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Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1854^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 10% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center is a public elementary school in Chicago, Illinois, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 278 students. 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.

Ninos Heroes Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of Illinois elementary schools, with low academic performance on standardized tests. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 27.8% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 42.8% for the district and 53.1% for the state. In math, the proficiency rate was just 10.8%, compared to 27.3% for the district and 38.5% for the state. The school also experiences high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 25.4% to 52.7% over the past few years, significantly higher than the district and state averages. Additionally, the school serves a high-poverty population, with 78.06% to 92.73% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

When comparing Ninos Heroes Elementary to nearby schools in the same district, such as Sullivan Elementary School, Coles Elementary Language Academy, and Bradwell Community Arts & Sci Elementary School, they all face similar challenges with low academic performance and high rates of poverty. However, some nearby schools, like Hoyne Elementary School and LEARN Charter - South Chicago Campus, demonstrate relatively stronger academic performance, particularly in ELA, suggesting that there may be opportunities to learn from their practices and strategies.

315

Students ?

11.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,077

Per pupil spending ?

88.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8344 S Commercial Ave
Chicago, IL 60617-2145

(773) 535-6694

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students who attend Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center usually attend:

High:

Bowen High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

68.3%

Hispanic:

29.8%

American Indian:

1.3%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 10th percentile in 2015 → 10th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!In the lower quartile statewide (10th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (53% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school20%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

1,854^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 10%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,049^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 23%▲ up 6 pts since 2015

From bottom 17% (2015) to bottom 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

348^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	12.7	1854 of 2056	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.3	1998 of 2067	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.6	1922 of 2077	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.4	1887 of 2082	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.7	1874 of 1948	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.3	2005 of 2086	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	13.7	1861 of 2037	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	10.3	1954 of 2044	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	15.4	1819 of 2046	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	14.6	1855 of 2052	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	12.3	1905 of 2093	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	18.9	1824 of 2167	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	17.5	1903 of 2166	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	20.8	1818 of 2147	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	6.5	2032 of 2139	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	9.6	1952 of 2120	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	6.1	1983 of 2092	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	4.5	1996 of 2095	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	2.7	2017 of 2086	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	5.1	1882 of 2022	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	9.2	1839 of 2030	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	9.8	1787 of 2020	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	39.1	400 of 688	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.9	541 of 655	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.4	484 of 692	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.8	461 of 684	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.2	398 of 428	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.4	623 of 711	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.4	477 of 698	31.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.7	1750 of 1942	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.8	1921 of 1942	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.6	1820 of 1957	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.2	1766 of 1970	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	10.8	1923 of 2019	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.9	1734 of 1964	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	18.3	1607 of 1800	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.5	1668 of 1793	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.0	1606 of 1808	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.4	1570 of 1763	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.8	1423 of 1514	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.7	1764 of 1816	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	21.4	1543 of 1765	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.6	1858 of 1947	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.5	1785 of 1959	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.4	1737 of 1984	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.8	1848 of 1977	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	11.1	1928 of 2019	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	13.2	1841 of 1972	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	22.9	1049 of 1368	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.0	1022 of 1363	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.0	1027 of 1367	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.8	1026 of 1369	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.8	849 of 1241	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	19.7	1116 of 1356	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.6	1094 of 1293	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	12.6	1209 of 1293	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	11.9	1227 of 1294	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	20.0	1075 of 1302	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	31.6	955 of 1322	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	30.6	1012 of 1367	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	39.6	940 of 1365	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	11.6	1238 of 1344	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	15.5	1161 of 1327	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	10.7	1203 of 1318	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	9.4	1178 of 1293	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	11.0	1154 of 1287	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	12.8	1117 of 1272	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	17.8	994 of 1209	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	19.0	970 of 1204	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	17.1	978 of 1185	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	56.4	196 of 574	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.4	267 of 548	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.6	224 of 569	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.8	284 of 573	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.4	146 of 385	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.8	301 of 565	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.0	372 of 511	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	30.6	863 of 1248	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.1	943 of 1251	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.3	960 of 1275	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.9	998 of 1286	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.7	1015 of 1276	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.9	994 of 1226	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2018	68.9	131 of 590	77.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	30.5	883 of 1229	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.7	888 of 1219	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.9	717 of 1234	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.9	746 of 1221	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.7	520 of 1019	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.4	901 of 1217	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.6	910 of 1161	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	17.2	1098 of 1271	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.0	873 of 1264	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.5	955 of 1292	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.3	970 of 1286	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.9	1065 of 1296	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.2	1073 of 1223	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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

African American (2025)42nd percentile+32 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)11th percentile~ school

Female (2025)10th percentile~ school

Male (2025)5th percentile-5 vs school

Middle school

Hispanic (2018)78th percentile+62 vs school

African American (2025)66th percentile+43 vs school

Female (2025)31st percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)28th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2025)14th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts28%-25 vs state

Science21%-22 vs state

Mathematics11%-28 vs state

★

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Schools Near Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center

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
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%)	12.7	1854^th of 2056 public elementary schools	9.8%		11.3	1998^th of 2067 public elementary schools	3.3%	144	11.1	30.4	30.3	9.4	34.5	20.7	30.4	47.8	27.8	27.3	3.1	0.0	3.6	18.2	13.6	10.8	82.7	84.9	84.9	84.9	92.6	83.4	84.1	4.8	18.1	$21,077	$2,886	$18,191
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%)	40.4	1202^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	41.5%		39.8	1152^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	44.3%	50	28.3	15.0	39.0	42.4	57.4	55.0	56.9	50.0	50.1	59.3	13.6	18.0	15.0	25.9	16.7	24.6										$21,541	$725	$20,817
Sullivan Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8331 S Mackinaw Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6585	439	35	12.5	96.1%	11 (2.5%)	308 (70.2%)	114 (26.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	8.8	1975^th of 2056 public elementary schools	3.9%		16.3	1789^th of 2067 public elementary schools	13.4%	186	9.4	20.7	12.1	5.3	23.1	26.5	32.1	38.7	22.2	9.4	2.6	10.8	2.9	0.0	3.3	5.1	88.5	93.9	93.9	93.9	94.1	93.1	86.8	13.7	23.5	$24,134	$3,730	$20,404
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%)	35.2	1308^th of 2056 public elementary schools	36.4%		19.9	1687^th of 2067 public elementary schools	18.4%	379	26.3	0.0	22.7	9.1	52.6	20.7	26.7	22.7	25.0	22.7	4.5	68.4	60.7	3.3	0.0	25.9	88.8	93.6	93.6	93.6	94.0	93.2	88.8	11.6	29.9	$23,265	$3,768	$19,497
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%)	5.4	2044^th of 2056 public elementary schools	0.6%		9.6	2046^th of 2067 public elementary schools	1.0%	2	2.5	15.6	13.5	7.8	7.9	18.2	16.7	29.5	15.6	2.8	2.0	0.0	0.0	2.1	0.0	1.1	85.5	92.3	92.5	92.5	95.9	91.6	88.9	5.3	22.0	$16,124	$2,058	$14,066
Thorp J N Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8914 S Buffalo Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6250	296	26	11.3	96.6%	3 (1.0%)	234 (79.1%)	55 (18.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10.3	1933^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	6.0%		13.4	1923^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	7.0%	10	13.6	14.3	20.7	25.0	20.0	23.5	29.2	37.5	25.9	13.8	7.4	4.0	0.0	9.1	4.2	7.0	80.6	90.3	90.0	90.0	96.2	89.3	83.1	14.1	20.1	$29,363	$3,886	$25,477
LEARN Charter - South Chicago Campus	Public, Charter	K-8	8914 S Buffalo Ave	Chicago	60617	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 722-8577	390	27	14.4	88.2%	3 (0.8%)	356 (91.3%)	27 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	28.3	1472^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	28.4%		36	1246^th of 2067 public elementary schools	39.7%	226	12.8	24.3	38.9	14.3	41.0	44.1	55.6	43.2	38.8	33.3	21.4	23.1	26.5	33.3	40.5	29.5										$20,444	$4,024	$16,420
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%)	11.3	1897^th of 2056 public elementary schools	7.7%		13.9	1897^th of 2067 public elementary schools	8.2%		13.2	4.3	8.9	10.2	28.9	31.3	17.4	22.0	18.5	4.4	3.3	2.6	16.7	11.4	2.1	6.0	85.0	90.0	90.0	90.0	93.3	88.8	84.4	4.7	21.4	$18,209	$2,467	$15,742
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%)	32.5	1367^th of 2056 public elementary schools	33.5%		28.4	1451^st of 2067 public elementary schools	29.8%	84	16.7	37.5	26.3	47.8	50.0	34.8	51.9	66.7	47.0	31.6	39.1	27.8	13.0	33.3	25.0	28.4	88.8	91.2	91.2	91.2	95.6	90.8	91.2	6.0	21.6	$23,717	$2,997	$20,719
Powell Elementary Paideia Community Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	7511 S South Shore Dr	Chicago	60649	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6650	542	45	12.1	88.6%	3 (0.6%)	479 (88.4%)	57 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	14.8	1789^th of 2056 public elementary schools	13.0%		11.5	1993^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	3.6%	204	10.4	18.0	39.4	22.5	29.2	25.0	31.7	38.3	30.0	15.2	10.0	4.1	7.0	3.2	10.0	7.9	76.8	84.3	84.3	84.5	91.5	83.8	80.3	3.5	17.3	$19,460	$2,842	$16,618

Frequently Asked Questions about Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center

What schools do graduates of Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center attend?

Students who attend Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center usually go on to attend:

High : Bowen High School

What is the racial makeup of Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center?

Students at Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center are 68% African American, 30% Hispanic, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center?

In the 2024-25 school year, 315 students attended Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center.

What district is Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

Is Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center a good school?

Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center ranks in the bottom 9.8% of Illinois elementary schools.

Rate Ninos Heroes Elementary Academic Center!

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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.