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Joyce Kilmer Elementary School

Q: Is Joyce Kilmer Elementary School a good school?

Joyce Kilmer Elementary School ranks 1364 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1364^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Joyce Kilmer Elementary School is a public elementary school in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, serving 579 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Wheeling CCSD 21 district, which is ranked 600 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the school's consistent underperformance compared to the district and state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency, as well as its high chronic absenteeism rates, there are some bright spots. For example, Edgar A Poe Elementary School and Henry W Longfellow Elementary School, both within the same district, have higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism rates than Joyce Kilmer Elementary. Additionally, nearby schools in the higher-performing Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102 and Arlington Heights School District 25 significantly outperform Joyce Kilmer in key metrics.

While the school's spending per student has increased over the years, reaching $18,709 in 2022-2023, the performance has not shown a corresponding improvement. Additionally, the student-teacher ratio has increased from 14.2 in 2021-2022 to 16.0 in 2023-2024, which may be a contributing factor to the school's underperformance. Addressing these challenges will require a comprehensive approach, including targeted interventions, increased resources, and a focus on improving the overall educational experience for all students.

590

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,110

Per pupil spending ?

71.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

655 Golfview Ter
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-3536

(847) 520-2760

District: Wheeling CCSD 21

Students who attend Joyce Kilmer Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Cooper Middle School
High:	Buffalo Grove High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.7%

Hispanic:

37.8%

Asian:

8.1%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Joyce Kilmer Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 42nd percentile in 2015 → 34th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (32% vs 44% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school32%

District avg37%

Illinois avg44%

1,364^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From bottom 42% (2015) to bottom 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 9Elementary Schools in the Wheeling CCSD 21

600^th of 811Wheeling CCSD 21 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	32.8	1364 of 2056	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.4	1037 of 2067	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.7	1216 of 2077	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.5	1124 of 2082	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.4	1199 of 1948	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.5	1206 of 2086	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.0	1173 of 2037	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	33.6	1319 of 2044	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	35.0	1287 of 2046	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	37.3	1200 of 2052	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	44.0	1239 of 2093	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	45.0	1281 of 2167	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	42.3	1458 of 2166	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	34.0	1586 of 2147	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	37.4	1531 of 2139	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	49.6	1286 of 2120	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	43.1	1392 of 2092	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	64.0	916 of 2095	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	66.1	842 of 2086	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	62.2	939 of 2022	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	71.5	649 of 2030	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2003	73.8	588 of 2020	70.9%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	36.9	162 of 237	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.6	195 of 243	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	48.3	455 of 1049	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.4	413 of 886	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.7	338 of 907	62.7%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	42.0	438 of 788	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.4	195 of 826	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	57.2	229 of 788	70.9%	★★★★☆
2022	49.6	296 of 768	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.6	137 of 537	74.5%	★★★★☆
2019	44.9	375 of 743	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.3	607 of 718	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	32.8	1307 of 1942	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.9	982 of 1942	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.7	1163 of 1957	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.0	1026 of 1970	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.5	1139 of 1680	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.2	1270 of 2019	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.8	1313 of 1964	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	13.4	936 of 982	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	24.5	777 of 959	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.6	814 of 970	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.4	617 of 954	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.5	530 of 742	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.2	793 of 955	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.9	707 of 938	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	43.7	1025 of 1800	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.4	667 of 1793	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.2	976 of 1808	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.6	645 of 1763	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.4	518 of 1514	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.5	1123 of 1816	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.4	1054 of 1765	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	33.0	1279 of 1947	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.9	990 of 1959	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.0	1126 of 1984	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.0	1068 of 1977	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.5	1043 of 1707	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.7	1040 of 2019	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.7	925 of 1972	53.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	35.4	783 of 1292	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.2	582 of 1195	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.6	667 of 1156	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.5	549 of 1113	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.3	803 of 1194	32.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	28.2	1061 of 1389	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.0	862 of 1392	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.2	1064 of 1419	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.8	918 of 1425	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.6	855 of 1308	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.5	837 of 1462	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.2	611 of 1463	58.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2025)57th percentile+23 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)44th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)43rd percentile+9 vs school

Special Education (2025)39th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)34th percentile~ school

Female (2025)33rd percentile~ school

Asian (2023)32nd percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)24th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)5th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts33%-20 vs state

Mathematics33%-5 vs state

Science30%-11 vs state

5.0

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Schools Near Joyce Kilmer 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)	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 All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th 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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Joyce Kilmer Elementary School	Public	K-5	655 Golfview Ter	Buffalo Grove	60089	Cook County	Wheeling CCSD 21	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 520-2760	590	43	13.7	71.2%	264 (44.7%)	18 (3.1%)	223 (37.8%)	48 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.3%)	32.8	1364^th of 2056 public elementary schools	33.7%		45.4	1037^th of 2067 public elementary schools	49.8%	327	30.0	33.7	25.3	42.9	33.3	38.9	29.3	30.4	33.1	92.6	92.8	92.8	92.8		91.1	92.2		$19,110	$576	$18,533
Booth Tarkington Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	310 Scott St	Wheeling	60090	Cook County	Wheeling CCSD 21	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 520-2775	540	38	14.2	45.4%	162 (30.0%)	20 (3.7%)	178 (33.0%)	143 (26.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.7%)	55.6	894^th of 2056 public elementary schools	56.5%		43.3	1082^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	47.7%	188	48.7	43.7	43.5	45.0	44.1	49.3	47.1	48.8	48.4	98.5	98.2	98.2	98.2	99.8	97.8	98.2		$22,628	$628	$22,000
J W Riley Elementary School	Public	K-5	1209 E Burr Oak Dr	Arlington Heights	60004	Cook County	Wheeling CCSD 21	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 670-3400	319	33	9.8	34.8%	205 (64.3%)	8 (2.5%)	47 (14.7%)	40 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.0%)	68.8	625^th of 2056 public elementary schools	69.6%		61.7	706^th of 2067 public elementary schools	65.8%	81	60.5	67.9	56.8	50.0	59.1	71.4	45.9	34.1	52.6	98.1	97.8	97.8	97.8		95.5	98.1		$21,942	$565	$21,377
Henry W Longfellow Elementary School	Public	K-5	501 S Arlington Heights Rd	Buffalo Grove	60089	Cook County	Wheeling CCSD 21	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 520-2755	510	35	14.5	24.5%	329 (64.5%)	7 (1.4%)	60 (11.8%)	84 (16.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	28 (5.5%)	67.7	652^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	68.3%		64.4	657^th of 2067 public elementary schools	68.2%	5	60.0	42.2	55.3	55.7	50.6	57.8	53.9	54.4	55.5	97.3	97.5	97.5	97.5		96.9	98.9		$19,879	$565	$19,314
Eugene Field Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	51 Saint Armand Ln	Wheeling	60090	Cook County	Wheeling CCSD 21	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 520-2780	613	39	15.9	75.0%	109 (17.8%)	12 (2.0%)	439 (71.6%)	42 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.6%)	19.5	1678^th of 2056 public elementary schools	18.4%		20.3	1672^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	19.1%	6	20.6	26.0	27.0	28.7	27.4	23.7	24.3	17.6	21.3	96.4	95.7	95.7	95.7		96.4	98.6		$20,655	$604	$20,051
Earl Pritchett School	Public	K-3	200 Horatio Blvd	Buffalo Grove	60089	Lake County	Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 353-5706	430	36	11.9		139 (32.3%)	5 (1.2%)	18 (4.2%)	248 (57.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.7%)								(n/a)		73.5			73.5	67.5			67.5	95.6	95.8	96.2	95.8	99.2	94.8	95.6		$19,502	$1,310	$18,192
Edgar A Poe Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2800 N Highland Ave	Arlington Heights	60004	Cook County	Wheeling CCSD 21	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 670-3200	317	34	9.3	50.5%	224 (70.7%)	1 (0.3%)	37 (11.7%)	29 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.2%)	49.8	1003^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	51.2%		55.4	815^th of 2067 public elementary schools	60.6%	188	44.8	22.4	53.1	43.3	38.0	35.1	53.1	48.3	44.4	94.2	94.7	94.7	94.7		85.3	94.4		$19,541	$633	$18,909
Tripp School	Public	K-3	850 Highland Grove Dr	Buffalo Grove	60089	Lake County	Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 955-3606	485	39	12.5		144 (29.7%)	6 (1.2%)	27 (5.6%)	261 (53.8%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (9.1%)								(n/a)		68.5			68.5	71.5			71.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	98.7	96.3	97.3		$18,972	$996	$17,976
Ivy Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2211 N Burke Dr	Arlington Heights	60004	Cook County	Arlington Heights School District 25	No	(n/a)	No	No	(847) 398-4275	593	41	14.4	24.1%	279 (47.0%)	9 (1.5%)	86 (14.5%)	214 (36.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	89.8	180^th of 2056 public elementary schools	91.2%		90.7	173^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	91.6%	7	68.8	62.5	77.2	84.6	74.7	68.4	77.5	71.8	72.6	96.4	96.2	96.2	96.2	97.3	95.6	96.0	5.4	$14,720	$667	$14,054
Mark Twain Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	515 E Merle Ln	Wheeling	60090	Cook County	Wheeling CCSD 21	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 520-2785	524	41	12.7	74.4%	60 (11.5%)	24 (4.6%)	391 (74.6%)	38 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.1%)	22.6	1604^th of 2056 public elementary schools	22.0%		26.6	1499^th of 2067 public elementary schools	27.5%	105	29.0	6.0	36.7	37.1	25.9	16.4	26.7	19.4	20.6	95.7	95.9	95.9	95.9		92.8	95.9		$21,463	$865	$20,598

Frequently Asked Questions about Joyce Kilmer Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Joyce Kilmer Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Joyce Kilmer Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cooper Middle School
High : Buffalo Grove High School

What is the racial makeup of Joyce Kilmer Elementary School?

Students at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School are 45% White, 38% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 6% Two or more races, 3% African American.

What district is Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in?

Wheeling CCSD 21

Is Joyce Kilmer Elementary School a good school?

Joyce Kilmer Elementary School ranks 1364^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Joyce Kilmer Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 590 students attended Joyce Kilmer Elementary School.

Rate Joyce Kilmer 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.