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Woodson South Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1794^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Woodson South Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Chicago, Illinois, with 298 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. Woodson South Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of Illinois elementary schools over the past decade, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Woodson South Elementary School faces significant challenges, including consistently underperforming on standardized tests compared to the district and state averages. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 24.4% of Woodson South students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 42.8% for the district and 53.1% for the state. In math, only 5.2% of Woodson South students were proficient or better, compared to 27.3% for the district and 38.5% for the state. The school also has extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, reaching as high as 57.7% in the 2024-2025 school year, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.

When comparing Woodson South to nearby schools in the same district, it performs significantly worse academically. For example, Ariel Elementary Community Academy, which is just 0.56 miles away, outperforms Woodson South in both English Language Arts and Math proficiency by a wide margin. Woodson South's high rates of poverty, with 85.91% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year, may be contributing to the school's challenges in providing a quality education to its students. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of the school's challenges.

298

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,327

Per pupil spending ?

70.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4414 S Evans Ave
Chicago, IL 60653-3519

(773) 535-1280

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students who attend Woodson South Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Phillips Academy High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

91.3%

Hispanic:

6.4%

Two or more races:

1.7%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Woodson South Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 1st percentile in 2015 → 13th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (12% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (58% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school12%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

1,794^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▲ up 12 pts since 2015

From bottom 1% (2015) to bottom 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,310^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 4%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From bottom 1% (2015) to bottom 4% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

313^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	14.7	1794 of 2056	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.2	1970 of 2067	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.6	1984 of 2077	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.6	1972 of 2082	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.8	1443 of 1948	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.7	2020 of 2086	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.4	1951 of 2037	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	11.6	1912 of 2044	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	7.7	2028 of 2046	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	8.3	2036 of 2052	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	7.9	2007 of 2093	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	4.8	2129 of 2167	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	15.8	1927 of 2166	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	1.7	2136 of 2147	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	7.3	2016 of 2139	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	6.3	2014 of 2120	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	8.7	1946 of 2092	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	16.6	1844 of 2095	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	5.8	1965 of 2086	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	1.5	1972 of 2022	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	8.6	1849 of 2030	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	15.1	1725 of 2020	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	37.5	419 of 688	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.5	544 of 655	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.8	567 of 692	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.6	503 of 684	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	53.0	119 of 428	72.2%	★★★★☆
2019	28.0	566 of 711	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.1	548 of 698	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	11.8	1802 of 1942	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.0	1798 of 1942	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.6	1850 of 1957	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.5	1877 of 1970	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.7	1977 of 2019	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.8	1884 of 1964	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	24.5	1456 of 1800	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.3	1747 of 1793	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.1	1717 of 1808	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.4	1596 of 1763	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	36.5	950 of 1514	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	15.2	1731 of 1816	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.1	1663 of 1765	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.1	1759 of 1947	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.7	1814 of 1959	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.6	1870 of 1984	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.2	1834 of 1977	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	32.0	1091 of 1707	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	14.7	1840 of 2019	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.9	1879 of 1972	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	10.2	1310 of 1368	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.2	1246 of 1363	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.1	1227 of 1367	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.3	1202 of 1369	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.8	1008 of 1241	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.3	1188 of 1356	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.7	1253 of 1293	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	9.0	1264 of 1293	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	7.0	1286 of 1294	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	8.1	1288 of 1302	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	15.1	1171 of 1322	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	8.4	1292 of 1367	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	24.8	1112 of 1365	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	17.5	1168 of 1344	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	6.7	1254 of 1327	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	4.4	1270 of 1318	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	16.6	1106 of 1293	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	22.5	1051 of 1287	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	28.8	987 of 1272	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	22.8	955 of 1209	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	39.2	797 of 1204	33.8%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.4	513 of 574	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.0	437 of 548	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.2	359 of 569	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.5	349 of 573	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.5	201 of 385	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.1	364 of 565	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.2	445 of 511	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	11.1	1172 of 1248	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.1	1155 of 1251	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.4	1184 of 1275	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.9	1187 of 1286	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.9	1141 of 1276	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	8.6	1190 of 1226	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.9	1169 of 1229	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.8	1093 of 1219	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.9	1028 of 1234	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.1	984 of 1221	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.7	741 of 1019	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.4	1032 of 1217	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.3	1117 of 1161	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	9.6	1232 of 1271	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.2	1099 of 1264	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.8	1113 of 1292	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	1014 of 1286	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.4	812 of 1048	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.1	1119 of 1296	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.8	1164 of 1223	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	16.4	759 of 812	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)39th percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)19th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)10th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)7th percentile-6 vs school

Middle school

African American (2025)11th percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2025)7th percentile~ school

Female (2025)6th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)5th percentile~ school

Male (2025)3rd percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts24%-29 vs state

Science8%-35 vs state

Mathematics5%-33 vs state

★

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Schools Near Woodson South 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
Woodson South Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	4414 S Evans Ave	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1280	298	22	13.5	70.8%	0 (0.0%)	272 (91.3%)	19 (6.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.7%)	14.7	1794^th of 2056 public elementary schools	12.7%		12.2	1970^th of 2067 public elementary schools	4.7%	176	11.5	5.0	35.0	14.7	30.8	17.1	9.4	42.5	24.4	40.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	3.1	0.0	5.2	85.4	88.4	88.8	88.4	96.6	86.7	86.4	4.1	19.4	$23,327	$3,330	$19,997
James Farmer Junior Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	4214 S Saint Lawrence Ave	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1687	321	19	16.8	94.1%	0 (0.0%)	300 (93.5%)	14 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	14.3	1810^th of 2056 public elementary schools	12.0%		24.7	1551^st of 2067 public elementary schools	25.0%	259	21.2	18.4	7.1	20.0	22.9	30.0	35.2	25.0	24.9	7.1	13.8	17.6	13.8	15.1	12.5	13.6	81.8	87.4	87.4	87.4	89.7	87.1	83.1	4.0	24.2	$19,898	$2,407	$17,490
Mollison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	4415 S Dr Martin L King Jr Dr	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1804	237	17	13.9	85.7%	0 (0.0%)	221 (93.2%)	11 (4.6%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	5.3	2045^th of 2056 public elementary schools	0.5%		11.3	2002^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	3.1%	43	9.4	3.6	0.0	0.0	12.9	8.0	45.5	17.9	13.5	5.0	3.4	0.0	4.0	22.7	10.7	7.1	88.5	92.8	92.8	92.8	97.5	92.8	88.5	6.4	23.8	$23,499	$4,165	$19,334
Robinson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	4225 S Lake Park Ave	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-1777	117	13	9.3	86.3%	0 (0.0%)	110 (94.0%)	2 (1.7%)	1 (0.9%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.6%)								(n/a)			33.3						33.3	13.3						13.3	84.2	86.0	86.0	86.0	93.9	84.2	80.7	14.9		$33,929	$4,056	$29,873
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%)	14	1819^th of 2056 public elementary schools	11.5%		16.3	1791^st of 2067 public elementary schools	13.4%	28	14.7	22.7	19.0	34.2	26.5	16.2	29.0	34.8	26.6	28.6	13.2	2.9	5.4	9.7	30.4	13.0	87.2	92.3	92.3	92.3	94.3	91.2	88.3	6.6	19.7	$24,219	$2,776	$21,444
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%)	39.9	1214^th of 2056 public elementary schools	41.0%		36.6	1230^th of 2067 public elementary schools	40.5%	16	32.6		39.6	34.0	52.2				41.4	47.2	32.1	23.9				34.9										$20,602	$905	$19,697
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%)	10.6	1923^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	6.5%		12.1	1973^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	4.5%	50	3.4	10.3	32.1	21.9	7.1	16.7	28.0	27.6	22.3	25.0	9.4	0.0	0.0	8.0	0.0	7.1	82.8	83.9	83.9	83.9	89.6	83.9	78.1	21.9	12.9	$21,798	$3,717	$18,081
Univ of Chicago Charter-Donoghue	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	707 E 37th St	Chicago	60653	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 285-5301	499	23	21.6	84.6%	0 (0.0%)	474 (95.0%)	16 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	32.8	1361^st of 2056 public elementary schools	33.8%		33.1	1308^th of 2067 public elementary schools	36.7%	53	24.4		37.8	33.3	57.7				42.7	33.3	17.1	25.6				25.3										$18,355	$1,216	$17,139
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%)	22.4	1608^th of 2056 public elementary schools	21.8%		26.7	1495^th of 2067 public elementary schools	27.7%	113	22.5		35.9	31.0	30.0	34.1			33.1	30.8	24.4	10.0	9.8			18.5	83.3	86.6	86.6	86.6	97.7	84.5	81.9		11.4	$22,889	$2,430	$20,458
Bronzeville Classical Elementary School	Public	K-8	8 W Root St	Chicago	60609	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 535-8085	458	26	17.6	16.6%	23 (5.0%)	340 (74.2%)	22 (4.8%)	41 (9.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.8%)	97.1	23^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	98.9%		97.3	42^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	98.0%	19	75.4	84.0	76.8	92.7	98.2	94.6	97.4	100.0	92.4	89.3	89.3	73.7	82.1	71.8	60.0	79.9	94.1	96.2	96.2	96.2	97.2	95.7	95.5		13.7	$15,884	$963	$14,921

Frequently Asked Questions about Woodson South Elementary School

How many students attend Woodson South Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 298 students attended Woodson South Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Woodson South Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Woodson South Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Phillips Academy High School

What district is Woodson South Elementary School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

Is Woodson South Elementary School a good school?

Woodson South Elementary School ranks in the bottom 12.7% of Illinois elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Woodson South Elementary School?

Students at Woodson South Elementary School are 91% African American, 6% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

Rate Woodson South 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.