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Cullen Elementary School

Public Grades K-8

1585^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Cullen Elementary School is a public K-8 school in Chicago, Illinois, with a total enrollment of 173 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. Cullen Elementary School has consistently been ranked in the bottom 25% of Illinois elementary schools over the past decade, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Cullen Elementary School consistently underperforms compared to the district and state in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 37.6% of Cullen students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 42.8% for the district and 53.1% for the state. In Mathematics, only 15.2% of Cullen students were proficient or better, compared to 27.3% for the district and 38.5% for the state. Additionally, Cullen Elementary School has significantly higher chronic absenteeism rates, with a 25.4% rate in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to 19.7% for the state.

While Cullen Elementary School's performance is generally lower than nearby schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299, such as Smith W Elementary, Bennett Elementary, and Pullman Elementary, the school's high per-student spending of $23,457 in the 2023-2024 school year does not seem to translate into improved academic outcomes. The school's challenges may be influenced by the high rates of poverty and low socioeconomic status among its student population, as well as the need for more targeted and differentiated instructional strategies to address the unique needs of its diverse student body.

176

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,521

Per pupil spending ?

97.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10650 S Eberhart Ave
Chicago, IL 60628-2954

(773) 535-5375

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students who attend Cullen Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Corliss High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

96.0%

Hispanic:

3.4%

White:

0.6%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Cullen Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 10th percentile in 2018 → 23rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 23rd (2025) from a 10th-percentile low (2018)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (19% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!Science scores 32 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school19%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

1,585^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▲ up 11 pts since 2015

From bottom 12% (2015) to bottom 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,051^st of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 23%▲ up 9 pts since 2015

From bottom 14% (2015) to bottom 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

220^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	23.8	1585 of 2056	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.4	1646 of 2067	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.7	1583 of 2077	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.8	1746 of 2082	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.6	1766 of 2086	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.9	1828 of 2037	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	23.9	1577 of 2044	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	18.7	1728 of 2046	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	16.3	1808 of 2052	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	32.5	1480 of 2093	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	38.0	1439 of 2167	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	49.2	1317 of 2166	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	20.2	1833 of 2147	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	44.6	1402 of 2139	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	38.9	1489 of 2120	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	29.7	1622 of 2092	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	37.5	1548 of 2095	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	28.3	1683 of 2086	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	18.1	1754 of 2022	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	14.6	1768 of 2030	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	22.7	1636 of 2020	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	55.2	240 of 688	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.9	236 of 655	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.6	239 of 692	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.4	344 of 684	49.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.7	346 of 711	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.7	417 of 698	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	46.3	1015 of 1942	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	10.7	1941 of 1970	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	25.3	1534 of 2019	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.9	1759 of 1964	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	36.2	1206 of 1800	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.5	1298 of 1793	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.2	1293 of 1808	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.3	1416 of 1763	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.1	1368 of 1816	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.8	1485 of 1765	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.2	1554 of 1947	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	1633 of 1959	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.3	1392 of 1984	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.9	1728 of 1977	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.4	1668 of 2019	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.7	1684 of 1972	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	22.9	1051 of 1368	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.8	1125 of 1363	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.9	915 of 1367	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.7	1047 of 1369	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.3	1281 of 1356	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.5	1220 of 1293	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	21.7	1033 of 1293	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	14.6	1183 of 1294	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	17.6	1115 of 1302	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	28.1	1001 of 1322	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	20.2	1140 of 1367	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	44.5	876 of 1365	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	24.7	1111 of 1344	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	47.7	824 of 1327	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	72.7	360 of 1318	72.7%	★★★★☆
2008	62.7	571 of 1293	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	61.8	571 of 1287	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	50.3	749 of 1272	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2005	18.3	990 of 1209	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	41.2	782 of 1204	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2003	17.6	968 of 1185	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	48.6	252 of 574	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.3	279 of 548	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	64.4	130 of 569	77.2%	★★★★☆
2022	49.8	216 of 573	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	28.6	442 of 565	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.3	408 of 511	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	12.6	1142 of 1248	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.8	1208 of 1286	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	11.6	1194 of 1276	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	21.6	982 of 1226	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	32.7	831 of 1229	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.0	881 of 1219	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.2	622 of 1234	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.8	770 of 1221	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	15.8	1132 of 1217	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.0	1092 of 1161	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	23.6	950 of 1271	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.1	900 of 1264	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.6	866 of 1292	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.7	836 of 1286	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	15.1	1167 of 1296	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.5	1150 of 1223	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)65th percentile+42 vs school

Female (2025)48th percentile+25 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)33rd percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)20th percentile-3 vs school

Middle school

African American (2025)56th percentile+33 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)32nd percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)25th percentile~ school

Female (2025)8th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts38%-16 vs state

Mathematics15%-23 vs state

Science11%-32 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 student
Tuesday, November 24, 2015

I WENT AND GRADUATED FROM COUNTEE CULLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IT IS AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL. THE TEACHERS ARE ALWAYS ON TASK AND I CAN SAY PLENTY OF THE STUDENTS HAVE IMPROVED THERE. AND THE STAFF IS GREAT, ALWAYS ON TASK. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, November 18, 2010

Countee Cullen Elementary is a great school. As a child I attended Cullen. My son graduated 8th grade there as well. the quality of education is still just as great as it was when I attended over 25 years ago. Cullen has continued to make AYP for the last 4 to 5 years Close Quote

Schools Near Cullen 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
Cullen Elementary School	Public	K-8	10650 S Eberhart Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5375	176	15	11.7	97.2%	1 (0.6%)	169 (96.0%)	6 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23.8	1585^th of 2056 public elementary schools	22.9%		21.4	1646^th of 2067 public elementary schools	20.4%	61	17.4	5.3	54.5	25.0	21.7	40.0	36.0	50.0	37.6	27.3	25.0	8.7	6.7	8.0	15.0	15.2	91.0	95.8	95.8	95.8	96.4	95.8	93.4		26.4	$25,521	$3,136	$22,385
Poe Elementary Classical School	Public	K-8	10538 S Langley Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	No	(773) 535-5525	224	16	14.0	32.6%	5 (2.2%)	195 (87.1%)	13 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.9%)	98.4	8^th of 2056 public elementary schools	99.6%		98.5	19^th of 2067 public elementary schools	99.1%	11	92.9	58.3	82.8	100.0	100.0	97.3	80.0	91.7	93.8	89.7	90.0	85.7	81.1	50.0	41.7	80.1	95.6	97.4	97.4	97.4	98.7	97.4	96.9		17.5	$21,515	$1,484	$20,032
Smith W Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	744 E 103rd St	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5689	340	31	10.8	95.3%	0 (0.0%)	323 (95.0%)	13 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	9.7	1954^th of 2056 public elementary schools	5.0%		19	1708^th of 2067 public elementary schools	17.4%	246	5.9	17.9	13.9	29.7	14.7	16.2	51.5	39.3	26.8	16.7	10.8	2.9	5.4	6.1	10.7	8.8	81.9	87.1	87.1	87.1	94.8	87.1	85.1	4.0	14.9	$24,217	$3,315	$20,902
Bennett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	10115 S Prairie Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5460	312	21	14.8	80.4%	0 (0.0%)	290 (92.9%)	19 (6.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	27.2	1502^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	26.9%		18.9	1715^th of 2067 public elementary schools	17.0%	213	5.4	4.5	65.6	34.6	27.0	51.9	34.5	52.2	43.7	35.5	12.0	2.8	3.7	21.4	4.3	13.5	79.8	83.3	83.3	83.3	92.6	83.0	81.8		18.2	$21,082	$3,918	$17,164
Pullman Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	11311 S Forrestville Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5395	303	22	13.7	74.3%	7 (2.3%)	213 (70.3%)	79 (26.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	20.9	1643^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	20.1%		16.7	1781^st of 2067 public elementary schools	13.8%	138	27.3	8.6	13.3	18.4	57.6	28.6	53.3	37.1	34.5	20.0	11.1	21.2	3.7	3.2	11.4	12.0	78.5	82.0	82.0	82.0	91.0	81.7	80.7		14.8	$21,455	$3,110	$18,346
Lavizzo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	138 W 109th St	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5300	394	28	14.3	89.8%	3 (0.8%)	340 (86.3%)	48 (12.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	14.9	1786^th of 2056 public elementary schools	13.1%		16	1810^th of 2067 public elementary schools	12.4%	24	10.0	12.1	28.3	25.7	33.3	33.3	12.5	22.2	25.5	9.4	17.6	0.0	7.5	4.2	0.0	6.3	87.9	92.0	92.0	92.0	98.8	92.0	90.6	5.9	20.1	$18,975	$3,137	$15,838
Hughes L Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	240 W 104th St	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5075	431	40	10.9	87.0%	1 (0.2%)	374 (86.8%)	50 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.2%)	10.2	1940^th of 2056 public elementary schools	5.6%		11.4	1997^th of 2067 public elementary schools	3.4%	57	4.0	12.8	25.0	26.3	22.2	20.9	14.8	35.9	24.8	7.0	2.6	0.0	9.5	3.7	7.7	5.6	86.5	91.8	91.4	91.4	94.6	91.4	83.6	23.6	17.1	$26,259	$4,036	$22,223
CICS - Prairie Campus	Public, Charter	K-8	11530 S Prairie Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 928-0480	412	17	24.2	94.4%	2 (0.5%)	275 (66.7%)	134 (32.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19	1692^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	17.7%		19	1707^th of 2067 public elementary schools	17.4%	15	3.2	15.4	26.8	27.6	19.4	38.7	29.4	25.0	27.6	32.1	3.4	3.2	29.0	7.8	11.5	15.6										$17,314	$2,154	$15,160
Curtis Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	32 E 115th St	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5050	356	24	14.8	97.5%	2 (0.6%)	299 (84.0%)	55 (15.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10.6	1922^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	6.5%		8.6	2056^th of 2067 public elementary schools	0.5%	134	8.6	3.0	26.8	14.3	11.4	14.8	3.3	18.2	15.4	33.3	0.0	2.9	3.4	3.1	5.9	8.9	86.9	94.3	94.3	94.3	97.4	93.9	88.8	3.8	20.1	$20,638	$3,067	$17,571
Schmid Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	9755 S Greenwood Ave	Chicago	60628	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-6235	195	25	7.8	97.9%	3 (1.5%)	180 (92.3%)	12 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13.6	1825^th of 2056 public elementary schools	11.2%		21.3	1649^th of 2067 public elementary schools	20.2%	176	7.7	6.3	0.0	21.4	16.7	38.1	6.7	42.9	21.5	23.5	28.6	0.0	4.8	7.1	6.3	11.7	89.5	89.0	89.0	89.0	93.9	89.0	86.2	19.3	10.5	$28,028	$4,351	$23,677

Frequently Asked Questions about Cullen Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Cullen Elementary School?

Students at Cullen Elementary School are 96% African American, 3% Hispanic.

What district is Cullen Elementary School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

Is Cullen Elementary School a good school?

Cullen Elementary School ranks in the bottom 22.9% of Illinois elementary schools.

How many students attend Cullen Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 176 students attended Cullen Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Cullen Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Cullen Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Corliss High School

Rate Cullen 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.