Is Bell Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Bell Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 78 th of 2067 Illinois elementary schools.

How many students attend Bell Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 848 students attended Bell Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Bell Elementary School?

Students at Bell Elementary School are 56% White, 17% Hispanic, 12% Asian, 12% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What schools do graduates of Bell Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Bell Elementary School usually go on to attend: High : Lake View High School

Bell Elementary School

Summary:

Bell Elementary School is a high-performing public elementary school serving 886 students in grades K-8 in Chicago, Illinois. As part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299, Bell Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years.

Bell Elementary School significantly outperforms the district and state in academic achievement, with 76.7% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 63.6% proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to just 30.5% and 18.3% for the district, respectively. The school also excels in serving diverse student populations, ranking among the top Illinois elementary schools for Asian, Hispanic, White, Multi-racial, Special Education, and Low Socioeconomic Status students. Additionally, Bell Elementary has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 12.7% to 14.5%, compared to the district average of over 30% in some nearby schools.

When compared to other nearby schools in the same district, such as Audubon Elementary School, Bell Elementary School stands out as a clear academic leader. The higher spending per student ($17,252 in 2022-2023) and the school's ability to maintain its high performance over time suggest that Bell Elementary School has effective teaching practices, a supportive school culture, and targeted interventions that contribute to its success, which could provide valuable insights for the district to replicate in other schools.

Detail:

Public K-8

3730 N Oakley Ave
Chicago, IL 60618-4813

(773) 534-5150

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

SchoolDigger Rank:
78^th of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,105

Students who attend Bell Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Lake View High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.6

Number of students: 848

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.5%

Hispanic:

17.2%

Asian:

12.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 11.8%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Bell Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Bell Elementary School ranks better than 96.2% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks 13^th among 452 ranked elementary schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 95.79. (See more...)

Compare Details Bell Elementary School ranks better than 95.4% of middle schools in Illinois. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 94.34. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Bell Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (56.5%), Hispanic (17.2%), Asian (12.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 11.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bell Elementary School is 14.6. 325 elementary schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299 have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Bell Elementary School employs 58 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bell Elementary School is $18,105. 356 elementary schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299 spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bell Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bell Elementary School 78^th of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See Bell Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Bell Elementary School 63^rd of 1363 Illinois public middle schools. (See Bell Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Chicago Public Schools District 299:

SchoolDigger ranks Chicago Public Schools District 299 688^th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Bell Elementary School.

What do you think?

Your rating for Bell Elementary School?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Bell Elementary School

Compare

Rank History for all elementary school students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2003	79.14	375^th	2020	81.4%
2004	74.71	530^th	2030	73.9%
2005	76.78	414^th	2022	79.5%
2006	83.97	138^th	2086	93.4%
2007	81.20	247^th	2095	88.2%
2008	78.90	381^st	2092	81.8%
2009	87.56	64^th	2120	97.0%
2010	85.98	106^th	2139	95.0%
2011	86.60	88^th	2147	95.9%
2012	85.40	123^rd	2166	94.3%
2013	93.96	32^nd	2167	98.5%
2014	94.13	30^th	2093	98.6%
2015	97.65	43^rd	2052	97.9%
2016	95.93	65^th	2046	96.8%
2017	94.00	91^st	2044	95.5%
2018	84.78	261^st	2037	87.2%
2019	88.80	181^st	2086	91.3%
2021	93.48	103^rd	1948	94.7%
2022	90.35	168^th	2082	91.9%
2023	96.11	65^th	2077	96.9%
2024	95.79	78^th	2067	96.2%

See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Multi-racial students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2019	93.78	5^th	89	94.4%
2022	83.67	13^th	95	86.3%
2023	90.94	10^th	93	89.2%
2024	94.49	4^th	93	95.7%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	77.29	85^th	763	88.9%
2019	72.31	195^th	1194	83.7%
2021	79.74	70^th	640	89.1%
2022	89.78	52^nd	1113	95.3%
2023	87.45	83^rd	1156	92.8%
2024	92.96	53^rd	1195	95.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	71.92	302^nd	1765	82.9%
2019	73.09	290^th	1816	84.0%
2021	93.75	24^th	1514	98.4%
2022	89.90	67^th	1763	96.2%
2023	77.95	212^th	1808	88.3%
2024	91.34	56^th	1793	96.9%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	88.51	159^th	1964	91.9%
2019	90.44	133^rd	2019	93.4%
2021	92.94	79^th	1680	95.3%
2022	87.71	204^th	1970	89.6%
2023	96.25	45^th	1957	97.7%
2024	91.35	140^th	1942	92.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Disabled students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	86.72	51^st	886	94.2%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	77.29	391^st	1972	80.2%
2019	86.08	210^th	2019	89.6%
2021	89.08	136^th	1707	92.0%
2022	89.52	160^th	1977	91.9%
2023	93.88	84^th	1984	95.8%
2024	96.74	42^nd	1959	97.9%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school Asian students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	77.09	49^th	242	79.8%
2019	66.72	77^th	243	68.3%
2021	78.38	20^th	134	85.1%
2022	89.42	11^th	226	95.1%
2023	88.60	12^th	237	94.9%
2024	84.20	18^th	219	91.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	71.61	168^th	938	82.1%
2019	87.96	37^th	955	96.1%
2021	92.88	23^rd	742	96.9%
2022	89.09	47^th	954	95.1%
2023	92.12	42^nd	970	95.7%
2024	90.73	40^th	959	95.8%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	75.89	282^nd	1463	80.7%
2019	76.35	269^th	1462	81.6%
2021	73.66	256^th	1308	80.4%
2022	70.42	354^th	1425	75.2%
2023	88.45	102^nd	1419	92.8%
2024	88.17	109^th	1392	92.2%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Illinois State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Bell Elementary School

Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2003	80.79	209^th	1185	82.4%
2004	76.49	290^th	1204	75.9%
2005	83.50	160^th	1209	86.8%
2006	89.90	34^th	1272	97.3%
2007	88.11	48^th	1287	96.3%
2008	76.86	267^th	1293	79.4%
2009	89.28	23^rd	1318	98.3%
2010	88.52	36^th	1327	97.3%
2011	87.45	53^rd	1344	96.1%
2012	90.95	17^th	1365	98.8%
2013	96.07	18^th	1367	98.7%
2014	92.80	44^th	1322	96.7%
2015	92.84	76^th	1302	94.2%
2016	86.53	132^nd	1294	89.8%
2017	93.01	65^th	1293	95.0%
2018	78.85	229^th	1293	82.3%
2019	80.83	220^th	1356	83.8%
2021	95.53	46^th	1241	96.3%
2022	95.82	46^th	1369	96.6%
2023	93.86	63^rd	1367	95.4%
2024	94.34	63^rd	1363	95.4%

See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Multi-racial students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	89.83	15^th	195	92.3%
2023	93.43	8^th	194	95.9%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2019	54.98	212^th	792	73.2%
2021	99.55	4^th	548	99.3%
2022	96.43	16^th	781	98.0%
2023	84.36	84^th	805	89.6%
2024	94.07	36^th	802	95.5%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2021	57.89	306^th	1019	70.0%
2023	76.09	171^st	1234	86.1%
2024	79.81	139^th	1219	88.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	77.46	227^th	1226	81.5%
2019	80.61	203^rd	1276	84.1%
2021	91.62	54^th	1017	94.7%
2022	95.93	35^th	1286	97.3%
2023	95.50	36^th	1275	97.2%
2024	90.88	88^th	1251	93.0%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	72.27	88^th	674	86.9%
2024	73.81	85^th	639	86.7%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	75.99	228^th	1223	81.4%
2019	79.62	210^th	1296	83.8%
2021	94.88	38^th	1048	96.4%
2022	92.70	71^st	1286	94.5%
2023	89.46	98^th	1292	92.4%
2024	93.45	68^th	1264	94.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school Asian students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2022	93.43	5^th	198	97.5%
2023	84.74	19^th	192	90.1%
2024	75.44	42^nd	184	77.2%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	65.51	150^th	590	74.6%
2019	71.56	127^th	639	80.1%
2021	91.69	21^st	517	95.9%
2022	92.07	34^th	662	94.9%
2023	86.64	47^th	661	92.9%
2024	87.64	45^th	643	93.0%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Bell Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	69.48	235^th	889	73.6%
2019	73.49	189^th	905	79.1%
2021	90.63	48^th	813	94.1%
2022	85.56	88^th	898	90.2%
2023	84.13	104^th	895	88.4%
2024	88.67	65^th	875	92.6%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Illinois State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Bell Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	339	77	81	164	6	n/a	n/a	0	667
1989	330	85	72	178	7	n/a	n/a	0	672
1990	319	96	72	185	6	n/a	n/a	0	678
1991	336	109	69	191	3	n/a	n/a	0	708
1992	330	114	86	200	3	n/a	n/a	0	733
1993	341	119	80	214	2	n/a	n/a	0	756
1994	319	134	84	220	7	n/a	n/a	0	764
1995	332	119	86	220	6	n/a	n/a	0	763
1996	332	119	86	220	6	n/a	n/a	0	763
1997	319	110	81	212	11	n/a	n/a	0	733
1998	327	102	71	207	13	n/a	n/a	0	720
1999	342	106	69	218	5	n/a	n/a	0	740
2000	334	99	78	215	5	n/a	n/a	0	731
2001	313	84	81	231	7	n/a	n/a	0	716
2002	350	85	76	227	5	n/a	n/a	0	743
2003	350	85	76	227	5	n/a	n/a	0	743
2004	365	89	99	231	3	n/a	n/a	0	787
2005	367	82	109	224	6	n/a	n/a	0	788
2006	371	76	67	164	4	n/a	n/a	150	832
2007	406	74	77	176	3	n/a	n/a	126	862
2008	461	54	80	153	4	n/a	n/a	157	909
2009	501	49	111	209	7	n/a	n/a	0	877
2010	538	40	109	227	7	n/a	n/a	0	921
2011	541	31	56	243	3	2	75	0	951
2012	585	29	54	235	6	2	77	0	988
2013	579	23	60	231	6	2	77	0	978
2014	641	22	65	228	5	4	80	0	1045
2015	640	24	71	203	4	4	80	0	1026
2016	632	30	73	182	2	5	83	0	1007
2017	577	24	91	175	1	5	85	0	958
2018	575	23	97	171	1	5	86	0	958
2019	597	22	109	174	1	6	94	0	1003
2020	593	20	116	169	1	5	101	0	1005
2021	572	11	120	142	1	5	102	0	953
2022	519	10	109	126	0	3	109	0	876
2023	490	17	114	158	0	3	104	0	886
2024	479	14	105	146	1	0	103	0	848

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bell Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	667	73.0	9.1	n/a
1989	672	72.0	9.3	n/a
1990	678	75.0	9.0	n/a
1991	708	70.0	10.1	n/a
1992	733	71.0	10.3	n/a
1993	756	69.0	11.0	n/a
1994	764	69.0	11.1	n/a
1995	763	69.0	11.1	n/a
1996	763	69.0	11.1	n/a
1997	733	70.0	10.5	n/a
1998	720	65.0	11.1	n/a
1999	740	65.2	11.3	n/a
2000	731	60.2	12.1	n/a
2001	716	59.2	12.1	n/a
2002	743	56.0	13.3	32.7
2003	743	56.0	13.3	32.7
2004	787	52.7	14.9	29.5
2005	788	57.9	13.6	26.8
2006	832	60.9	13.7	31.2
2007	862	39.0	22.1	26.4
2008	909	46.0	19.8	24.7
2009	877	61.0	14.4	23.8
2010	921	65.0	14.1	21.1
2011	951	58.0	16.3	20.3
2012	988	53.0	18.6	19.2
2013	978	59.1	16.5	15.5
2014	1045	57.5	18.1	15.3
2015	1026	60.0	17.1	20.4
2016	1007	55.0	18.3	15.2
2017	958	52.1	18.3	14.6
2018	958	54.3	17.6	14.6
2019	1003	59.0	17.0	12.2
2020	1005	60.0	16.7	13
2021	953	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	876	62.2	14.0	10
2023	886	58.5	15.1	14.1
2024	848	58.0	14.6	11.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bell Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	667	73.0	9.1	n/a
1989	672	72.0	9.3	n/a
1990	678	75.0	9.0	n/a
1991	708	70.0	10.1	n/a
1992	733	71.0	10.3	n/a
1993	756	69.0	11.0	n/a
1994	764	69.0	11.1	n/a
1995	763	69.0	11.1	n/a
1996	763	69.0	11.1	n/a
1997	733	70.0	10.5	n/a
1998	720	65.0	11.1	n/a
1999	740	65.2	11.3	n/a
2000	731	60.2	12.1	n/a
2001	716	59.2	12.1	n/a
2002	743	56.0	13.3	32.7
2003	743	56.0	13.3	32.7
2004	787	52.7	14.9	29.5
2005	788	57.9	13.6	26.8
2006	832	60.9	13.7	31.2
2007	862	39.0	22.1	26.4
2008	909	46.0	19.8	24.7
2009	877	61.0	14.4	23.8
2010	921	65.0	14.1	21.1
2011	951	58.0	16.3	20.3
2012	988	53.0	18.6	19.2
2013	978	59.1	16.5	15.5
2014	1045	57.5	18.1	15.3
2015	1026	60.0	17.1	20.4
2016	1007	55.0	18.3	15.2
2017	958	52.1	18.3	14.6
2018	958	54.3	17.6	14.6
2019	1003	59.0	17.0	12.2
2020	1005	60.0	16.7	13
2021	953	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	876	62.2	14.0	10
2023	886	58.5	15.1	14.1
2024	848	58.0	14.6	11.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Immunization Rates