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Gillespie Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1724^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Gillespie Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Chicago, Illinois, with 342 students enrolled. The school is part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299, which is ranked 698 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Gillespie Elementary School consistently performs below the Chicago Public Schools District 299 and Illinois state averages on standardized tests, with only 28.3% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 8.9% proficient or better in math. The school also struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 40.8% over the past few years. Additionally, Gillespie ranks in the bottom 40% of Illinois elementary schools for both female and male students, and in the bottom 25% for low socioeconomic status students.

While Gillespie Elementary School faces significant challenges, the data suggests that there is room for improvement. The school's performance, particularly for certain student subgroups, indicates that targeted interventions and additional resources could potentially help drive better outcomes. For example, McDade Elementary Classical School, which is just 0.7 miles away, consistently ranks in the top 3% of Illinois elementary schools and outperforms Gillespie across all academic measures.

288

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,470

Per pupil spending ?

79.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9301 S State St
Chicago, IL 60619-7296

(773) 535-5065

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students who attend Gillespie Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Harlan Community Academy High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

94.4%

Hispanic:

4.9%

American Indian:

0.3%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Gillespie Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 20th percentile in 2015 → 16th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school20%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

1,724^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 4 pts since 2015

From bottom 20% (2015) to bottom 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,192^nd of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From bottom 19% (2015) to bottom 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

273^rd 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	17.7	1724 of 2056	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.9	1812 of 2067	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.0	1968 of 2077	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.0	1995 of 2082	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.8	1764 of 1948	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.1	1810 of 2086	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.0	1718 of 2037	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	13.8	1851 of 2044	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	17.4	1774 of 2046	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	22.5	1641 of 2052	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	24.5	1667 of 2093	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	17.7	1859 of 2167	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	8.0	2060 of 2166	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	5.3	2083 of 2147	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	4.1	2074 of 2139	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	0.4	2118 of 2120	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	2.2	2066 of 2092	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	2.7	2037 of 2095	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	4.4	1988 of 2086	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	3.5	1910 of 2022	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	1.6	1984 of 2030	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	4.3	1902 of 2020	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	48.4	293 of 688	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.0	404 of 655	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.3	534 of 692	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.1	532 of 684	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.9	265 of 428	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.2	473 of 711	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.6	364 of 698	47.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	15.8	1687 of 1942	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.5	1699 of 1942	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.6	1769 of 1957	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.2	1889 of 1970	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.3	1810 of 2019	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.6	1712 of 1964	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	26.8	1398 of 1800	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.1	1448 of 1793	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.4	1708 of 1808	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.5	1633 of 1763	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	24.8	1247 of 1514	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.3	1559 of 1816	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.3	1381 of 1765	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	22.6	1524 of 1947	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.7	1626 of 1959	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.6	1936 of 1984	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.6	1862 of 1977	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.6	1697 of 2019	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.3	1588 of 1972	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	16.3	1192 of 1368	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.7	1299 of 1363	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.3	1173 of 1367	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.7	1273 of 1369	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.4	1168 of 1356	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.7	1151 of 1293	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	14.9	1152 of 1293	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.2	948 of 1294	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	20.8	1057 of 1302	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	29.4	981 of 1322	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.2	1153 of 1367	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	16.2	1210 of 1365	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	14.5	1206 of 1344	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	10.7	1211 of 1327	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	4.1	1274 of 1318	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	4.5	1240 of 1293	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	4.6	1237 of 1287	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	7.5	1175 of 1272	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	4.6	1138 of 1209	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	15.2	1003 of 1204	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	6.5	1110 of 1185	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	39.3	327 of 574	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.4	444 of 548	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.5	363 of 569	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.2	434 of 573	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.1	365 of 565	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.4	319 of 511	37.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	16.2	1070 of 1248	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.8	1145 of 1251	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.4	1026 of 1275	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.6	1241 of 1286	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	1096 of 1276	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.9	1095 of 1226	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	24.5	977 of 1229	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.4	1120 of 1219	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	24.4	1001 of 1234	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.9	1133 of 1221	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.5	1106 of 1217	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	20.9	995 of 1161	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.1	1021 of 1271	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.5	1222 of 1264	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.5	1160 of 1292	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.1	1127 of 1286	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.7	1278 of 1296	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.5	1111 of 1223	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)57th percentile+41 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)22nd percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)22nd percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)13th percentile-3 vs school

Middle school

African American (2025)43rd percentile+30 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)21st percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)20th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)14th percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts28%-25 vs state

Science21%-22 vs state

Mathematics9%-30 vs state

★

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Schools Near Gillespie Elementary School

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
Gillespie Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	9301 S State St	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5065	288	25	11.7	79.9%	0 (0.0%)	272 (94.4%)	14 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	17.7	1724^th of 2056 public elementary schools	16.1%		15.9	1812^th of 2067 public elementary schools	12.3%	88	24.1	17.2	29.6	24.2	31.0	40.9	20.0	25.0	28.3	11.1	12.1	3.6	9.1	5.0	11.1	8.9	81.5	87.3	87.3	87.5	94.2	87.5	84.6		16.5	$25,470	$3,416	$22,055
Turner-Drew Elementary Language Academy	Public	K-8	9300 S Princeton Ave	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5720	194	15	12.9	77.8%	0 (0.0%)	192 (99.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38.6	1240^th of 2056 public elementary schools	39.7%		37.5	1211^th of 2067 public elementary schools	41.4%	29	28.0	53.8	37.0	32.3	56.0	29.4	87.0	58.3	48.9	51.9	51.6	16.0	17.6	34.8	30.8	36.0	92.8	95.9	95.9	95.9	97.9	95.9	94.8		19.2	$26,293	$3,479	$22,815
McDade Elementary Classical School	Public	K-8	8801 S Indiana Ave	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 535-3669	207	12	17.2	36.2%	5 (2.4%)	186 (89.9%)	7 (3.4%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)	97.5	19^th of 2056 public elementary schools	99.1%		98.4	21^st of 2067 public elementary schools	99.0%	2	74.1		92.9	92.9	85.2	96.6	91.7		91.6	85.7	92.9	85.2	93.1	66.7		87.0	90.3	92.2	92.2	92.2	95.9	92.6	91.7		14.8	$19,542	$1,358	$18,184
Kipling Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	9351 S Lowe Ave	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3151	237	20	11.8	87.8%	0 (0.0%)	230 (97.0%)	5 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	25.3	1555^th of 2056 public elementary schools	24.4%		25.5	1531^st of 2067 public elementary schools	25.9%	24	23.5	52.4	42.3	26.7	23.5	31.3	36.0	52.4	35.6	30.8	20.0	17.6	25.0	20.0	38.1	25.2	92.9	95.1	95.1	95.1	96.5	95.1	92.9	5.3	26.6	$23,372	$3,698	$19,674
Burnside Elementary Scholastic Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	650 E 91st Pl	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3300	264	21	12.5	81.4%	0 (0.0%)	257 (97.3%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	33.9	1345^th of 2056 public elementary schools	34.6%		34	1287^th of 2067 public elementary schools	37.7%	58	14.3	32.3	29.4	50.0	75.0	46.2	52.4	58.1	53.6	29.4	25.0	7.1	15.4	9.5	16.1	16.6	93.4	94.8	94.8	94.8	96.9	95.1	94.8	5.6	21.3	$26,106	$2,654	$23,452
Neil Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8555 S Michigan Ave	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3000	258	27	9.5	88.0%	1 (0.4%)	240 (93.0%)	9 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	16.1	1760^th of 2056 public elementary schools	14.4%		33.3	1305^th of 2067 public elementary schools	36.9%	455	16.7	20.0	36.4	17.6	22.2	44.4	30.0	25.0	28.7	9.1	17.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	5.0	5.3	88.7	91.5	91.5	91.5	94.4	90.7	88.7		23.0	$35,060	$3,893	$31,167
Evers Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	9811 S Lowe Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-2565	233	22	10.5	87.1%	0 (0.0%)	222 (95.3%)	11 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20	1665^th of 2056 public elementary schools	19.0%		24.2	1561^st of 2067 public elementary schools	24.5%	104	20.8	16.7	23.8	27.8	45.8	34.6	29.4	61.1	37.1	14.3	22.2	4.3	12.0	12.5	11.1	12.4	87.8	91.2	91.2	91.2	93.2	91.2	85.9	8.8	22.4	$24,873	$3,326	$21,546
Bennett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	10115 S Prairie Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5460	312	21	14.8	80.4%	0 (0.0%)	290 (92.9%)	19 (6.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	27.2	1502^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	26.9%		18.9	1715^th of 2067 public elementary schools	17.0%	213	5.4	4.5	65.6	34.6	27.0	51.9	34.5	52.2	43.7	35.5	12.0	2.8	3.7	21.4	4.3	13.5	79.8	83.3	83.3	83.3	92.6	83.0	81.8		18.2	$21,082	$3,918	$17,164
Ryder Elementary Math & Sci Special School	Public	PK, KG-8	8716 S Wallace St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3843	351	33	10.8	92.3%	3 (0.9%)	333 (94.9%)	15 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12.1	1872^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	8.9%		18.1	1733^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	16.2%	139	3.8	20.0	26.3	20.0	23.1	18.5	21.2	60.0	27.4	26.3	13.3	3.8	7.7	9.1	8.0	12.4	98.9	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	92.9	98.9	13.5	26.1	$28,845	$3,238	$25,606
Fernwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	10041 S Union Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-2700	259	18	14.3	87.6%	0 (0.0%)	228 (88.0%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (10.0%)	27.8	1491^st of 2056 public elementary schools	27.5%		24.6	1555^th of 2067 public elementary schools	24.8%	64	5.9	12.9	26.7	34.6	25.0	58.1	52.9	51.6	43.0	37.9	32.0	5.0	22.6	21.2	6.5	21.3	78.7	81.1	81.1	81.1	91.3	80.3	79.5		15.4	$19,281	$2,550	$16,732

Frequently Asked Questions about Gillespie Elementary School

Is Gillespie Elementary School a good school?

Gillespie Elementary School ranks in the bottom 16.1% of Illinois elementary schools.

What district is Gillespie Elementary School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

How many students attend Gillespie Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 288 students attended Gillespie Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Gillespie Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gillespie Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Harlan Community Academy High School

What is the racial makeup of Gillespie Elementary School?

Students at Gillespie Elementary School are 94% African American, 5% Hispanic.

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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.