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Palos South Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

67^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 95% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Palos South Middle School is a high-performing public middle school located in Palos Park, Illinois, serving 705 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Palos CCSD 118 district, which is ranked 62 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Palos South Middle School consistently outperforms the state average in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) exams, with an ELA proficiency rate of 89.4% compared to the state average of 53.1%, and a Mathematics proficiency rate of 61.5% compared to the state average of 38.5%. The school's 8th-grade science proficiency rate on the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) was also significantly higher than the state average, at 70.1% compared to 45.4%. Additionally, the school has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates and a student-teacher ratio of around 13-14 students per teacher.

Compared to nearby middle schools, such as H.H. Conrady Junior High School in the North Palos School District 117, Palos South Middle School outperforms in many academic metrics. Other nearby schools, like Virgil I. Grissom Middle School, Century Junior High School, and Jerling Junior High School, have lower academic performance and rankings compared to Palos South Middle School.

717

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,731

Per pupil spending ?

36.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

13100 S 82nd Ave
Palos Park, IL 60464-2191

(708) 448-5971

District: Palos CCSD 118

Students who attend Palos South Middle School usually attend:

High:

Amos Alonzo Stagg High School

Feeder schools for Palos South Middle School:

Elementary:	Palos East Elementary School
	Palos West Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.6%

Hispanic:

14.9%

African American:

3.2%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Palos South Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 93rd percentile in 2015 → 95th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (74% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 5% of Illinois middle schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school74%

District avg72%

Illinois avg46%

67^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 5%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

62^nd of 811Palos CCSD 118 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	94.0	67 of 1368	95.1%	★★★★★
2024	95.0	53 of 1363	96.1%	★★★★★
2023	95.6	48 of 1367	96.5%	★★★★★
2022	94.3	66 of 1369	95.2%	★★★★★
2021	90.1	85 of 1241	93.2%	★★★★★
2019	90.6	91 of 1356	93.3%	★★★★★
2018	75.0	263 of 1293	79.7%	★★★★☆
2017	86.2	149 of 1293	88.5%	★★★★☆
2016	87.9	117 of 1294	91.0%	★★★★★
2015	91.8	90 of 1302	93.1%	★★★★★
2014	91.4	61 of 1322	95.4%	★★★★★
2013	91.8	59 of 1367	95.7%	★★★★★
2012	87.5	57 of 1365	95.8%	★★★★★
2011	87.8	49 of 1344	96.4%	★★★★★
2010	88.1	41 of 1327	96.9%	★★★★★
2009	85.8	82 of 1318	93.8%	★★★★★
2008	87.2	62 of 1293	95.2%	★★★★★
2007	85.3	85 of 1287	93.4%	★★★★★
2006	85.6	93 of 1272	92.7%	★★★★★
2005	87.7	87 of 1209	92.8%	★★★★★
2004	89.7	61 of 1204	94.9%	★★★★★
2003	87.0	104 of 1185	91.2%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2018	50.4	104 of 209	50.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	89.6	41 of 694	94.1%	★★★★★
2024	78.4	65 of 639	89.8%	★★★★☆
2023	82.4	47 of 674	93.0%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	89.0	18 of 483	96.3%	★★★★★
2024	82.0	20 of 486	95.9%	★★★★★
2023	97.5	1 of 480	99.8%	★★★★★
2022	72.7	36 of 454	92.1%	★★★★★
2021	58.0	48 of 277	82.7%	★★★★☆
2019	79.8	13 of 339	96.2%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	93.1	54 of 1248	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	92.9	66 of 1251	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	93.8	56 of 1275	95.6%	★★★★★
2022	94.2	54 of 1286	95.8%	★★★★★
2021	90.6	59 of 1017	94.2%	★★★★★
2019	90.9	84 of 1276	93.4%	★★★★★
2018	70.0	315 of 1226	74.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	92.9	29 of 669	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	95.4	18 of 643	97.2%	★★★★★
2023	92.1	29 of 661	95.6%	★★★★★
2022	92.3	32 of 662	95.2%	★★★★★
2021	82.9	45 of 517	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	93.1	16 of 639	97.5%	★★★★★
2018	79.0	82 of 590	86.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	98.1	15 of 1229	98.8%	★★★★★
2024	96.1	16 of 1219	98.7%	★★★★★
2023	96.4	15 of 1234	98.8%	★★★★★
2022	96.5	16 of 1221	98.7%	★★★★★
2021	81.1	88 of 1019	91.4%	★★★★★
2019	96.6	10 of 1217	99.2%	★★★★★
2018	74.5	195 of 1161	83.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	93.1	66 of 1271	94.8%	★★★★★
2024	95.7	43 of 1264	96.6%	★★★★★
2023	95.4	41 of 1292	96.8%	★★★★★
2022	93.0	66 of 1286	94.9%	★★★★★
2021	84.2	113 of 1048	89.2%	★★★★☆
2019	87.2	123 of 1296	90.5%	★★★★★
2018	77.4	212 of 1223	82.7%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2022	78.5	35 of 195	82.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	89.0	74 of 812	90.9%	★★★★★
2024	83.0	96 of 802	88.0%	★★★★☆
2023	85.1	80 of 805	90.1%	★★★★★
2022	55.7	186 of 781	76.2%	★★★★☆
2021	63.8	89 of 548	83.8%	★★★★☆
2019	86.8	45 of 792	94.3%	★★★★★
2018	72.4	77 of 602	87.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	88.4	64 of 884	92.8%	★★★★★
2024	89.7	57 of 875	93.5%	★★★★★
2023	92.2	34 of 895	96.2%	★★★★★
2022	89.3	56 of 898	93.8%	★★★★★
2021	83.6	91 of 813	88.8%	★★★★☆
2019	79.5	139 of 905	84.6%	★★★★☆
2018	57.2	354 of 889	60.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)99th percentile+4 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)96th percentile~ school

Female (2025)96th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)96th percentile~ school

Male (2025)95th percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)94th percentile~ school

White (2025)93rd percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)91st percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2022)82nd percentile-13 vs school

Asian (2018)50th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts89%+36 vs state

Science70%+25 vs state

Mathematics62%+23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Palos South Middle 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)	% 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 8th 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 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
Palos South Middle School	Public	6-8	13100 S 82nd Ave	Palos Park	60464	Cook County	Palos CCSD 118	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 448-5971	717	49	14.6	36.4%	542 (75.6%)	23 (3.2%)	107 (14.9%)	22 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (2.8%)	94	67^th of 1368 public middle schools	95.1%		95	53^rd of 1363 public middle schools	96.1%	14	70.1	83.0	92.8	92.3	89.4	57.0	65.5	61.5	61.5	94.7	94.6	94.6	94.6	95.0	94.5	94.9	91.1	$16,731	$526	$16,205
Independence Junior High School	Public	6-8	6610 W Highland Dr	Palos Heights	60463	Cook County	Palos Heights School District 128	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 448-0737	236	22	10.9		200 (84.7%)	9 (3.8%)	23 (9.7%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	89.4	125^th of 1368 public middle schools	90.9%		77.6	258^th of 1363 public middle schools	81.1%	133	74.7	86.7	87.0	88.6	87.4	38.6	63.8	49.4	49.8	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	99.5	100.0	100.0	96.1	$17,319	$364	$16,954
Jerling Junior High School	Public	6-8	8851 W 151st St	Orland Park	60462	Cook County	Orland School District 135	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 364-3708	677	46	14.5		513 (75.8%)	21 (3.1%)	97 (14.3%)	27 (4.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.7%)	78.5	263^rd of 1368 public middle schools	80.8%		77.8	254^th of 1363 public middle schools	81.4%	9	57.9	75.8	73.1	77.4	75.5	33.6	47.9	42.1	41.2	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	97.5	97.8	98.3	96.0	$18,501	$517	$17,984
Orland Junior High School	Public	6-8	14855 West Ave	Orland Park	60462	Cook County	Orland School District 135	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 364-4206	524	39	13.2		345 (65.8%)	35 (6.7%)	109 (20.8%)	21 (4.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.5%)	74.9	300^th of 1368 public middle schools	78.1%		73.8	295^th of 1363 public middle schools	78.4%	5	50.3	75.3	70.2	59.6	68.2	49.1	48.3	36.7	44.6	98.3	97.7	97.7	97.7	98.5	98.5	98.5	94.3	$18,561	$517	$18,044
Worth Junior High School	Public	6-8	11151 S New England Ave	Worth	60482	Cook County	Worth School District 127	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 448-2803	330	28	11.7	99.1%	204 (61.8%)	14 (4.2%)	101 (30.6%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.4%)	69.9	361^st of 1368 public middle schools	73.6%		65.6	391^st of 1363 public middle schools	71.3%	30	50.0	76.5	72.0	84.0	77.6	33.3	26.2	33.3	30.7	96.2	96.8	96.8	96.8	97.7	96.2	97.7	90.3	$19,496	$1,743	$17,753
Nathan Hale Middle School	Public	6-8	5220 135th St	Crestwood	60445	Cook County	Cook County School District 130	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 385-6690	334	30	11.1	65.3%	83 (24.9%)	75 (22.5%)	167 (50.0%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	30.1	934^th of 1368 public middle schools	31.7%		30.4	895^th of 1363 public middle schools	34.3%	39	28.2	30.5	45.2	39.6	38.9	15.8	25.4	18.8	20.2	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.6	98.2	97.0	98.5	97.3	$21,381	$2,463	$18,919
Jack Hille Middle School	Public	6-8	5800 151st St	Oak Forest	60452	Cook County	Forest Ridge School District 142	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 687-5550	490	33	14.8	46.5%	234 (47.8%)	44 (9.0%)	165 (33.7%)	19 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.7%)	53.2	579^th of 1368 public middle schools	57.7%		44.2	682^nd of 1363 public middle schools	50.0%	103	37.3	64.0	50.0	44.9	53.1	39.0	34.2	27.2	33.5	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.4	98.8	99.4	97.6	$14,837	$698	$14,139
Elden D Finley Junior High School	Public	6-8	10835 Lombard Ave	Chicago Ridge	60415	Cook County	Chicago Ridge School District 127-5	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 636-2005	405	35	11.5	64.9%	237 (58.5%)	27 (6.7%)	108 (26.7%)	7 (1.7%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.9%)	34.1	875^th of 1368 public middle schools	36.0%		25.4	995^th of 1363 public middle schools	27.0%	120	27.4	39.5	37.5	40.2	39.1	18.8	29.4	27.4	25.0	94.7	94.7	94.7	94.7	94.7	94.7	94.7	93.9	$18,102	$863	$17,239
H H Conrady Junior High School	Public	6-8	7950 W 97th St	Hickory Hills	60457	Cook County	North Palos School District 117	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 233-4500	1,047	71	14.7	60.0%	453 (43.3%)	46 (4.4%)	259 (24.7%)	25 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	264 (25.2%)	95.9	38^th of 1368 public middle schools	97.2%		97.5	24^th of 1363 public middle schools	98.2%	14	66.5	87.0	92.4	92.6	90.6	68.7	75.5	78.2	74.1	98.6	97.8	97.8	97.8	98.5	97.3	98.7	93.9	$16,648	$858	$15,789
Virgil I Grissom Middle School	Public	6-8	17000 80th Ave	Tinley Park	60477	Cook County	Kirby School District 140	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 429-3030	627	50	12.5		436 (69.5%)	35 (5.6%)	99 (15.8%)	32 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	23 (3.7%)	83.3	201^st of 1368 public middle schools	85.3%		86.4	154^th of 1363 public middle schools	88.7%	47	54.5	65.5	84.0	66.8	71.7	50.5	63.4	53.8	55.7	96.9	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.0	96.9	97.1	96.0	$17,918	$390	$17,528

Frequently Asked Questions about Palos South Middle School

How many students attend Palos South Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 717 students attended Palos South Middle School.

What district is Palos South Middle School in?

Palos CCSD 118

What is the racial makeup of Palos South Middle School?

Students at Palos South Middle School are 76% White, 15% Hispanic, 3% African American, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Palos South Middle School attend?

Students who attend Palos South Middle School usually go on to attend Amos Alonzo Stagg High School

Is Palos South Middle School a good school?

Yes! Palos South Middle School is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 67^th of 1368 Illinois middle schools.

Rate Palos South Middle 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.