8 in 2024–2025, and 61% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible that year. These figures provide context, not explanations for test results; some grade-level results are suppressed.

286

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,948

Per pupil spending ?

60.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

90.5%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

8441 S Yates Blvd
Chicago, IL 60617-1995

(773) 535-6550

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students who attend Coles Elementary Language Academy usually attend:

High:

Bowen High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

88.1%

Hispanic:

10.8%

Two or more races:

1.0%

See top rated Illinois public schools

Compare Coles Elementary Language Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 21st percentile in 2015 → 36th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (35% vs 49% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (50% vs 24% Illinois)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg38%

Illinois avg49%

371^st of 1,126

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 47 pts since 2016

From bottom 20% (2016) to top 33% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

568^th of 738Chicago 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	35.2	1308 of 2056	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.9	1687 of 2067	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.8	1916 of 2077	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.2	2029 of 2082	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.4	1890 of 1948	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	27.7	1512 of 2086	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.7	1238 of 2037	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	25.5	1534 of 2044	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	24.2	1587 of 2046	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	23.1	1624 of 2052	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	49.9	1102 of 2093	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	40.7	1379 of 2167	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	39.6	1519 of 2166	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	27.0	1718 of 2147	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	13.2	1932 of 2139	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	7.0	2003 of 2120	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	5.7	1993 of 2092	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	3.3	2023 of 2095	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.4	2002 of 2086	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	3.5	1913 of 2022	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	4.6	1908 of 2030	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	4.7	1893 of 2020	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	56.7	231 of 688	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.7	394 of 655	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.0	509 of 692	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.4	570 of 684	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.4	338 of 428	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	59.8	196 of 711	72.4%	★★★★☆
2018	72.4	108 of 698	84.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	16.6	1726 of 1957	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.8	1903 of 1970	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	29.0	1444 of 2019	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.8	1080 of 1964	45.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	42.2	1063 of 1800	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.4	1418 of 1793	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.6	1667 of 1808	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.0	1695 of 1763	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.5	1429 of 1514	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	40.6	1087 of 1816	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.6	661 of 1765	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	33.9	1256 of 1947	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	20.2	1574 of 1959	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.1	1891 of 1984	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.9	1924 of 1977	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.9	1436 of 2019	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.9	1308 of 1972	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	62.5	371 of 1126	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	20.7	1102 of 1368	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.0	1040 of 1363	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.1	1316 of 1367	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.4	1293 of 1369	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	21.0	1093 of 1356	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.8	919 of 1293	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.9	1110 of 1293	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.4	1033 of 1294	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	18.3	1105 of 1302	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	35.8	894 of 1322	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	22.8	1113 of 1367	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	33.9	1003 of 1365	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	15.6	1190 of 1344	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	9.0	1231 of 1327	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	14.0	1165 of 1318	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	12.2	1149 of 1293	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	11.7	1144 of 1287	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	11.8	1131 of 1272	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	14.2	1028 of 1209	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	11.6	1045 of 1204	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	17.8	967 of 1185	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	73.2	43 of 224	80.8%	★★★★☆
2025	32.9	396 of 574	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.1	281 of 548	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.9	492 of 569	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.6	444 of 573	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.6	232 of 565	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.4	148 of 511	71.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	7.0	1231 of 1248	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.8	1157 of 1251	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.2	1238 of 1275	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.1	1229 of 1286	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.8	979 of 1276	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.3	832 of 1226	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	23.4	1000 of 1229	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.0	803 of 1219	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	14.8	1178 of 1234	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.7	1141 of 1221	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	31.1	885 of 1217	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.2	648 of 1161	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	31.1	842 of 1271	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.7	934 of 1264	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.1	1213 of 1292	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.0	1154 of 1286	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.3	1075 of 1296	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.8	966 of 1223	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2019	32.5	513 of 792	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	24.7	551 of 602	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)66th percentile+30 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)41st percentile+5 vs school

Male (2025)35th percentile~ school

Female (2023)12th percentile+4 vs school

Middle school

African American (2026)81st percentile+14 vs school

Special Education (2019)35th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile+14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)19th percentile~ school

Female (2025)1st percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts36%-21 vs state

Mathematics34%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Coles Elementary Language Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ISA Science (2026)		IAR English Language Arts (2026)							IAR Mathematics (2026)							Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2026)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	Vaccination: Measles protection (all grades)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Coles Elementary Language Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	8441 S Yates Blvd	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6550	286	22	12.8	60.8%	0 (0.0%)	252 (88.1%)	31 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)								(n/a)				47.8				40.0	35.6					65.4	65.7	33.6	90.5%		$25,948	$2,959	$22,989
Great Lakes Academy Charter Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-8	8401 S Saginaw Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 503-3040	538	34	15.8	85.7%	0 (0.0%)	484 (90.0%)	43 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.7%)	21.4	1353^rd of 1737 public elementary schools	22.1%		40.4	1202^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	41.5%	151	29.3	39.3	32.2	43.8	37.9	69.8	66.1	83.6	55.4	23.7	20.3	17.2	33.3	30.6	21.4	24.6	96.3%		$19,515	$785	$18,730
Hoyne Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8905 S Crandon Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6425	230	20	11.5	69.6%	0 (0.0%)	223 (97.0%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)								(n/a)		42.3			40.7		56.5	69.2	45.0	35.7						29.3	94.4%		$26,097	$1,780	$24,317
Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center	Public	PK, KG-8	8344 S Commercial Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6694	315	28	11.2	88.9%	2 (0.6%)	215 (68.3%)	94 (29.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)						48.1		52.2	31.7							11.3	91.9%		$24,916	$2,070	$22,846
Mann Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8050 S Chappel Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6640	283	22	12.8	91.5%	1 (0.4%)	250 (88.3%)	28 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)								(n/a)		45.7				61.5	52.0	55.6	39.9						34.3	20.9	93.7%		$22,265	$1,558	$20,707
Daisy Bates Academy of Social Justice	Public	PK, KG-8	8546 S Cregier Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6300	225	21	10.7	61.3%	0 (0.0%)	212 (94.2%)	11 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)								(n/a)		48.0				63.0	69.6	69.2	50.4							11.0	93.5%		$23,600	$1,714	$21,886
Mireles Elementary Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	9000 S Exchange Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6360	546	33	16.8	83.3%	7 (1.3%)	250 (45.8%)	283 (51.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)								(n/a)		31.3				31.5		29.4	20.1							8.2	88.3%		$19,884	$1,545	$18,339
Bradwell Community Arts & Sci Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	7736 S Burnham Ave	Chicago	60649	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6600	513	32	16.2	86.9%	0 (0.0%)	372 (72.5%)	138 (26.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)								(n/a)									12.4							4.1	89.8%		$19,193	$1,682	$17,510
Black Magnet Elementary School	Public	K-8	9101 S Euclid Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6390	336	25	13.4	70.5%	0 (0.0%)	327 (97.3%)	8 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	64.1	598^th of 1737 public elementary schools	65.6%		81.9	351^st of 2056 public elementary schools	82.9%	247	45.8	48.6	77.6	74.0	62.5	63.8	55.3	56.8	65.8	57.1	82.0	41.7	40.4	28.9	27.0	48.0	96.9%		$19,643	$894	$18,749
Warren Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	9239 S Jeffery Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6625	317	15	21.1	94.3%	0 (0.0%)	314 (99.1%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23.1	1310^th of 1737 public elementary schools	24.6%		15.4	1777^th of 2056 public elementary schools	13.6%	467				45.5	40.6	45.5	34.5	60.0	39.2							18.1	88%		$20,527	$1,179	$19,348

Frequently Asked Questions about Coles Elementary Language Academy

What is the racial makeup of Coles Elementary Language Academy?

Students at Coles Elementary Language Academy are 88% African American, 11% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

What district is Coles Elementary Language Academy in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

What schools do graduates of Coles Elementary Language Academy attend?

Students who attend Coles Elementary Language Academy usually go on to attend:

High : Bowen High School

How many students attend Coles Elementary Language Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 286 students attended Coles Elementary Language Academy.

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2025–26 school spending dataNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 30, 2026

2025–26 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresNewOct 30, 2026

2013–14 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

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.