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Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center

Public Grades 5-8

1061^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 22% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center is a public middle school located in Ford Heights, Illinois, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 139 students. The school is part of the Ford Heights School District 169, which is ranked 795 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center consistently ranks in the bottom 25% of Illinois middle schools, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics significantly below the state averages. For example, in 2024-2025, only 30.3% of students were proficient in ELA, compared to the state average of 53.1%, and only 6% were proficient in Mathematics, compared to the state average of 38.5%. The school's performance is also lower than the district average, indicating it is one of the lower-performing schools within Ford Heights School District 169. Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center also has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 25.4% to 30.8% in recent years, which are significantly higher than the state average.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as Memorial Junior High School, Indiana Elementary School, and James Hart School, generally perform better academically than Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center, with higher proficiency rates in ELA and Mathematics, as well as lower chronic absenteeism rates and lower spending per student. This suggests that Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center may face unique challenges that contribute to its underperformance, which could be related to the high rates of poverty and low socioeconomic status among the student population.

156

Students ?

13.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,927

Per pupil spending ?

98.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

800 E 14th St
Ford Heights, IL 60411-2085

(708) 758-1400

District: Ford Heights School District 169

Feeder schools for Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center:

Elementary:

Medgar Evers Primary Acadmc Center

Racial breakdown:

African American:

92.9%

Hispanic:

7.1%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 8th percentile in 2015 → 22nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (16% vs 44% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!Mathematics scores 32 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school16%

District avg15%

Illinois avg44%

1,061^st of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 22%▲ up 15 pts since 2015

From bottom 8% (2015) to bottom 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

795^th of 811Ford Heights School District 169 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	22.3	1061 of 1368	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.3	1191 of 1363	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.8	1287 of 1367	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.3	1316 of 1369	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.7	1221 of 1241	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.7	960 of 1356	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.1	811 of 1293	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	27.3	944 of 1293	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.9	1130 of 1294	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	12.8	1203 of 1302	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	23.1	1070 of 1322	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	21.7	1125 of 1367	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	30.0	1048 of 1365	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	28.3	1072 of 1344	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	20.2	1117 of 1327	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	17.1	1128 of 1318	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	9.2	1181 of 1293	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	7.9	1192 of 1287	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	8.7	1157 of 1272	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	4.5	1139 of 1209	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	3.0	1184 of 1204	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2003	2.4	1178 of 1185	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	36.8	358 of 574	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.4	396 of 548	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	505 of 569	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.3	520 of 573	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.7	358 of 385	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	59.2	154 of 565	72.7%	★★★★☆
2018	70.9	97 of 511	81.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.6	935 of 1248	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.7	1066 of 1251	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.7	1198 of 1275	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.1	1228 of 1286	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.4	1002 of 1017	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.2	791 of 1276	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.7	687 of 1226	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	76.5	6 of 58	89.7%	★★★★★
2024	57.0	19 of 70	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.3	6 of 36	83.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	32.7	830 of 1229	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	25.6	956 of 1219	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.2	1102 of 1234	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.0	1150 of 1221	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	14.6	993 of 1019	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	46.6	612 of 1217	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.2	462 of 1161	60.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	18.6	1064 of 1271	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.4	1142 of 1264	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.9	1192 of 1292	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.6	1212 of 1286	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.5	1038 of 1048	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.0	1008 of 1296	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.2	849 of 1223	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2025)90th percentile+67 vs school

African American (2025)38th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)32nd percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)25th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)16th percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts30%-23 vs state

Science14%-29 vs state

Mathematics6%-32 vs state

★

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Schools Near Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center

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 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 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	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center	Public	5-8	800 E 14th St	Ford Heights	60411	Cook County	Ford Heights School District 169	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 758-1400	156	12	13.1	98.7%	0 (0.0%)	145 (92.9%)	11 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22.3	1061^st of 1368 public middle schools	22.4%		16.3	1191^st of 1363 public middle schools	12.6%	130	4.8	22.9		7.1	37.5	37.1	42.9	30.3		0.0	2.6	8.6	14.3	6.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	66.2	$25,927	$1,725	$24,202
Rickover Junior High School	Public	6-8	22151 Torrence Ave	Sauk Village	60411	Cook County	Ccsd 168	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 758-1900	371	15	24.7	51.5%	10 (2.7%)	270 (72.8%)	72 (19.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (4.6%)	11.9	1277^th of 1368 public middle schools	6.7%		14.2	1244^th of 1363 public middle schools	8.7%	33		17.2			24.4	26.5	26.5	25.8			1.7	6.1	3.5	3.7	97.8	98.1	98.1	98.1	97.5	98.4	98.4	91.8	$23,040	$2,660	$20,380
Brookwood Middle School	Public	5-6	200 E Glenwood Lansing Rd	Glenwood	60425	Cook County	Brookwood School District 167	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 758-5350	231	13	18.4	68.8%	4 (1.7%)	166 (71.9%)	52 (22.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.9%)								(n/a)	16.9			30.9	26.2			28.7		1.6	4.7			3.0	86.5	86.5	86.5	86.5	86.5	86.5	86.5	43.5	$18,976	$2,179	$16,797
Chicago Heights Middle School	Public	6-8	1020 Dixie Hwy	Chicago Heights	60411	Cook County	Chicago Heights School District 170	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 882-0170	872	65	13.3	92.1%	27 (3.1%)	267 (30.6%)	568 (65.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.0%)	25	1014^th of 1368 public middle schools	25.9%		27.5	950^th of 1363 public middle schools	30.3%	64		23.7			36.7	30.2	42.5	36.4			13.9	15.4	18.2	15.9	99.3	99.5	99.5	99.5	99.5	99.3	99.9	98.7	$21,301	$1,754	$19,547
Brookwood Junior High School	Public	7-8	201 E Glenwood Lansing Rd	Glenwood	60425	Cook County	Brookwood School District 167	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 758-5252	226	13	18.0	65.0%	2 (0.9%)	168 (74.3%)	51 (22.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.2%)	34.7	868^th of 1368 public middle schools	36.5%		37.3	787^th of 1363 public middle schools	42.3%	81		35.2				55.0	46.3	50.7				16.4	7.4	11.9	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8	95.8	$19,678	$2,162	$17,516
Barack Obama School of Ldership	Public	4-6	401 Concord Dr	Chicago Heights	60411	Cook County	Park Forest School District 163	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 668-9101	367	30	12.4	80.7%	5 (1.4%)	283 (77.1%)	56 (15.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.7%)								(n/a)	33.3		31.1	56.0	49.3			44.0	16.6	24.6	14.1			19.0	97.5	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.7	98.7	97.8		$23,129	$2,216	$20,913
Columbia Central School	Public	5-8	94 Richton Rd	Steger	60475	Will County	Steger School District 194	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 753-4700	646	39	16.5	56.3%	117 (18.1%)	204 (31.6%)	260 (40.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	61 (9.4%)	42.4	739^th of 1368 public middle schools	46.0%		41	729^th of 1363 public middle schools	46.5%	10	20.4	17.9		55.4	67.3	56.5	64.5	60.8		26.8	18.7	14.4	12.5	18.1	91.6	91.6	91.6	91.6	91.6	91.6	91.6	67.6	$17,487	$1,276	$16,211
Heritage Middle School	Public	5-8	19250 Burnham Ave	Lansing	60438	Cook County	Sunnybrook School District 171	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 895-0790	500	37	13.5	59.4%	13 (2.6%)	389 (77.8%)	89 (17.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	41.3	755^th of 1368 public middle schools	44.8%		41.5	722^nd of 1363 public middle schools	47.0%	33	14.0	37.6		39.5	50.9	48.2	72.0	52.6		8.8	15.2	13.1	12.7	12.5	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.0	72.1	$17,783	$1,013	$16,770
James Hart School	Public	6-8	18220 Morgan St	Homewood	60430	Cook County	Homewood School District 153	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 799-5544	681	61	11.1	46.7%	140 (20.6%)	388 (57.0%)	100 (14.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	50 (7.3%)	60.3	484^th of 1368 public middle schools	64.6%		53.4	551^st of 1363 public middle schools	59.6%	67		41.4			74.1	58.5	59.5	63.3			29.4	34.2	30.2	31.5	97.6	97.9	97.9	97.9	97.5	97.6	97.9	94.2	$16,947	$569	$16,379
Memorial Junior High School	Public	6-8	2721 Ridge Rd	Lansing	60438	Cook County	Lansing School District 158	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 474-2383	854	55	15.5	99.2%	54 (6.3%)	507 (59.4%)	235 (27.5%)	5 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	48 (5.6%)	26.6	986^th of 1368 public middle schools	27.9%		26.5	969^th of 1363 public middle schools	28.9%	17		28.4			39.8	38.0	34.9	37.4			15.3	17.1	15.6	16.0	98.7	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.8	98.5	98.6	95.9	$16,589	$1,228	$15,360

Frequently Asked Questions about Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center

How many students attend Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center?

In the 2024-25 school year, 156 students attended Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center.

What is the racial makeup of Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center?

Students at Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center are 93% African American, 7% Hispanic.

Is Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center a good school?

Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center ranks in the bottom 22.4% of Illinois middle schools.

What district is Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center in?

Ford Heights School District 169

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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.