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Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School

Public, Charter Grades K-8

1668^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 19% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School is a public charter school serving 125 students in grades K-8 in Chicago, Illinois. 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.

Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School faces significant challenges, including consistently high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 25.4% to 40.8% 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 26.7% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 28% proficient or better in math in the 2024-2025 school year. The school also struggles to effectively serve certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic students and English Language Learners, ranking in the bottom 25% of Illinois elementary schools for these groups in both subjects.

When comparing Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School to nearby public schools in the same district, such as Ruiz Elementary School, Kanoon Elementary Magnet School, and Pickard Elementary School, it becomes clear that the charter school is underperforming academically. Additionally, the school's relatively high spending per student, ranging from $21,513 to $44,133 over the past few years, suggests that the school may not be using its resources effectively to improve student outcomes.

Students ?

7.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$37,688

Per pupil spending ?

94.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2651 W 23rd St
Chicago, IL 60608-3609

(773) 890-1054

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

98.0%

African American:

2.0%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 5th percentile in 2019 → 19th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2019

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (24% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (19th percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 26 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school24%

District avg33%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

1,668^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 19%▲ up 14 pts since 2019

From bottom 5% (2019) to bottom 19% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

879^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 36%▲ up 13 pts since 2019

From bottom 22% (2019) to bottom 36% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

251^st 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	20.0	1668 of 2056	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.8	1660 of 2067	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.8	2016 of 2077	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	1699 of 2082	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.2	1607 of 1948	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.5	1976 of 2086	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	19.4	744 of 788	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	42.1	443 of 826	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.3	786 of 788	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	38.7	461 of 768	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.0	234 of 537	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.3	607 of 743	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2022	13.6	1826 of 1970	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.4	1862 of 2019	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	27.7	758 of 982	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.5	701 of 959	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.4	956 of 970	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	28.6	713 of 954	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.9	581 of 742	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.9	936 of 955	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	33.1	1265 of 1800	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.3	1257 of 1793	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.6	1733 of 1808	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	27.5	1356 of 1763	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.4	1055 of 1514	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	18.3	1676 of 1816	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2024	34.8	1201 of 1959	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	19.9	1606 of 1984	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.8	1290 of 1977	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.0	1327 of 1707	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.9	1909 of 2019	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	34.0	879 of 1368	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.3	858 of 1363	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	13.8	1257 of 1367	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.4	1261 of 1369	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.6	1092 of 1241	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.4	1052 of 1356	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	52.9	178 of 483	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.7	130 of 486	73.3%	★★★★☆
2023	28.1	418 of 480	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.6	320 of 454	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	47.2	103 of 277	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.8	227 of 339	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	13.1	1189 of 1275	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.6	1212 of 1286	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.2	954 of 1017	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.4	1080 of 1276	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	38.9	384 of 669	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.9	348 of 643	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.7	626 of 661	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.9	643 of 662	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.3	464 of 517	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.7	528 of 639	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	48.0	596 of 1229	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.9	610 of 1219	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	19.1	1105 of 1234	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.9	1134 of 1221	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.2	827 of 1019	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.9	811 of 1217	33.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2024	31.1	810 of 1264	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.6	1097 of 1292	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.4	1117 of 1286	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.4	896 of 1048	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.5	861 of 1296	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

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

Male (2024)39th percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)30th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2025)23rd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2022)7th percentile-11 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)6th percentile-13 vs school

Middle school

English Language Learner (2025)63rd percentile+27 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)52nd percentile+16 vs school

Hispanic (2025)43rd percentile+7 vs school

Male (2024)36th percentile~ school

Female (2023)7th percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics28%-10 vs state

English Language Arts27%-26 vs state

Science20%-23 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Tuesday, February 2, 2021

uhh, so I am a student here and IT IS BAD REALLY BAD The lunch, BAD.
My brother found ants around 2nd or 3rd grade. Administration is horrible, my brother seriously GOT GOOGLE MEETS (The website we use for class) BLOCKED. That was really the tipping point so, it is very bad. For recess is a sidewalk VERY close to the street. The teachers are amazing I've had some good experiences are good most of them are supportive. Lunch Lady's are nice it's just the administration and how they do it. Close Quote

Schools Near Acero Charter - Octavio Paz 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
Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-8	2651 W 23rd St	Chicago	60608	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(773) 890-1054	98	13	7.8	94.9%	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.0%)	96 (98.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20	1668^th of 2056 public elementary schools	18.9%		20.8	1660^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.7%	8	20.0	20.0		21.4	30.0	5.9	40.0	50.0	26.7		28.6	30.0	5.9	46.7	30.0	28.0										$37,688	$1,480	$36,209
Hammond Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2819 W 21st Pl	Chicago	60623	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-4580	259	31	8.3	94.2%	6 (2.3%)	30 (11.6%)	221 (85.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	22.2	1612^th of 2056 public elementary schools	21.6%		16.1	1804^th of 2067 public elementary schools	12.7%	192	23.5	10.7	33.3	15.4	47.1	22.2	45.5	18.5	30.4	15.8	15.4	29.4	11.1	18.2	0.0	13.7	92.0	96.0	96.0	96.0	95.1	95.6	92.9	8.4	35.4	$24,714	$3,431	$21,284
Finkl Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2332 S Western Ave	Chicago	60608	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-5850	240	33	7.2	87.9%	9 (3.8%)	37 (15.4%)	190 (79.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	23.7	1586^th of 2056 public elementary schools	22.9%		16.6	1784^th of 2067 public elementary schools	13.7%	198	38.9	5.6		33.3	33.3	4.8	37.0	33.3	29.8		25.0	22.2	0.0	11.1	0.0	14.4	86.2	91.2	91.2	91.2	92.2	89.9	87.6	6.0	30.9	$35,159	$3,529	$31,630
Telpochcalli Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2832 W 24th Blvd	Chicago	60623	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-1402	209	24	8.8	87.1%	10 (4.8%)	10 (4.8%)	187 (89.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	21.6	1625^th of 2056 public elementary schools	21.0%		15.3	1833^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	11.3%	208	16.7	26.9	9.5	29.2	27.8	55.0	46.2	38.5	33.6	19.0	25.0	22.2	5.0	15.4	7.7	15.6	87.2	93.8	93.8	93.8	96.9	92.0	88.9	6.6	29.7	$28,909	$4,618	$24,290
Maria Saucedo Magnet Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	2850 W 24th Blvd	Chicago	60623	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-1770	922	69	13.3	91.2%	20 (2.2%)	51 (5.5%)	844 (91.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.7%)	12.9	1848^th of 2056 public elementary schools	10.1%		15.8	1818^th of 2067 public elementary schools	12.0%	30	11.1	23.7	20.7	21.4	23.2	26.5	26.2	31.3	24.8	27.2	15.7	5.0	4.9	18.1	7.5	13.3	94.5	97.1	97.1	97.1	96.2	95.9	93.9	12.7	26.8	$20,224	$3,683	$16,541
Spry Elementary Community School	Public	PK, KG-8	2400 S Marshall Blvd	Chicago	60623	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-1700	317	35	8.9	78.9%	4 (1.3%)	5 (1.6%)	302 (95.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	9.9	1951^st of 2056 public elementary schools	5.1%		11.6	1990^th of 2067 public elementary schools	3.7%	39	12.0	13.0	25.0	8.1	20.0	28.6	19.4	28.3	21.3	17.9	5.4	0.0	0.0	9.7	13.0	8.6	94.4	96.4	96.4	96.4	98.0	93.8	95.1	10.2	32.1	$24,204	$2,990	$21,214
Pickard Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2301 W 21st Pl	Chicago	60608	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-7280	319	30	10.6	90.6%	13 (4.1%)	18 (5.6%)	287 (90.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49.8	1005^th of 2056 public elementary schools	51.1%		33	1314^th of 2067 public elementary schools	36.4%	309	26.9	21.6	66.7	58.6	46.2	59.4	69.6	66.7	61.3	51.9	37.9	15.4	18.8	8.7	41.7	30.1	93.5	95.2	94.9	94.9	97.6	93.9	92.2	7.5	31.0	$24,152	$2,799	$21,354
Ruiz Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2410 S Leavitt St	Chicago	60608	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 535-4825	467	40	11.6	86.5%	8 (1.7%)	15 (3.2%)	436 (93.4%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17.8	1722^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	16.2%		21.5	1639^th of 2067 public elementary schools	20.7%	83	32.4	34.7	8.9	17.9	47.4	27.5	38.9	53.1	32.4	4.5	17.9	7.9	7.5	27.8	28.6	15.9	95.1	97.3	97.3	97.3	98.0	96.4	94.8	9.5	28.8	$23,545	$2,538	$21,008
Kanoon Elementary Magnet School	Public	PK, KG-8	2233 S Kedzie Ave	Chicago	60623	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-1736	389	31	12.4	93.8%	2 (0.5%)	16 (4.1%)	365 (93.8%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13.6	1826^th of 2056 public elementary schools	11.2%		13.6	1913^th of 2067 public elementary schools	7.5%	87	17.8	20.0	25.0	20.6	20.0	23.5	8.3	27.8	20.7	25.0	2.9	17.8	2.9	0.0	13.9	10.6	81.6	84.0	84.0	84.0	91.2	81.3	83.4		18.2	$20,801	$3,011	$17,790
Plamondon Elementary School	Public	K-8	2642 W 15th Pl	Chicago	60608	Cook County	Chicago Public Schools District 299	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(773) 534-1789	92	20	4.6	81.5%	5 (5.4%)	18 (19.6%)	68 (73.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21	1642^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	20.1%		24.8	1548^th of 2067 public elementary schools	25.1%	94		21.4		10.0		38.5		42.9	29.8		10.0		23.1		7.1	19.3	88.8	95.0	95.0	95.0	95.0	95.0	91.3		35.0	$37,273	$7,463	$29,810

Frequently Asked Questions about Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School?

Students at Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School are 98% Hispanic, 2% African American.

Is Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School a good school?

Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School ranks in the bottom 18.9% of Illinois elementary schools.

What district is Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School in?

Chicago Public Schools District 299

How many students attend Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 98 students attended Acero Charter - Octavio Paz Elementary School.

Rate Acero Charter - Octavio Paz 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.