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Murray Elementary Language Academy

Q: Is Murray Elementary Language Academy a good school?

Murray Elementary Language Academy ranks 1143 rd of 1737 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

1143^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,737 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Murray Elementary Language Academy is a K–8 school with 477 students in Chicago Public Schools District 299. Its clearest strength is English Language Arts: in 2025–2026, 57% of students were proficient across all grades, the highest result among ten nearby schools.

Murray’s ELA results are stronger than the district’s and slightly above the state’s: proficiency was 57%, compared with 46% in the district and 56% statewide. The nearby-school average was 32%. Grade 4 and grade 7 ELA are particular bright spots, at 69% and 61%, respectively. Math is a much weaker result: 24% were proficient, below the district’s 29% and the state’s 40%; Murray ranked fourth among nearby schools, whose average was 18%. Science results also fell below the state: 35% in grade 5 versus 48% statewide, and 30% in grade 8 versus 52% statewide.

Test scores have risen over the latest three reported years: all-grades ELA went from 41% in 2023–2024 to 57% in 2025–2026, and math from 13% to 24%. However, SchoolDigger’s overall ranking declined over that period, from the 52nd percentile and three stars to the 34th percentile and two stars. Its 2025–2026 statewide rankings for African American students and low socio-economic status students were both at the 68th percentile, compared with the 34th percentile overall; the low socio-economic status ranking rose from the 49th percentile in 2024–2025. In 2024–2025, 61% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, below the nearby-school average of 74%; the student–teacher ratio was 15.1. Chronic absenteeism also improved, reaching 23% in 2025–2026, below the district’s 39% and the state’s 24%. The nearby comparisons provide context, but do not explain the differences in results.

477

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,241

Per pupil spending ?

60.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

94.5%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

5335 S Kenwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60615-5393

(773) 535-0585

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

African American:

88.7%

Hispanic:

4.6%

Two or more races:

4.2%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Murray Elementary Language Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 58th percentile in 2016 → 34th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (36% vs 49% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 24 percentile points since 2016

!Science scores 17 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg38%

Illinois avg49%

Elementary school

1,143^rd of 1,737

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▼ down 23 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to bottom 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

762^nd of 1,126

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 32%▼ down 10 pts since 2016

From bottom 42% (2016) to bottom 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

126^th of 280Elementary Schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299

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
2026	32.8	1143 of 1737	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.1	1293 of 2056	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.4	992 of 2067	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.3	1009 of 2077	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	26.9	1464 of 2082	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.0	1126 of 1948	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.8	1178 of 2086	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.3	1047 of 2037	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	48.9	969 of 2044	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.4	868 of 2046	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	73.2	471 of 2052	77.0%	★★★★☆
2014	73.6	543 of 2093	74.1%	★★★★☆
2013	74.4	540 of 2167	75.1%	★★★★☆
2012	76.4	502 of 2166	76.8%	★★★★☆
2011	72.3	642 of 2147	70.1%	★★★★☆
2010	76.6	495 of 2139	76.9%	★★★★☆
2009	71.0	696 of 2120	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	76.7	467 of 2092	77.7%	★★★★☆
2007	76.4	442 of 2095	78.9%	★★★★☆
2006	76.1	463 of 2086	77.8%	★★★★☆
2005	77.7	387 of 2022	80.9%	★★★★☆
2004	86.3	138 of 2030	93.2%	★★★★★
2003	85.1	176 of 2020	91.3%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	55.2	49 of 154	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.6	203 of 688	70.5%	★★★★☆
2024	72.8	94 of 655	85.6%	★★★★☆
2023	80.3	62 of 692	91.0%	★★★★★
2022	56.6	204 of 684	70.2%	★★★★☆
2021	69.7	53 of 428	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	72.8	102 of 711	85.7%	★★★★☆
2018	81.3	67 of 698	90.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	35.6	853 of 1286	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.1	1145 of 1942	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.9	1014 of 1942	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.5	1042 of 1957	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.3	1312 of 1970	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.4	1119 of 1680	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.3	1012 of 2019	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.3	959 of 1964	51.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	61.5	316 of 1001	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.9	919 of 1800	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.9	731 of 1793	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.7	481 of 1808	73.4%	★★★★☆
2022	36.2	1116 of 1763	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.3	1057 of 1514	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.6	807 of 1816	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.0	778 of 1765	55.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	28.6	963 of 1311	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.0	1298 of 1947	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.0	899 of 1959	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.1	893 of 1984	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	24.9	1436 of 1977	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.2	1033 of 1707	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.8	1280 of 2019	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.7	1040 of 1972	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2024	36.3	711 of 1195	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.4	689 of 1113	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.4	551 of 1194	53.9%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	32.2	762 of 1126	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.1	819 of 1368	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.5	847 of 1363	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.0	835 of 1367	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.6	1011 of 1369	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.5	763 of 1241	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.2	775 of 1356	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.6	870 of 1293	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	33.1	850 of 1293	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	39.0	750 of 1294	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	28.1	927 of 1302	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	36.2	890 of 1322	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	57.9	577 of 1367	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	69.6	422 of 1365	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.7	481 of 1344	64.2%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	54.3	94 of 224	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.3	150 of 574	73.9%	★★★★☆
2024	62.5	133 of 548	75.7%	★★★★☆
2023	67.7	110 of 569	80.7%	★★★★☆
2022	55.1	182 of 573	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	67.8	58 of 385	84.9%	★★★★☆
2019	74.7	82 of 565	85.5%	★★★★☆
2018	62.9	127 of 511	75.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	50.8	422 of 867	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	36.8	767 of 1248	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.1	996 of 1251	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.1	848 of 1275	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.8	899 of 1286	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.4	722 of 1276	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.4	820 of 1226	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	46.2	642 of 1229	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.1	708 of 1219	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.4	497 of 1234	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	33.3	811 of 1221	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.1	501 of 1019	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.4	565 of 1217	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.0	655 of 1161	43.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	25.7	622 of 829	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.2	752 of 1271	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.1	603 of 1264	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.8	704 of 1292	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.8	940 of 1286	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.4	814 of 1048	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.0	784 of 1296	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.3	813 of 1223	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2024	45.2	342 of 802	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.5	357 of 781	54.3%	★★★☆☆

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 (2026)68th percentile+34 vs school

African American (2026)68th percentile+34 vs school

Special Education (2024)41st percentile-12 vs school

Female (2026)34th percentile~ school

Male (2026)27th percentile-8 vs school

Middle school

African American (2026)58th percentile+26 vs school

Special Education (2024)57th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2026)51st percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)48th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)25th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts57%~ state avg

Science32%-17 vs state

Mathematics24%-16 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, September 18, 2018

From K-3 our experience at this school was Great! The teachers truly cared about the students and their development and they kept the parents informed. However something happens when a child enters the 4th grade, the 2 teachers they have on staff are emotionally abusive to the children and dismissive to concerned parents. Especially the older teacher who constantly promotes her 25+ years of experience. These teachers seem to have a problem with minority kids that are highly intelligent and strong minded. They consistently tell these kids they are bad and separate these kids from the class and if they utter one word they do not like, each class they move their seat closer and closer to the door. These same children will consistently ask the teachers what they can do to rejoin the class and they disregard them and will keep them separated from the other students the whole school year, driving them to act out because they humiliate them and make them outcasts. These same 4th grades teachers lie on the children and claim they have done certain things in the classroom and will exaggerate things that happen to support their position. This has been going on for years and because of this the school has a revolving door of students. There have been complaints made to the Principal and the Network Chief and they have not investigated the Children's or the Parents concerns. As a Local School Council member I had the privilege of receiving emails and complaints from Parents that did not even know each other complain about these teachers and crying and upset that they had no where to turn. I ended up taking my child out of the school mid year and put him in Private School, but these Parents again had no where to turn and feared the damage this would do to their children. After I took my child out of this school I had to put my child in therapy because he thought he was a bad person and his self esteem was low, but now he is thriving and is in an environment that supports him and believes in him. Close Quote

Schools Near Murray 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
Murray Elementary Language Academy	Public	K-8	5335 S Kenwood Ave	Chicago	60615	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-0585	477	32	15.1	60.6%	10 (2.1%)	423 (88.7%)	22 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.2%)	32.8	1143^rd of 1737 public elementary schools	34.2%		36.1	1293^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	37.1%	150	34.5	30.2	48.1	68.5	50.9	53.4	60.5	60.5	56.7	35.3		20.0	29.3	28.9		23.7	94.5%		$20,241	$1,405	$18,837
Bret Harte Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1556 E 56th St	Chicago	60637	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-0870	339	27	12.6	75.2%	14 (4.1%)	263 (77.6%)	43 (12.7%)	6 (1.8%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.7%)	26.7	1244^th of 1737 public elementary schools	28.4%		21.7	1624^th of 2056 public elementary schools	21.0%	380			37.0	36.4	47.8		37.9	50.0	39.6	48.1						23.5	90.8%		$24,061	$2,053	$22,009
Ray Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	5631 S Kimbark Ave	Chicago	60637	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 535-0970	613	42	14.7	44.9%	79 (12.9%)	364 (59.4%)	108 (17.6%)	33 (5.4%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	24 (3.9%)	19.4	1392^nd of 1737 public elementary schools	19.9%		41	1191^st of 2056 public elementary schools	42.1%	201	32.1	38.8	39.6	33.3	21.2	50.0	27.9	40.2	35.5	39.6	28.6	18.9	36.0	21.7	23.2	27.2	91.3%		$20,447	$1,273	$19,175
Shoesmith Elementary School	Public	K-6	1330 E 50th St	Chicago	60615	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1764	294	27	11.0	71.8%	12 (4.1%)	197 (67.0%)	66 (22.4%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.1%)	23.2	1309^th of 1737 public elementary schools	24.6%		22.4	1608^th of 2056 public elementary schools	21.8%	299	27.5		51.1	32.6	34.6	44.2			40.3	46.7						22.0	84.8%		$23,943	$2,004	$21,938
Kozminski Elementary Community Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	936 E 54th St	Chicago	60615	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-0980	275	26	10.6	79.3%	14 (5.1%)	199 (72.4%)	47 (17.1%)	10 (3.6%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)								(n/a)						60.0		47.6	35.5							12.1	94.7%		$27,730	$2,134	$25,596
Reavis Elementary Math & Sci Special School	Public	PK, KG-8	834 E 50th St	Chicago	60615	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1060	356	24	15.1	66.6%	10 (2.8%)	324 (91.0%)	19 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)								(n/a)								36.7	19.2							6.6	91.5%		$24,033	$1,892	$22,141
Ariel Elementary Community Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	1119 E 46th St	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1996	364	35	10.4	71.2%	1 (0.3%)	349 (95.9%)	11 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	16.7	1450^th of 1737 public elementary schools	16.5%		14	1819^th of 2056 public elementary schools	11.5%	369	38.9			40.0	27.8		43.8		27.2							7.2	94.9%		$25,071	$1,933	$23,138
Univ of Chicago Charter-Nth Kenwood	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	1119 E 46th St	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 536-2399	304	16	19.0	77.6%	12 (3.9%)	281 (92.4%)	7 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	30	1180^th of 1737 public elementary schools	32.1%		39.9	1214^th of 2056 public elementary schools	41.0%	34	34.5		49.1	36.0	43.6				43.1	58.2		27.3				34.2	93.7%		$19,046	$686	$18,360
Carnegie Elementary School	Public	K-8	1414 E 61st Pl	Chicago	60637	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-0530	389	31	12.5	79.7%	2 (0.5%)	375 (96.4%)	8 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	35.7	1083^rd of 1737 public elementary schools	37.7%		32.4	1374^th of 2056 public elementary schools	33.2%	291	47.8	42.9	45.8	51.9	59.7	48.9	50.0	45.2	51.0	52.1	30.8	31.3	28.9			29.2	94.3%		$19,401	$1,369	$18,032
Fiske Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	6020 S Langley Ave	Chicago	60637	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-0990	373	30	12.4	75.1%	1 (0.3%)	345 (92.5%)	18 (4.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (1.9%)								(n/a)				18.2				41.7	20.6							6.8	91.3%		$23,199	$2,380	$20,819

Frequently Asked Questions about Murray Elementary Language Academy

How many students attend Murray Elementary Language Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 477 students attended Murray Elementary Language Academy.

What district is Murray Elementary Language Academy in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

What is the racial makeup of Murray Elementary Language Academy?

Students at Murray Elementary Language Academy are 89% African American, 5% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% White.

Is Murray Elementary Language Academy a good school?

Murray Elementary Language Academy ranks 1143^rd of 1737 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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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.