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Foster Park Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1735^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Foster Park Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in the Chicago Public Schools District 299, with 336 students located in the South Side of Chicago. According to the data, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Foster Park Elementary School's performance on standardized tests, such as the IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) and ISA (Illinois Science Assessment), has been significantly below the district and state averages.

The school faces several key challenges, including very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 40.8% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages. Additionally, the school's test scores are consistently lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 26.1% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 42.8% for the district and 53.1% for the state, and in mathematics, the proficiency rate was just 12.2%, compared to 27.3% for the district and 38.5% for the state. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as female students and students with disabilities.

The challenges faced by Foster Park Elementary School are not isolated, as several nearby schools, such as Cook Elementary School, Joplin Elementary School, and Cuffe Math-Sci Technical Elementary Academy, also struggle with low academic performance and high chronic absenteeism rates. This suggests that the issues may be systemic within the broader community and district, and addressing them will require a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that addresses the underlying social, economic, and educational factors impacting student success.

345

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,216

Per pupil spending ?

93.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8530 S Wood St
Chicago, IL 60620-4734

(773) 535-2725

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

African American:

95.1%

Hispanic:

4.9%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Foster Park Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 27th percentile in 2015 → 16th in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (16% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (35% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school16%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

1,735^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 11 pts since 2015

From bottom 27% (2015) to bottom 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,291^st of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 16 pts since 2015

From bottom 22% (2015) to bottom 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

278^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	17.3	1735 of 2056	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.2	1799 of 2067	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.6	1888 of 2077	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	23.5	1547 of 2082	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.3	1326 of 1948	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.6	1515 of 2086	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.7	1655 of 2037	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.9	1771 of 2044	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	24.4	1579 of 2046	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.2	1503 of 2052	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	19.2	1773 of 2093	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	12.1	1979 of 2167	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	15.4	1935 of 2166	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	4.0	2103 of 2147	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	8.6	1996 of 2139	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	22.6	1759 of 2120	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	9.5	1923 of 2092	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	6.4	1967 of 2095	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	10.2	1905 of 2086	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	13.2	1797 of 2022	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	16.7	1746 of 2030	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	9.7	1792 of 2020	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	45.0	333 of 688	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.5	385 of 655	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.7	436 of 692	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.6	270 of 684	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.6	104 of 428	75.7%	★★★★☆
2019	45.2	334 of 711	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.9	357 of 698	48.9%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2024	42.6	435 of 886	50.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.4	1758 of 1942	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.3	1583 of 1942	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.1	1703 of 1957	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.8	1704 of 1970	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.4	1435 of 2019	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.3	1665 of 1964	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	27.6	1376 of 1800	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.3	1522 of 1793	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.3	1649 of 1808	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	36.5	1108 of 1763	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.2	695 of 1514	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.8	1279 of 1816	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.0	1335 of 1765	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	22.3	1533 of 1947	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.7	1540 of 1959	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.5	1778 of 1984	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.3	1585 of 1977	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.3	1287 of 1707	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.2	1494 of 2019	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.9	1532 of 1972	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.5	1063 of 1292	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.2	810 of 1195	32.2%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	11.1	1291 of 1368	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.5	1030 of 1363	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.3	1132 of 1367	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.4	1145 of 1369	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.8	1110 of 1241	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.2	1170 of 1356	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.1	1262 of 1293	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	14.1	1172 of 1293	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	23.0	1047 of 1294	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	23.3	1016 of 1302	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	20.9	1101 of 1322	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	18.3	1170 of 1367	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	12.1	1253 of 1365	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	14.0	1212 of 1344	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	15.0	1165 of 1327	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	19.5	1101 of 1318	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	14.6	1126 of 1293	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	21.5	1060 of 1287	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	25.5	1013 of 1272	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	17.6	997 of 1209	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	14.2	1015 of 1204	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	38.4	786 of 1185	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	27.9	448 of 574	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	45.3	243 of 548	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.9	315 of 569	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.4	297 of 573	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.2	220 of 385	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.1	333 of 565	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.4	453 of 511	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	6.5	1238 of 1248	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.5	1069 of 1286	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.0	956 of 1017	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	11.3	1200 of 1276	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.0	1195 of 1226	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	15.2	1144 of 1229	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	32.9	822 of 1219	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.0	910 of 1234	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.4	915 of 1221	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.6	838 of 1019	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.4	1005 of 1217	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.4	1115 of 1161	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	16.5	1115 of 1271	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	941 of 1264	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.2	1063 of 1292	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.8	1108 of 1286	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.4	926 of 1048	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.8	1123 of 1296	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.5	1169 of 1223	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)52nd percentile+36 vs school

Disabled (2024)51st percentile+38 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)24th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)21st percentile+6 vs school

Special Education (2025)18th percentile~ school

Female (2025)9th percentile-6 vs school

Middle school

African American (2025)22nd percentile+16 vs school

Male (2025)12th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)7th percentile~ school

Female (2025)1st percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts26%-27 vs state

Science13%-30 vs state

Mathematics12%-26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Foster Park 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
Foster Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8530 S Wood St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-2725	345	29	11.7	93.3%	0 (0.0%)	328 (95.1%)	17 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17.3	1735^th of 2056 public elementary schools	15.6%		16.2	1799^th of 2067 public elementary schools	13.0%	64	15.2	10.0	28.6	17.9	36.4	26.1	30.0	20.0	26.1	25.7	5.1	27.3	0.0	10.0	0.0	12.2	92.5	95.8	95.8	95.8	99.1	95.8	92.8	14.7	20.1	$24,216	$2,797	$21,418
LEARN Charter - Hunter Perkins Camp	Public, Charter	K-8	1700 W 83rd St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 488-1634	472	23	20.5	80.7%	3 (0.6%)	452 (95.8%)	12 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	35.5	1301^st of 2056 public elementary schools	36.7%		30.1	1399^th of 2067 public elementary schools	32.3%	98	24.0	5.1	35.9	28.0	62.0	57.1	48.8	79.5	49.3	26.9	10.0	26.0	26.2	27.9	7.7	21.5										$19,353	$3,246	$16,107
Cook Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8150 S Bishop St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3315	322	23	14.0	72.7%	2 (0.6%)	269 (83.5%)	49 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	7.4	2014^th of 2056 public elementary schools	2.0%		15	1853^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	10.4%	161	9.7	11.8	17.2	16.7	18.2	16.1	25.0	28.6	20.2	3.4	0.0	2.9	3.2	0.0	2.9	2.2	78.5	85.9	85.9	85.9	94.0	85.2	81.3	4.6	18.4	$21,646	$2,928	$18,719
Joplin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	7931 S Honore St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3425	283	24	11.7	96.1%	2 (0.7%)	235 (83.0%)	44 (15.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25.9	1540^th of 2056 public elementary schools	25.1%		26.5	1502^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	27.3%	38	21.4	30.4	25.0	28.9	50.0	40.0	54.5	43.5	38.0	27.5	34.2	10.7	10.0	22.7	17.4	22.2	89.0	94.5	94.9	94.9	97.8	93.8	90.4	6.3	22.4	$22,304	$3,219	$19,086
Cuffe Math-Sci Technical Elementary Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	8324 S Racine Ave	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-8250	249	22	11.5	86.7%	2 (0.8%)	238 (95.6%)	8 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	17.2	1740^th of 2056 public elementary schools	15.4%		21.1	1653^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	20.0%	87	26.1	6.9	20.8	25.0	30.4	37.0	42.3	27.6	31.0	20.8	6.3	8.7	10.7	11.5	0.0	9.6	97.9	98.3	98.3	98.3	98.7	98.3	95.8	11.8	27.0	$24,780	$3,152	$21,628
Fort Dearborn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	9025 S Throop St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-2680	298	30	10.1	75.5%	0 (0.0%)	281 (94.3%)	15 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	10.9	1915^th of 2056 public elementary schools	6.9%		15.1	1847^th of 2067 public elementary schools	10.6%	68	6.1	18.9	2.9	20.0	34.4	25.0	23.5	45.9	25.9	22.9	12.0	3.1	0.0	5.9	11.1	9.8	73.5	78.3	78.3	78.3	90.1	77.6	74.1	6.7	13.7	$26,288	$4,209	$22,079
Kellogg Elementary School	Public	K-8	9241 S Leavitt St	Chicago	60643	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 535-2590	299	22	13.5	31.8%	42 (14.0%)	235 (78.6%)	17 (5.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	70.3	594^th of 2056 public elementary schools	71.1%		66.9	608^th of 2067 public elementary schools	70.6%	14	42.9	45.2	83.8	73.3	69.4	51.6	66.7	71.9	69.9	73.0	50.0	41.7	22.6	33.3	43.8	44.9	86.8	91.3	91.3	91.3	94.4	90.3	90.3		16.3	$20,651	$1,527	$19,123
Barton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	7650 S Wolcott Ave	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3260	411	34	12.0	89.5%	0 (0.0%)	319 (77.6%)	89 (21.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	7.1	2023^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	1.6%		13.8	1899^th of 2067 public elementary schools	8.1%	124	12.8	11.4	14.3	13.2	21.1	8.0	19.4	16.2	15.7	11.8	2.6	0.0	0.0	6.5	16.2	6.4	90.4	95.1	95.1	95.1	98.2	94.6	88.1	9.3	31.0	$22,657	$3,278	$19,378
Jackson M Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	917 W 88th St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3341	305	26	11.7	85.6%	1 (0.3%)	293 (96.1%)	9 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	7.9	1998^th of 2056 public elementary schools	2.8%		9.9	2038^th of 2067 public elementary schools	1.4%	40	16.1	14.3	14.7	4.3	16.7	8.7	21.4	31.0	16.8	12.1	9.1	6.9	0.0	13.8	17.2	10.3	90.2	92.1	92.1	92.1	97.8	92.1	87.0	7.9	23.7	$28,717	$2,897	$25,821
Gresham Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	8524 S Green St	Chicago	60620	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-3350	332	26	12.7	94.6%	2 (0.6%)	309 (93.1%)	21 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28	1485^th of 2056 public elementary schools	27.8%		18.7	1719^th of 2067 public elementary schools	16.8%	234	7.7	18.4	53.8	43.2	40.0	30.0	50.0	28.9	40.9	30.8	18.4	7.7	20.7	9.5	10.5	15.6	89.2	95.1	95.1	95.1	95.1	93.8	88.9	8.3	27.8	$19,874	$2,585	$17,289

Frequently Asked Questions about Foster Park Elementary School

What district is Foster Park Elementary School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

Is Foster Park Elementary School a good school?

Foster Park Elementary School ranks in the bottom 15.6% of Illinois elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Foster Park Elementary School?

Students at Foster Park Elementary School are 95% African American, 5% Hispanic.

How many students attend Foster Park Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 345 students attended Foster Park Elementary School.

Rate Foster Park 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.