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John Laidlaw Elementary School

Q: Is John Laidlaw Elementary School a good school?

John Laidlaw Elementary School ranks 345 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

345^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 83% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

John Laidlaw Elementary School is a public elementary school serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade in Western Springs, Illinois, which is part of the highly-ranked Western Springs School District 101. The school has consistently performed among the top elementary schools in Illinois, with strong academic achievement across different student subgroups.

John Laidlaw Elementary School's performance on standardized tests, such as the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and Illinois Science Assessment (ISA), is generally higher than the state averages, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in IAR/English Language Arts and IAR/Mathematics for all grades were 69.5% and 64.5%, respectively, compared to the state averages of 53.1% and 38.5%. The school's female students, male students, and special education students have all shown strong performance, ranking among the top elementary schools in Illinois.

While John Laidlaw Elementary School is a high-performing school, it faces some challenges, such as a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate that is higher than the state average. The school is surrounded by other top-performing schools within the Western Springs School District 101, such as Field Park Elementary School and Forest Hills Elementary School, which generally outperform John Laidlaw Elementary School in academic measures. However, the school's consistent high rankings over the years indicate that it has been able to maintain a high level of academic excellence, which could be attributed to effective teaching practices, a supportive learning environment, and a focus on student achievement.

380

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,832

Per pupil spending ?

0.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4072 Forest Ave
Western Springs, IL 60558-1050

(708) 246-7673

District: Western Springs School District 101

Students who attend John Laidlaw Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	McClure Junior High School
High:	Lyons Township High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.3%

Two or more races:

9.5%

Hispanic:

3.2%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare John Laidlaw Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 99th percentile in 2014 → 83rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (61% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 17% of Illinois elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2014

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school61%

District avg72%

Illinois avg44%

345^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 17%▼ down 15 pts since 2015

From top 2% (2015) to top 17% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Western Springs School District 101

51^st of 811Western Springs School District 101 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	82.0	345 of 2056	83.2%	★★★★☆
2024	79.4	381 of 2067	81.6%	★★★★☆
2023	84.7	279 of 2077	86.6%	★★★★☆
2022	96.6	56 of 2082	97.3%	★★★★★
2019	94.1	86 of 2086	95.9%	★★★★★
2018	95.2	69 of 2037	96.6%	★★★★★
2017	96.9	41 of 2044	98.0%	★★★★★
2016	93.5	108 of 2046	94.7%	★★★★★
2015	98.1	32 of 2052	98.4%	★★★★★
2014	95.5	12 of 2093	99.4%	★★★★★
2013	95.2	13 of 2167	99.4%	★★★★★
2012	88.7	25 of 2166	98.8%	★★★★★
2011	89.0	26 of 2147	98.8%	★★★★★
2010	86.1	100 of 2139	95.3%	★★★★★
2009	88.6	33 of 2120	98.4%	★★★★★
2008	87.5	58 of 2092	97.2%	★★★★★
2007	86.0	57 of 2095	97.3%	★★★★★
2006	86.5	62 of 2086	97.0%	★★★★★
2005	86.3	94 of 2022	95.4%	★★★★★
2004	89.0	54 of 2030	97.3%	★★★★★
2003	88.6	70 of 2020	96.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	75.8	426 of 1942	78.1%	★★★★☆
2024	74.2	434 of 1942	77.7%	★★★★☆
2023	82.5	284 of 1957	85.5%	★★★★☆
2022	96.3	50 of 1970	97.5%	★★★★★
2019	94.4	57 of 2019	97.2%	★★★★★
2018	94.3	69 of 1964	96.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	85.7	239 of 1947	87.7%	★★★★☆
2024	80.8	320 of 1959	83.7%	★★★★☆
2023	84.6	249 of 1984	87.4%	★★★★☆
2022	95.5	54 of 1977	97.3%	★★★★★
2019	92.1	111 of 2019	94.5%	★★★★★
2018	94.6	75 of 1972	96.2%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	70.8	276 of 1292	78.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	64.2	468 of 1389	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.6	463 of 1392	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.1	314 of 1419	77.9%	★★★★☆
2022	92.5	49 of 1425	96.6%	★★★★★
2019	88.7	86 of 1462	94.1%	★★★★★
2018	90.9	63 of 1463	95.7%	★★★★★

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)

Male (2025)88th percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2025)79th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2025)78th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)66th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts70%+16 vs state

Mathematics64%+26 vs state

Science48%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near John Laidlaw 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	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 All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th 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
John Laidlaw Elementary School	Public	K-5	4072 Forest Ave	Western Springs	60558	Cook County	Western Springs School District 101	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 246-7673	380	31	12.2		324 (85.3%)	3 (0.8%)	12 (3.2%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.5%)	82	345^th of 2056 public elementary schools	83.2%		79.4	381^st of 2067 public elementary schools	81.6%	36	47.6	65.2	66.2	77.8		69.5	77.3	60.8	55.6		64.5	98.3	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.5	98.0			$15,832	$266	$15,566
Field Park Elementary School	Public	K-5	4335 Howard Ave	Western Springs	60558	Cook County	Western Springs School District 101	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 246-7675	278	24	11.7		248 (89.2%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (8.3%)	96.2	38^th of 2056 public elementary schools	98.2%		94.5	115^th of 2067 public elementary schools	94.4%	77	95.2	78.6	84.8	87.8		83.2	85.7	78.3	87.8		83.9	98.5	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.2			$17,023	$272	$16,751
The Lane Elementary School	Public	K-5	500 N Elm St	Hinsdale	60521	DuPage County	Hinsdale CCSD 181	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 861-4500	345	28	12.3		252 (73.0%)	2 (0.6%)	24 (7.0%)	42 (12.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.2%)	97.7	16^th of 2056 public elementary schools	99.2%		98.2	24^th of 2067 public elementary schools	98.8%	8	80.0	94.3	90.2	90.9		91.7	98.1	88.5	76.4		87.6	99.4	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.4	99.1	99.4			$21,429	$267	$21,161
Forest Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5020 Central Ave	Western Springs	60558	Cook County	Western Springs School District 101	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 246-7678	289	24	12.2		256 (88.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.7%)	91.8	137^th of 2056 public elementary schools	93.3%		96	72^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	96.5%	65	50.0	88.7	86.5	91.2		88.9	86.8	82.7	59.6		75.9	99.0	98.7	98.7	98.7	99.3	98.4	98.7	5.3		$18,541	$266	$18,275
Ogden Ave Elementary School	Public	K-6	501 W Ogden Ave	La Grange	60525	Cook County	La Grange School District 102	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 215-6600	563	39	14.5		505 (89.7%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.2%)	93.9	92^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	95.5%		93.9	129^th of 2067 public elementary schools	93.8%	37	71.9	89.0	69.5	85.4	88.2	82.4	89.0	68.6	69.8	78.5	75.8	98.6	98.8	98.8	98.8	98.6	98.8	98.8		15.3	$16,661	$263	$16,399
Monroe Elementary School	Public	K-5	210 N Madison St	Hinsdale	60521	DuPage County	Hinsdale CCSD 181	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 861-4200	325	29	11.3		232 (71.4%)	2 (0.6%)	13 (4.0%)	42 (12.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (11.1%)	98	13^th of 2056 public elementary schools	99.4%		98.8	13^th of 2067 public elementary schools	99.4%		84.2	88.1	93.9	91.2		90.9	96.6	85.7	86.0		89.7	97.4	98.0	98.0	98.0	98.7	97.7	97.0			$22,099	$455	$21,644
Oak Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	950 S Oak St	Hinsdale	60521	DuPage County	Hinsdale CCSD 181	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 861-4300	446	32	13.7		299 (67.0%)	4 (0.9%)	27 (6.1%)	70 (15.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (10.1%)	98.8	7^th of 2056 public elementary schools	99.7%		99.7	5^th of 2067 public elementary schools	99.8%	2	90.5	98.4	94.4	95.2		96.1	93.8	98.1	93.7		95.0	99.0	98.7	98.7	98.7	99.5	98.7	99.0	26.1		$20,210	$421	$19,789
Cossitt Ave Elementary School	Public	K-6	115 W Cossitt Ave	La Grange	60525	Cook County	La Grange School District 102	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 215-6200	472	41	11.5		372 (78.8%)	7 (1.5%)	47 (10.0%)	10 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (7.6%)	93.8	95^th of 2056 public elementary schools	95.4%		96.1	69^th of 2067 public elementary schools	96.7%	26	66.2	79.7	74.3	80.0	90.8	81.3	83.8	70.0	81.3	89.5	81.3	98.7	98.9	98.9	98.9	99.1	98.5	98.5		14.0	$19,021	$263	$18,759
Madison Elementary School	Public	K-5	611 S Madison St	Hinsdale	60521	DuPage County	Hinsdale CCSD 181	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 861-4100	367	31	11.7		244 (66.5%)	1 (0.3%)	22 (6.0%)	70 (19.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (8.2%)	98.1	11^th of 2056 public elementary schools	99.5%		98.4	23^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	98.9%	12	84.3	89.2	92.9	89.7		90.5	98.5	92.9	84.1		91.6	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	98.6	99.2			$21,900	$267	$21,633
Spring Ave Elementary School	Public	K-6	1001 S Spring Ave	La Grange	60525	Cook County	La Grange School District 105 South	No	(n/a)	No	No	(708) 482-2710	317	23	13.7	6.3%	261 (82.3%)	2 (0.6%)	32 (10.1%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.7%)	94.9	71^st of 2056 public elementary schools	96.5%		96.7	54^th of 2067 public elementary schools	97.4%	17	61.0	88.6	81.3	90.5	85.4	86.3	86.4	81.3	73.8	68.3	77.7	97.8	97.8	97.8	97.8	98.4	97.8	97.5		15.8	$20,523	$393	$20,130

Frequently Asked Questions about John Laidlaw Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of John Laidlaw Elementary School?

Students at John Laidlaw Elementary School are 85% White, 9% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What district is John Laidlaw Elementary School in?

Western Springs School District 101

What schools do graduates of John Laidlaw Elementary School attend?

Students who attend John Laidlaw Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : McClure Junior High School
High : Lyons Township High School

How many students attend John Laidlaw Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 380 students attended John Laidlaw Elementary School.

Is John Laidlaw Elementary School a good school?

John Laidlaw Elementary School ranks 345^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate John Laidlaw 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.