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Marine Leadership Academy - Ames

Public Grades 7-12

599^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 620 Illinois High Schools

Better than 3% of Illinois high schools

Summary

Marine Leadership Academy - Ames serves 549 students in grades 7–12 in Chicago, within Chicago Public Schools District 299. Its latest results present a mixed picture: graduation is strong, but proficiency on high-school tests remains far below state and district levels. In 2025–2026, 11th-grade ACT proficiency was 16% in English language arts (ELA), 12% in math, and 12% in science; those results were 34, 28, and 36 points below state levels, respectively. The most important concern is that students’ test proficiency is low across all three subjects.

Graduation is a clear strength: the 2025–2026 rate was 93%, compared with 83% in the district and 90% statewide, and was second-highest among nearby schools with reported rates, behind Noble St Charter-Pritzker College Prep. Attendance is a weaker area: chronic absenteeism was 52%, 14 points above the district and 29 points above the state, although it was the fourth-lowest rate among nearby schools. Math is a relative bright spot on the reported high-school tests because its gap to the state is smaller than the ELA and science gaps. In the nearby comparison, the school’s ACT results were close to North-Grand High School in ELA and math, but lower in science. Its 11.8 student-teacher ratio was the lowest among the nearby schools.

Results have shifted over time: all-grades ELA proficiency rose from 8% in 2023–2024 to 28% in 2024–2025, then fell to 16% in 2025–2026. Over those three years, the state gap widened by 8 points. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking also declined, from the 24th percentile in 2022–2023 to the 3rd percentile in 2025–2026; its rating changed from 1 star to 0 stars. As context, 83% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–2025. SchoolDigger’s ranking for how well the school serves English Language Learner students fell from the 44th percentile in 2022–2023 to the 5th percentile in 2024–2025. Its ranking for serving students with disabilities dropped from the 39th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 1st percentile in 2024–2025.

549

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,256

Per pupil spending ?

82.5%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

97.9%

Measles protection (all grades) (2025-26)

1920 N Hamlin Ave
Chicago, IL 60647-3411

(773) 534-4970

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

94.0%

White:

2.9%

African American:

2.2%

See top rated Illinois high schools

Compare Marine Leadership Academy - Ames to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 15th percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Strengths

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the Illinois average (90%)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (15% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (52% vs 24% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school15%

District avg37%

Illinois avg48%

599^th of 620

Illinois public high schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 15% (2016) to bottom 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

82^nd of 99High 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.0	1254 of 1368	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.8	1320 of 1363	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.6	1244 of 1367	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.9	1272 of 1369	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.8	1066 of 1241	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.2	1190 of 1356	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.4	1128 of 1293	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	10.0	1247 of 1293	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	12.1	1220 of 1294	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	20.2	1070 of 1302	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	18.9	1122 of 1322	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	16.7	1196 of 1367	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	18.5	1184 of 1365	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	15.5	1191 of 1344	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	13.5	1180 of 1327	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	9.1	1218 of 1318	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	6.9	1214 of 1293	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	10.0	1165 of 1287	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	10.8	1140 of 1272	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	9.2	1073 of 1209	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	8.1	1091 of 1204	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	6.6	1108 of 1185	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	19.5	664 of 674	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.0	455 of 483	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.1	481 of 486	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.7	478 of 480	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	27.9	415 of 454	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	35.1	207 of 277	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.4	128 of 339	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.4	134 of 285	53.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	16.9	1061 of 1248	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	9.4	1230 of 1251	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.1	1095 of 1275	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.8	1120 of 1286	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.7	926 of 1017	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.9	1205 of 1276	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.1	1110 of 1226	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	14.5	636 of 669	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.7	630 of 643	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.2	620 of 661	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.8	645 of 662	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.4	474 of 517	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.0	613 of 639	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.7	548 of 590	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.0	1043 of 1229	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.1	1170 of 1219	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.3	1062 of 1234	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.4	1146 of 1221	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	27.9	767 of 1019	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.2	1037 of 1217	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.0	968 of 1161	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	11.1	1212 of 1271	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	1202 of 1264	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.6	1196 of 1292	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.4	1219 of 1286	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	18.6	906 of 1048	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.0	1030 of 1296	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.7	1034 of 1223	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2024	17.0	780 of 802	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	26.8	613 of 805	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.5	561 of 781	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.4	387 of 548	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.6	756 of 792	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	4.0	599 of 620	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.9	615 of 698	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.7	587 of 697	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.6	532 of 699	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.9	582 of 699	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.7	478 of 688	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	16.4	589 of 701	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.5	574 of 647	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	13.7	563 of 642	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.6	548 of 643	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.5	463 of 614	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	17.0	487 of 491	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.0	261 of 429	39.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.4	382 of 428	10.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	17.2	271 of 284	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	28.6	158 of 248	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.5	122 of 217	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.5	190 of 205	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	32.8	86 of 189	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	29.6	141 of 183	23.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	26.4	126 of 151	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	12.7	597 of 685	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.8	560 of 664	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.0	494 of 656	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.6	552 of 658	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.7	472 of 639	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.2	571 of 665	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.6	558 of 620	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	6.9	262 of 268	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.8	324 of 366	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.0	286 of 336	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.4	229 of 333	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.1	267 of 335	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.9	178 of 317	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	21.4	262 of 317	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.9	262 of 291	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	8.7	458 of 478	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.3	589 of 672	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.0	505 of 639	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.8	414 of 644	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.6	464 of 626	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	49.9	252 of 611	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	27.5	485 of 639	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.9	494 of 585	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2026	4.8	510 of 521	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	12.2	614 of 685	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.7	559 of 668	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.7	514 of 668	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.6	551 of 664	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.1	402 of 653	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	20.6	545 of 675	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.5	543 of 619	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.1	524 of 527	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.8	377 of 482	21.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.1	375 of 476	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.2	286 of 493	42.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	55.2	125 of 453	72.4%	★★★★☆
2019	29.6	306 of 473	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.5	162 of 374	56.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)15th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)15th percentile+7 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)6th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)5th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)5th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2024)3rd percentile~ school

Disabled (2023)1st percentile-8 vs school

High school

Female (2025)13th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2025)5th percentile-7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)4th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)1st percentile-11 vs school

Special Education (2025)1st percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts16%-41 vs state

Mathematics12%-28 vs state

Science12%-36 vs state

★

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Schools Near Marine Leadership Academy - Ames

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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)				PreACT Secure English Language Arts (2026)		PreACT Secure Mathematics (2026)		PreACT Secure Science (2026)		ACT English Language Arts (2026)	ACT Mathematics (2026)	ACT Science (2026)	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	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 9th Grade	PreACT Secure English Language Arts 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Mathematics 10th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 9th Grade	PreACT Secure Science 10th Grade	ACT English Language Arts 11th Grade	ACT Mathematics 11th Grade	ACT Science 11th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	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
Marine Leadership Academy - Ames	Public	7-12	1920 N Hamlin Ave	Chicago	60647	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-4970	549	46	11.8	82.5%	16 (2.9%)	12 (2.2%)	516 (94.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	4	599^th of 620 public high schools	3.4%		11.9	615^th of 698 public high schools	11.9%	16	21.3	15.9	13.4		11.8		16.3	12.2	12.2				15.5				97.9%		$24,256	$1,596	$22,660
Noble St Charter-Pritzker College Prep	Public, Charter	9-12	4131 W Cortland St	Chicago	60639	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 394-2848	993	59	16.9	94.1%	7 (0.7%)	57 (5.7%)	914 (92.0%)	6 (0.6%)	9 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32	445^th of 620 public high schools	28.2%		36	477^th of 698 public high schools	31.7%	32	52.0	44.2	28.2	25.3	34.6	42.7	38.6	24.5	39.1								99.7%		$20,198	$1,808	$18,390
North-Grand High School	Public	9-12	4338 W Wabansia Ave	Chicago	60639	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-8520	1,061	77	13.8	88.2%	10 (0.9%)	213 (20.1%)	822 (77.5%)	4 (0.4%)	5 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	5 (0.5%)	6	585^th of 620 public high schools	5.6%		12.5	609^th of 698 public high schools	12.8%	24	29.4	21.3	8.5	8.7	21.9	21.7	15.4	11.8	16.7								94.5%		$22,274	$1,452	$20,822
Kelvyn Park High School	Public	7-12	4343 W Wrightwood Ave	Chicago	60639	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-4200	577	41	13.9	80.4%	8 (1.4%)	58 (10.1%)	506 (87.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	3.1	611^th of 620 public high schools	1.5%		7.3	647^th of 698 public high schools	7.3%	36	26.8	16.9			13.4	13.6	12.2		13.7			16.4	14.9				90.6%		$22,175	$1,994	$20,181
YCCS-Association House	Public, Charter	9-12	1116 N Kedzie Ave Fl 4	Chicago	60651	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 772-7170	105	2	52.5	92.4%	1 (1.0%)	36 (34.3%)	67 (63.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																	100%		$24,105	$2,063	$22,042
Aspira Charter - Business and Finance High School	Public, Charter	9-12	2989 N Milwaukee Ave	Chicago	60618	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 243-1820	426	34	12.5	83.8%	6 (1.4%)	24 (5.6%)	390 (91.5%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)								(n/a)																	98.6%		$22,537	$27	$22,511
Noble St Charter-Rowe-Clark Middle School Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	3645 W Chicago Ave	Chicago	60651	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 242-2212	320	22	14.5	95.0%	1 (0.3%)	279 (87.2%)	39 (12.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	7.2	575^th of 620 public high schools	7.3%		12.1	613^th of 698 public high schools	12.2%	38	26.2	21.7				25.3											98.6%		$32,704	$2,184	$30,520
Orr Academy High School	Public	9-12	730 N Pulaski Rd	Chicago	60624	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-6500	361	24	15.0	87.8%	6 (1.7%)	176 (48.8%)	175 (48.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)								(n/a)																	94%		$28,768	$3,095	$25,673
ASPIRA Charter - Early College Prep High School	Public, Charter	9-12	3986 W Barry Ave	Chicago	60618	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 243-1626	285	21	13.5	92.3%	5 (1.8%)	7 (2.5%)	273 (95.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																	91.2%		$21,783	$33	$21,750
Yccs-Aspira Pantoja Alt High School	Public, Charter	9-12	3121 N Pulaski Rd	Chicago	60641	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 486-6303	200	11	18.1	95.0%	8 (4.0%)	4 (2.0%)	186 (93.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)																	94%		$22,040	$1,302	$20,738

Frequently Asked Questions about Marine Leadership Academy - Ames

What district is Marine Leadership Academy - Ames in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

How many students attend Marine Leadership Academy - Ames?

In the 2024-25 school year, 549 students attended Marine Leadership Academy - Ames.

Is Marine Leadership Academy - Ames a good school?

Marine Leadership Academy - Ames ranks in the bottom 3.4% of Illinois high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Marine Leadership Academy - Ames?

Students at Marine Leadership Academy - Ames are 94% Hispanic, 3% White, 2% African American.

Rate Marine Leadership Academy - Ames!

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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.