Summary:
The 60302 zip code area of Oak Park, Illinois is home to two high-performing middle schools: Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School and Percy Julian Middle School. Both schools consistently rank in the top 20% of Illinois middle schools, with Gwendolyn Brooks placing in the top 15% in the 2024-2025 school year.
Academically, the schools excel, outperforming state and district averages on ELA, Math, and Science proficiency tests. Gwendolyn Brooks had 73.5% ELA proficiency and 54.9% Math proficiency, compared to 53.1% and 38.5% statewide. Percy Julian also boasted strong results, with 53.6% Science proficiency against a 45.4% state average. The schools' low student-teacher ratios, at 13.6 and 11.1 respectively, likely contribute to their academic success.
While the schools serve a relatively more affluent student population, as evidenced by their lower free/reduced lunch rates, the Oak Park Education Service District 97 demonstrates a strong commitment to education funding, with per-student spending well above state averages. However, the schools still have room for improvement, such as addressing higher-than-average chronic absenteeism rates and boosting Math proficiency to match their exceptional ELA results.
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