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McDade Elementary Classical School

Public Grades K-8

19^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 99% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

McDade Elementary Classical School is a high-performing public elementary school serving grades K-8 in Chicago, Illinois. With 217 students, the school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, boasting a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

McDade Elementary Classical School significantly outperforms the Chicago Public Schools District 299 and the state of Illinois in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency across all grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 91.6% of all students at McDade were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 42.8% for the district and 53.1% for the state. The school also ranks exceptionally well for various student subgroups, including female students, male students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, McDade has lower chronic absenteeism rates compared to the district and state averages.

When compared to nearby schools in the same district, such as Pirie Elementary Fine Arts & Academic C, Burnside Elementary Scholastic Academy, and Gillespie Elementary School, McDade Elementary Classical School significantly outperforms them in academic proficiency, ranking, and other key metrics. This consistent high performance and equitable practices make McDade a model for other schools to emulate.

207

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,542

Per pupil spending ?

36.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8801 S Indiana Ave
Chicago, IL 60619-6692

(773) 535-3669

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

African American:

89.9%

Hispanic:

3.4%

Two or more races:

2.9%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare McDade Elementary Classical School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 100th percentile in 2015 → 99th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (84% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Illinois elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school84%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

19^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

24^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 2%▲ up 5 pts since 2023

From top 7% (2023) to top 2% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^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	97.5	19 of 2056	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	98.4	21 of 2067	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	96.7	51 of 2077	97.5%	★★★★★
2022	94.9	82 of 2082	96.1%	★★★★★
2021	89.5	166 of 1948	91.5%	★★★★★
2019	94.6	77 of 2086	96.3%	★★★★★
2018	98.4	11 of 2037	99.5%	★★★★★
2017	99.2	8 of 2044	99.6%	★★★★★
2016	99.2	9 of 2046	99.6%	★★★★★
2015	99.8	4 of 2052	99.8%	★★★★★
2014	96.5	7 of 2093	99.7%	★★★★★
2013	95.9	10 of 2167	99.5%	★★★★★
2012	90.6	9 of 2166	99.6%	★★★★★
2011	89.2	22 of 2147	99.0%	★★★★★
2010	89.5	17 of 2139	99.2%	★★★★★
2009	88.8	31 of 2120	98.5%	★★★★★
2008	87.2	64 of 2092	96.9%	★★★★★
2007	83.4	159 of 2095	92.4%	★★★★★
2006	87.3	44 of 2086	97.9%	★★★★★
2005	89.2	35 of 2022	98.3%	★★★★★
2004	86.2	142 of 2030	93.0%	★★★★★
2003	91.2	13 of 2020	99.4%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.9	5 of 688	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	2 of 655	99.7%	★★★★★
2023	100.0	3 of 692	99.6%	★★★★★
2022	100.0	3 of 684	99.6%	★★★★★
2021	99.0	7 of 428	98.4%	★★★★★
2019	99.2	6 of 711	99.2%	★★★★★
2018	100.0	3 of 698	99.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	97.6	14 of 1942	99.3%	★★★★★
2024	98.4	14 of 1942	99.3%	★★★★★
2023	93.8	91 of 1957	95.4%	★★★★★
2022	91.9	120 of 1970	93.9%	★★★★★
2019	98.0	13 of 2019	99.4%	★★★★★
2018	97.2	19 of 1964	99.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.9	3 of 1800	99.8%	★★★★★
2024	100.0	4 of 1793	99.8%	★★★★★
2023	98.5	12 of 1808	99.3%	★★★★★
2022	99.6	5 of 1763	99.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	95.7	38 of 1947	98.0%	★★★★★
2024	97.1	36 of 1959	98.2%	★★★★★
2023	93.3	97 of 1984	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	93.7	88 of 1977	95.5%	★★★★★
2019	97.9	12 of 2019	99.4%	★★★★★
2018	99.1	10 of 1972	99.5%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	97.3	24 of 1368	98.2%	★★★★★
2024	93.6	77 of 1363	94.4%	★★★★★
2023	91.7	94 of 1367	93.1%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	99.9	3 of 574	99.5%	★★★★★
2024	99.8	5 of 548	99.1%	★★★★★
2023	99.6	5 of 569	99.1%	★★★★★

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

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)100th percentile~ school

Female (2025)99th percentile~ school

African American (2025)99th percentile~ school

Male (2025)98th percentile~ school

Middle school

African American (2025)99th percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts92%+38 vs state

Mathematics87%+48 vs state

Science74%+34 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, December 9, 2021

Very supportive atmosphere! Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, December 20, 2015

Great school with wonderful teachers. If you want a small school filled with caring adults, McDade should be your first choice for a high quality educational experience. Close Quote

Schools Near McDade Elementary Classical 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
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
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
Pirie Elementary Fine Arts & Academic C	Public	PK, KG-6	650 E 85th St	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3435	216	19	11.3	72.7%	0 (0.0%)	209 (96.8%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	15	1784^th of 2056 public elementary schools	13.2%		16.2	1796^th of 2067 public elementary schools	13.1%	12	18.2		29.6	17.2	30.4	27.3			25.7	22.2	3.6	4.3	13.6			11.0	86.2	86.7	86.7	86.7	96.1	86.2	84.5			$23,144	$3,675	$19,469
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
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
Dixon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8306 S Saint Lawrence Ave	Chicago	60619	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3834	412	31	13.2	75.2%	3 (0.7%)	393 (95.4%)	16 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34.4	1332^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	35.2%		36.5	1234^th of 2067 public elementary schools	40.3%	98	10.4	20.0	44.7	40.9	53.1	51.1	54.3	36.5	46.6	39.5	25.0	14.3	14.9	20.3	31.1	24.0	97.2	97.2	97.0	97.0	98.5	96.8	96.6	3.4	39.3	$18,900	$2,638	$16,262
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
Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center	Public	PK, KG-8	8101 S La Salle St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 535-0040	300	18	16.6	40.3%	39 (13.0%)	202 (67.3%)	15 (5.0%)	35 (11.7%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (2.0%)	94	90^th of 2056 public elementary schools	95.6%		96.3	66^th of 2067 public elementary schools	96.8%	24	90.0	80.0	72.0	89.3	90.0	100.0	89.7	86.7	89.0	64.0	78.6	70.0	75.0	79.3	56.7	70.9	95.6	96.6	96.6	96.6	96.3	96.0	92.6	10.8	24.7	$18,236	$1,433	$16,803
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about McDade Elementary Classical School

What is the racial makeup of McDade Elementary Classical School?

Students at McDade Elementary Classical School are 90% African American, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% White.

How many students attend McDade Elementary Classical School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 207 students attended McDade Elementary Classical School.

What district is McDade Elementary Classical School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

Is McDade Elementary Classical School a good school?

Yes! McDade Elementary Classical School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 19^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools.

Rate McDade Elementary Classical 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.