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Polaris Elementary Charter Academy

Public, Charter Grades K-8

1981^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 4% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Polaris Elementary Charter Academy is a public charter school in Chicago, Illinois, serving 336 students in grades K-8. 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.

Polaris Elementary Charter Academy faces significant challenges, including consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 49.4% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages. Academically, the school consistently underperforms compared to the district and state, with only 24.2% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 5.9% proficient or better in Mathematics in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to 42.8% and 27.3% for the district, respectively. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, ranking in the bottom 25% of Illinois elementary schools for African American students, special education students, and low socioeconomic status students.

When comparing Polaris Elementary Charter Academy to nearby schools in the same district, it becomes clear that the school is one of the lower-performing schools in the area. For example, Casals Elementary School, located less than a mile away, consistently outperforms Polaris in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency. The relatively low spending per student at Polaris, ranging from $2,308 to $13,529 over the past few years, may be a contributing factor to the school's underperformance, as it could limit the resources available for effective instructional practices and student support services.

343

Students ?

22.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,726

Per pupil spending ?

71.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

620 N Sawyer Ave
Chicago, IL 60624-1528

(773) 534-0820

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

African American:

88.6%

Hispanic:

10.2%

White:

1.2%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Polaris Elementary Charter Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 12th percentile in 2015 → 4th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (14% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (4th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (49% vs 25% Illinois)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school14%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

1,981^st of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 4%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From bottom 12% (2015) to bottom 4% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,185^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

411^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	8.7	1981 of 2056	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.6	1989 of 2067	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.2	1861 of 2077	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.4	1935 of 2082	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.0	1859 of 1948	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.9	1816 of 2086	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.8	1695 of 2037	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.7	1501 of 2044	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	15.0	1828 of 2046	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	16.4	1807 of 2052	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	20.6	1746 of 2093	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	27.8	1632 of 2167	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	46.7	1370 of 2166	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	38.6	1504 of 2147	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	19.7	1822 of 2139	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	22.9	599 of 688	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	575 of 655	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.7	543 of 692	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.2	437 of 684	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.4	310 of 428	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.5	368 of 711	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.9	313 of 698	55.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	11.2	1811 of 1942	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.4	1907 of 1942	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.1	1745 of 1957	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.2	1763 of 1970	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.8	1589 of 1680	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.3	1596 of 2019	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.0	1470 of 1964	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	10.9	1743 of 1800	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.8	1736 of 1793	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	1635 of 1808	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.5	1634 of 1763	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.8	1393 of 1514	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.8	1461 of 1816	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.1	1333 of 1765	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	8.2	1893 of 1947	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.1	1757 of 1959	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.9	1720 of 1984	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.5	1894 of 1977	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.0	1671 of 1707	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.2	1829 of 2019	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.1	1733 of 1972	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2021	22.1	557 of 640	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.4	975 of 1194	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.6	676 of 763	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	16.5	1185 of 1368	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.9	1267 of 1363	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.2	1155 of 1367	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.5	1227 of 1369	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.8	1030 of 1241	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.1	1041 of 1356	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.6	1046 of 1293	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.1	1131 of 1293	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.0	1149 of 1294	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	17.5	1118 of 1302	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	11.7	1216 of 1322	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	41.9	825 of 1367	39.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	35.8	368 of 574	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.9	418 of 548	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.5	321 of 569	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.6	345 of 573	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.3	148 of 385	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.6	183 of 565	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.3	253 of 511	50.5%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	34.4	423 of 674	37.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	15.0	1092 of 1248	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.4	1210 of 1251	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	16.4	1111 of 1275	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.4	1127 of 1286	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.5	870 of 1017	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.8	863 of 1276	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	20.9	993 of 1226	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.5	1055 of 1229	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.8	1132 of 1219	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	26.2	962 of 1234	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.2	1127 of 1221	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	30.4	730 of 1019	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.7	796 of 1217	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.1	853 of 1161	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	20.5	1011 of 1271	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.1	1054 of 1264	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.0	986 of 1292	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.7	1138 of 1286	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	891 of 1048	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.1	1028 of 1296	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.5	991 of 1223	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2022	26.9	654 of 781	16.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.6	501 of 548	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	45.4	316 of 792	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	24.7	551 of 602	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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

Special Education (2021)13th percentile+8 vs school

African American (2025)13th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)7th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)3rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)3rd percentile~ school

Middle school

Disabled (2023)37th percentile+22 vs school

African American (2025)36th percentile+23 vs school

Male (2025)20th percentile+7 vs school

Special Education (2022)16th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)14th percentile~ school

Female (2025)12th percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts24%-29 vs state

Science12%-31 vs state

Mathematics6%-33 vs state

★

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Schools Near Polaris Elementary Charter Academy

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
Polaris Elementary Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	620 N Sawyer Ave	Chicago	60624	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-0820	343	15	22.8	71.1%	4 (1.2%)	304 (88.6%)	35 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8.7	1981^st of 2056 public elementary schools	3.6%		11.6	1989^th of 2067 public elementary schools	3.8%	8	8.7	15.6	19.5	7.7	8.7	30.0	32.4	40.6	24.2	7.3	7.7	4.3	3.3	5.9	6.3	5.9										$22,726	$873	$21,853
Morton Elementary Career Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	431 N Troy St	Chicago	60612	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-6791	268	31	8.6	75.7%	35 (13.1%)	159 (59.3%)	68 (25.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	28.3	1473^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	28.4%		15	1851^st of 2067 public elementary schools	10.4%	378		15.4	40.7	13.3		38.9	26.1	38.5	32.2	51.9	20.0		5.6	0.0	8.0	17.9	88.0	92.6	92.6	92.6	96.3	92.1	89.8		20.4	$25,095	$3,384	$21,710
LEARN Charter Excel Campus	Public, Charter	K-6	3021 W Carroll Ave	Chicago	60612	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(312) 243-7001	379	27	14.0	93.4%	0 (0.0%)	370 (97.6%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	51.2	982^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	52.2%		51.8	894^th of 2067 public elementary schools	56.7%	88	16.3		49.0	35.8	53.1	69.8			52.8	56.9	47.2	32.7	27.0			40.3										$19,061	$4,061	$15,000
LEARN Charter - 7th Campus	Public, Charter	K-5	3021 W Carroll Ave	Chicago	60612	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 584-4300	144	12	12.0	88.2%	0 (0.0%)	140 (97.2%)	3 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18.7	1698^th of 2056 public elementary schools	17.4%		27.5	1474^th of 2067 public elementary schools	28.7%	224	12.5		31.8	16.7	25.0				24.3	27.3	16.7	26.1				23.2										$30,399	$10,271	$20,128
Beidler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	3151 W Walnut St	Chicago	60612	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-6811	232	19	12.2	84.1%	1 (0.4%)	200 (86.2%)	31 (13.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7.4	2017^th of 2056 public elementary schools	1.9%		17	1770^th of 2067 public elementary schools	14.4%	247	12.5	17.4	8.7	19.2	20.0	21.4	29.2	48.0	24.5	0.0	3.8	0.0	0.0	25.0	16.0	7.3	85.4	91.7	91.7	91.7	94.9	91.7	87.4	7.5	19.4	$26,560	$4,594	$21,966
Ward L Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	646 N Lawndale Ave	Chicago	60624	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-6440	279	25	11.1	91.8%	3 (1.1%)	184 (65.9%)	92 (33.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8.5	1985^th of 2056 public elementary schools	3.5%		9.3	2050^th of 2067 public elementary schools	0.8%	65	0.0	18.2	32.0	10.0	7.7	17.4	4.3	27.3	16.5	12.0	0.0	7.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.6	89.5	93.4	93.4	93.8	95.3	90.6	86.3	15.6	20.7	$27,081	$3,710	$23,370
Cather Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2908 W Washington Blvd	Chicago	60612	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-6780	321	32	10.0	97.2%	3 (0.9%)	290 (90.3%)	26 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	22.6	1602^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	22.1%		15.6	1823^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	11.8%	221	0.0	12.9	34.6	24.0	22.6	42.3	18.2	19.4	26.2	57.7	19.2	0.0	7.7	2.9	16.1	16.1	83.1	87.4	87.4	87.4	92.6	86.5	84.0	7.7	20.9	$26,766	$3,124	$23,642
Faraday Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	3250 W Monroe St	Chicago	60624	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-6670	178	20	8.9	98.3%	1 (0.6%)	159 (89.3%)	17 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	18	1719^th of 2056 public elementary schools	16.4%		22.5	1608^th of 2067 public elementary schools	22.2%	111	23.1	7.1	14.3	23.5	30.8	42.1	30.8	21.4	27.8	21.4	5.9	0.0	21.1	7.7	21.4	13.3	82.9	94.5	93.9	95.1	97.0	95.1	88.4	6.7	23.2	$31,014	$4,652	$26,362
Casals Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	3501 W Potomac Ave	Chicago	60651	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-4444	337	30	11.4	90.2%	12 (3.6%)	83 (24.6%)	233 (69.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.5%)	69.6	609^th of 2056 public elementary schools	70.4%		59.1	749^th of 2067 public elementary schools	63.8%	140	17.5	36.4	68.6	57.1	59.0	75.0	71.0	69.7	66.3	71.4	67.9	33.3	50.0	54.8	45.5	53.2	68.9	74.4	74.4	74.4	83.1	74.4	70.6	7.1	14.2	$20,298	$2,402	$17,896
KIPP One Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	730 N Pulaski Rd	Chicago	60624	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 938-8578	996	8	124.5	97.2%	2 (0.2%)	551 (55.3%)	441 (44.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20.2	1663^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	19.1%		19.7	1690^th of 2067 public elementary schools	18.2%	27	22.5	38.6	15.0	17.3	24.5	46.5	46.3	50.6	31.9	29.2	19.2	8.8	19.2	23.2	26.8	21.0										$18,544	$1,380	$17,164

Frequently Asked Questions about Polaris Elementary Charter Academy

What is the racial makeup of Polaris Elementary Charter Academy?

Students at Polaris Elementary Charter Academy are 89% African American, 10% Hispanic, 1% White.

What district is Polaris Elementary Charter Academy in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

How many students attend Polaris Elementary Charter Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 343 students attended Polaris Elementary Charter Academy.

Is Polaris Elementary Charter Academy a good school?

Polaris Elementary Charter Academy ranks in the bottom 3.6% of Illinois elementary schools.

Rate Polaris Elementary Charter Academy!

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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.