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Northwest Middle School

Q: Is Northwest Middle School a good school?

Northwest Middle School ranks in the bottom 6.9% of Illinois middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Northwest Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 532 students attended Northwest Middle School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Northwest Middle School?

Students at Northwest Middle School are 95% Hispanic, 2% White, 2% African American.

Q: What high school do graduates of Northwest Middle School attend?

Students who attend Northwest Middle School usually go on to attend Foreman High School

Public Grades 6-8

1274^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 7% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Northwest Middle School is a public middle school located in Chicago, Illinois, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 518 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.

Northwest Middle School consistently performs below the state and district averages in standardized test scores. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 22.6% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 42.8% for the district and 53.1% for the state. In mathematics, the proficiency rate was just 7.6%, compared to 27.3% for the district and 38.5% for the state. The school also has very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 40.8% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state and district averages.

When comparing Northwest Middle School to nearby schools, such as ASPIRA Charter - Haugan Campus and LEARN Charter - Middle School, both public charter schools within the same district, it becomes evident that Northwest Middle School is underperforming. These nearby schools have significantly higher academic proficiency rates in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. Additionally, Northwest Middle School has relatively high spending per student, ranging from $12,112 to $18,046 over the past few years, but the academic outcomes do not seem to reflect this level of investment.

532

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,053

Per pupil spending ?

89.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5252 W Palmer St
Chicago, IL 60639-3047

(773) 534-3250

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Students who attend Northwest Middle School usually attend:

High:

Foreman High School

Feeder schools for Northwest Middle School:

Elementary:	Lloyd Elementary School
	Schubert Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

94.7%

White:

2.3%

African American:

2.1%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Northwest Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 17th percentile in 2015 → 7th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (14% vs 46% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school14%

District avg34%

Illinois avg46%

1,274^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From bottom 17% (2015) to bottom 7% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 11Middle 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	12.1	1274 of 1368	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.2	1224 of 1363	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.3	1273 of 1367	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.1	1210 of 1369	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.7	1088 of 1241	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.7	1151 of 1356	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.2	1165 of 1293	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	17.7	1095 of 1293	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	14.9	1179 of 1294	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	19.7	1084 of 1302	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	21.8	1096 of 1322	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	18.0	1176 of 1367	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	12.7	1241 of 1365	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	11.2	1242 of 1344	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	15.5	1160 of 1327	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.2	1140 of 1318	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	21.7	1070 of 1293	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	24.4	1037 of 1287	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	16.0	1084 of 1272	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	12.4	1039 of 1209	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	8.6	1082 of 1204	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	9.2	1065 of 1185	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2019	13.5	565 of 565	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.0	635 of 694	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	25.6	547 of 639	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.4	516 of 674	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.9	417 of 483	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.0	394 of 486	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.9	439 of 480	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	28.2	411 of 454	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	30.7	242 of 277	12.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	42.6	183 of 339	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.2	226 of 285	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	10.8	1177 of 1248	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.7	1132 of 1251	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	1187 of 1275	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.6	1102 of 1286	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.9	898 of 1017	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	1097 of 1276	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.3	1119 of 1226	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	12.9	649 of 669	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.9	576 of 643	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.4	640 of 661	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.9	627 of 662	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.5	472 of 517	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.2	576 of 639	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.5	563 of 590	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2024	27.5	60 of 70	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.5	34 of 53	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	18.3	1093 of 1229	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.8	1077 of 1219	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.3	1126 of 1234	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.6	1066 of 1221	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.7	815 of 1019	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.2	965 of 1217	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.4	986 of 1161	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	14.2	1155 of 1271	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	16.1	1128 of 1264	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.2	1184 of 1292	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.1	1152 of 1286	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.2	964 of 1048	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	20.0	1062 of 1296	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.7	1084 of 1223	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.8	684 of 812	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.2	692 of 802	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.7	645 of 805	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.4	564 of 781	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.4	665 of 792	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.3	429 of 602	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)16th percentile+9 vs school

Homeless (2024)14th percentile+4 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)14th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)11th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)9th percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)9th percentile~ school

Female (2025)6th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)3rd percentile-4 vs school

African American (2019)<1st percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts23%-30 vs state

Science12%-34 vs state

Mathematics8%-31 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northwest Middle School

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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 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)	% 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 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 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	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northwest Middle School	Public	6-8	5252 W Palmer St	Chicago	60639	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-3250	532	39	13.8	89.8%	12 (2.3%)	11 (2.1%)	504 (94.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	12.1	1274^th of 1368 public middle schools	6.9%		15.2	1224^th of 1363 public middle schools	10.2%	50		11.7		19.0	15.2	32.3	22.6		4.5	12.3	6.7	7.6	91.9	95.8	95.8	95.8	94.4	92.5	89.4	89.6	$19,053	$2,406	$16,647
Elm Middle School	Public	6-8	7607 W Cortland St	Elmwood Park	60707	Cook County	Elmwood Park CUSD 401	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 452-3550	615	46	13.3	63.1%	207 (33.7%)	20 (3.3%)	368 (59.8%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (1.8%)	60.8	479^th of 1368 public middle schools	65.0%		59	463^rd of 1363 public middle schools	66.0%	16		51.0		49.1	70.5	76.0	65.8		20.5	27.3	37.0	28.6	99.4	98.2	98.2	98.2	97.1	96.6	100.0	93.7	$16,961	$854	$16,107
Percy Julian Middle School	Public	6-8	416 S Ridgeland Ave	Oak Park	60302	Cook County	Oak Park Education Service District 97	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 524-3040	927	78	11.8	18.0%	506 (54.6%)	135 (14.6%)	138 (14.9%)	26 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	108 (11.7%)	80.1	249^th of 1368 public middle schools	81.8%		69.5	351^st of 1363 public middle schools	74.2%	102		53.6		69.1	67.9	70.1	69.1		51.1	48.2	52.8	50.7	98.5	98.6	98.6	98.6	99.3	98.5	99.2	96.2	$17,464	$1,119	$16,345
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School	Public	6-8	325 S Kenilworth Ave	Oak Park	60302	Cook County	Oak Park Education Service District 97	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 524-3050	947	74	12.7	20.8%	433 (45.7%)	187 (19.7%)	170 (18.0%)	24 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	118 (12.5%)	85.2	182^nd of 1368 public middle schools	86.7%		82.3	208^th of 1363 public middle schools	84.7%	26		57.5		76.4	71.8	72.6	73.5		56.2	59.0	50.0	54.9	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.6	99.5	99.7	99.0	$22,663	$1,088	$21,575
Roosevelt School	Public	5-8	7560 Oak Ave	River Forest	60305	Cook County	River Forest School District 90	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 366-9230	625	61	10.3		398 (63.7%)	36 (5.8%)	81 (13.0%)	41 (6.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (10.7%)	95.2	51^st of 1368 public middle schools	96.3%		96	45^th of 1363 public middle schools	96.7%	6	63.3	71.9	85.1	85.5	84.7	84.4	84.9	72.0	69.5	80.8	67.3	72.8	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.9	78.3	$21,788	$328	$21,461
ASPIRA Charter - Haugan Campus	Public, Charter	6-8	3729 W Leland Ave	Chicago	60625	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 303-3549	83	8	10.3	95.2%	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.4%)	81 (97.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35.2	857^th of 1368 public middle schools	37.4%		16.9	1179^th of 1363 public middle schools	13.5%	322		35.0		59.1	19.0	55.0	47.0		27.3	4.5	12.5	14.3									$34,151	$280	$33,870
LEARN Charter - Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	3021 W Carroll Ave	Chicago	60612	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 584-4300	176	14	12.5	92.6%	0 (0.0%)	167 (94.9%)	9 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33	898^th of 1368 public middle schools	34.4%		24	1022^nd of 1363 public middle schools	25.0%	124		21.7			55.7	47.6	51.7			14.8	15.7	15.2									$33,394	$8,670	$24,724
J Giles Elementary School	Public	5-8	4251 N Oriole Ave	Norridge	60706	Cook County	Norridge School District 80	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 453-4847	499	31	16.3	43.1%	343 (68.7%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (18.8%)	54 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	73.1	328^th of 1368 public middle schools	76.0%		69.7	349^th of 1363 public middle schools	74.4%	21	42.6	63.1	63.0	67.9	69.3	76.9	69.6	24.1	25.9	43.9	36.2	32.8	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	95.8	98.4	67.7	$11,874	$581	$11,293
Albany Park Multicultural Elementary	Public	7-8	4929 N Sawyer Ave	Chicago	60625	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-5108	243	18	13.5	92.2%	10 (4.1%)	10 (4.1%)	199 (81.9%)	15 (6.2%)	6 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	29.9	937^th of 1368 public middle schools	31.5%		25.8	986^th of 1363 public middle schools	27.7%	49		30.2			32.4	40.6	36.4			29.9	13.2	21.6	88.5	93.4	93.4	93.4	88.1	90.3	84.5	91.6	$20,123	$2,613	$17,510
Forest Park Middle School	Public	6-8	925 Beloit Ave	Forest Park	60130	Cook County	Forest Park School District 91	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 366-5742	186	21	8.8	53.8%	29 (15.6%)	103 (55.4%)	40 (21.5%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.9%)	54.7	561^st of 1368 public middle schools	59.0%		54	540^th of 1363 public middle schools	60.4%	21		57.4		45.1	52.3	78.1	59.4		21.6	29.9	23.4	25.3	97.8	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.9	97.8	98.9	94.0	$34,696	$1,224	$33,472

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Northwest Middle School?

Students at Northwest Middle School are 95% Hispanic, 2% White, 2% African American.

How many students attend Northwest Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 532 students attended Northwest Middle School.

What district is Northwest Middle School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

What high school do graduates of Northwest Middle School attend?

Students who attend Northwest Middle School usually go on to attend Foreman High School

Is Northwest Middle School a good school?

Northwest Middle School ranks in the bottom 6.9% of Illinois middle schools.

Rate Northwest Middle School!

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 30, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 30, 2025

2024–25 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresOct 30, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataOct 30, 2024

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.