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McDowell Elementary School

Q: Is McDowell Elementary School a good school?

McDowell Elementary School ranks 1407 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1407^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 32% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

McDowell Elementary School is a public elementary school in Chicago, Illinois, serving 115 students in grades PK-5. It 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.

McDowell Elementary School faces significant challenges in student performance, chronic absenteeism, and socioeconomic status. Its students perform below the district and state averages on standardized tests, with only 41.4% proficient or better in English Language Arts and 22.4% in mathematics. The school also has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.3% to 40.8% over the past few years. Additionally, McDowell serves a high percentage of low-socioeconomic status students, with 88.89% to 92.17% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Despite the relatively high spending per student at McDowell Elementary School, ranging from $17,020 to $27,905 over the past few years, the school's academic performance remains below average. When compared to nearby schools, such as Earhart Elementary Opt for Knowl School, Black Magnet Elementary School, and CICS - Avalon/South Shore, McDowell generally performs worse in terms of student performance and other key metrics.

112

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,229

Per pupil spending ?

79.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1419 E 89th St
Chicago, IL 60619-7196

(773) 535-6404

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students who attend McDowell Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Bowen High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

95.5%

Two or more races:

2.7%

Hispanic:

1.8%

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Compare McDowell Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 52nd percentile in 2015 → 32nd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (30% vs 44% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 20 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

1,407^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 32%▼ down 21 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to bottom 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

166^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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	31.1	1407 of 2056	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.3	1143 of 2067	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	64.1	670 of 2077	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	32.4	1337 of 2082	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.9	1228 of 1948	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.1	633 of 2086	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.7	790 of 2037	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	56.3	826 of 2044	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	26.5	1518 of 2046	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	46.8	976 of 2052	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	59.5	884 of 2093	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	48.7	1183 of 2167	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	52.9	1219 of 2166	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	49.6	1303 of 2147	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	42.0	1443 of 2139	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	45.4	1366 of 2120	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	34.2	1557 of 2092	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	44.3	1419 of 2095	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	37.5	1555 of 2086	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	26.8	1642 of 2022	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	32.8	1535 of 2030	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	56.7	1073 of 2020	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	66.3	165 of 688	76.0%	★★★★☆
2024	74.2	87 of 655	86.7%	★★★★☆
2023	85.9	38 of 692	94.5%	★★★★★
2022	61.4	164 of 684	76.0%	★★★★☆
2021	73.0	43 of 428	90.0%	★★★★★
2019	95.3	19 of 711	97.3%	★★★★★
2018	90.9	28 of 698	96.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	44.0	1058 of 1942	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.4	690 of 1942	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	85.7	229 of 1957	88.3%	★★★★☆
2019	70.8	522 of 2019	74.1%	★★★★☆
2018	61.8	681 of 1964	65.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	46.7	951 of 1800	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.0	781 of 1793	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	83.0	147 of 1808	91.9%	★★★★★
2022	46.1	872 of 1763	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.2	477 of 1514	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	86.3	90 of 1816	95.0%	★★★★★
2018	81.4	155 of 1765	91.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	10.8	1820 of 1947	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	70.0	531 of 2019	73.7%	★★★★☆
2018	55.2	813 of 1972	58.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2025)76th percentile+44 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)47th percentile+16 vs school

Female (2025)46th percentile+14 vs school

Male (2025)7th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts41%-12 vs state

Science25%-16 vs state

Mathematics22%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near McDowell 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
McDowell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1419 E 89th St	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6404	112	8	14.0	79.5%	0 (0.0%)	107 (95.5%)	2 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.7%)	31.1	1407^th of 2056 public elementary schools	31.6%		40.3	1143^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	44.7%	264	25.0		58.8	23.5	41.7				41.4	35.3	17.6	16.7				22.4	93.9	96.5	96.5	96.5	98.3	95.7	93.9	11.3		$30,229	$4,151	$26,078
Washington H Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	9130 S University Ave	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6225	273	23	11.8	96.0%	0 (0.0%)	247 (90.5%)	20 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.2%)	14.1	1818^th of 2056 public elementary schools	11.6%		31.2	1360^th of 2067 public elementary schools	34.2%	458	13.3	4.2	20.7	23.1	23.3	47.1	34.5	58.3	32.9	6.9	0.0	6.9	5.9	6.9	4.2	5.2	82.8	91.8	91.8	91.8	94.4	90.5	84.1	4.7	24.1	$22,281	$2,556	$19,725
Earhart Elementary Opt for Knowl School	Public	K-8	1710 E 93rd St	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6416	195	16	12.1	71.3%	0 (0.0%)	188 (96.4%)	7 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66.5	678^th of 2056 public elementary schools	67.0%		62.2	694^th of 2067 public elementary schools	66.4%	16	44.4	25.0	52.2	67.9	66.7	73.9	70.0	70.0	66.7	63.6	53.6	29.6	21.7	35.0	15.0	37.1	96.5	96.5	96.5	96.5	99.5	96.5	95.5		30.7	$24,592	$3,398	$21,194
Daisy Bates Academy of Social Justic	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%)	19.5	1684^th of 2056 public elementary schools	18.1%		20.4	1669^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.3%	15	17.6	10.0	18.8	29.4	35.3	52.2	51.9	33.3	38.8	27.8	5.9	5.9	4.3	18.5	5.0	11.5	83.4	91.0	91.0	91.0	94.5	91.0	84.9	6.5	23.6	$25,090	$3,503	$21,587
CICS - Avalon/South Shore	Public, Charter	K-8	1501 E 83rd Pl	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 721-0858	469	17	27.5	90.2%	0 (0.0%)	460 (98.1%)	7 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	54.7	912^th of 2056 public elementary schools	55.6%		46.3	1014^th of 2067 public elementary schools	50.9%	102	14.8	15.2	60.0	40.3	54.1	74.1	71.4	74.5	59.3	65.0	37.1	14.8	48.1	33.3	19.1	35.9										$18,175	$1,875	$16,300
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%)	81.9	351^st of 2056 public elementary schools	82.9%		71.2	532^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	74.3%	181	45.7	42.1	63.9	79.5	68.6	71.1	68.4	68.4	70.1	80.6	87.2	54.3	36.8	26.3	23.7	51.3	94.4	98.3	98.3	98.3	96.9	98.0	96.6		29.9	$20,618	$2,305	$18,312
Ashe Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8505 S Ingleside Ave	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3550	387	24	16.1	94.6%	1 (0.3%)	312 (80.6%)	68 (17.6%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	8.1	1989^th of 2056 public elementary schools	3.3%		11.4	1996^th of 2067 public elementary schools	3.4%	7	6.5	15.6	22.5	15.6	19.4	25.7	32.0	34.4	24.6	7.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	9.4	3.1	84.9	90.4	89.8	90.1	96.1	89.5	84.6	7.4	18.7	$18,763	$2,250	$16,512
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%)	15.4	1777^th of 2056 public elementary schools	13.6%		20	1683^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	18.6%	94	21.6	19.4	34.4	25.7	32.4	18.5	46.2	52.8	35.2	6.5	8.6	13.5	3.7	19.2	11.1	10.4	90.1	93.4	93.4	93.4	96.0	92.3	89.4	6.6	24.5	$16,898	$2,199	$14,699
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
Burnham Elementary Inclusive Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	9928 S Crandon Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6530	374	32	11.6	95.7%	1 (0.3%)	354 (94.7%)	17 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	10.3	1936^th of 2056 public elementary schools	5.8%		13.3	1933^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	6.5%	3	8.6	12.8	6.7	15.0	22.9	27.9	21.1	31.7	21.6	17.9	12.5	5.7	7.0	10.8	9.8	10.3	87.2	92.3	92.3	92.3	94.9	92.8	88.7	6.8	29.2	$22,325	$3,435	$18,891

Frequently Asked Questions about McDowell Elementary School

What district is McDowell Elementary School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

How many students attend McDowell Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 112 students attended McDowell Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of McDowell Elementary School attend?

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

High : Bowen High School

What is the racial makeup of McDowell Elementary School?

Students at McDowell Elementary School are 96% African American, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

Is McDowell Elementary School a good school?

McDowell Elementary School ranks 1407^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate McDowell Elementary School!

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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.