Is Bret Harte Elementary School a good school?

Bret Harte Elementary School ranks 1503 rd of 2067 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Bret Harte Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 330 students attended Bret Harte Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Bret Harte Elementary School?

Students at Bret Harte Elementary School are 88% African American, 5% Hispanic, 3% White, 2% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Bret Harte Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Bret Harte Elementary School usually go on to attend: High : Hyde Park Academy High School

Bret Harte Elementary School

Summary:

Bret Harte Elementary School is a public school in Chicago, Illinois, serving 330 students in grades PK-8. The school is part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299, which is ranked 688 out of 813 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Bret Harte Elementary School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Illinois elementary schools over the past decade, with a ranking between 1170 and 1635 out of around 2,000 schools.

Bret Harte Elementary School faces significant challenges, including very high chronic absenteeism rates, well below average proficiency rates on state assessments, and particularly low performance for female students, low-income students, and African American students. The school spends between $12,718 and $18,045 per student, which is higher than the district average but does not seem to translate into improved academic outcomes. Nearby schools, such as Carnegie Elementary, Kozminski Elementary Community Academy, and Shoesmith Elementary School, also struggle academically but generally outperform Bret Harte across most metrics.

Addressing the challenges at Bret Harte Elementary School will require a multifaceted approach that addresses the underlying factors contributing to the school's struggles, such as high chronic absenteeism and the low socioeconomic status of the student population. The school's performance has remained consistently low over the past decade, with little to no improvement in its statewide ranking or proficiency rates, indicating the need for a more comprehensive and sustained approach to school improvement.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

1556 E 56th St
Chicago, IL 60637-1911

(773) 535-0870

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

SchoolDigger Rank:
1503^rd of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,768

Students who attend Bret Harte Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Hyde Park Academy High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.0

Number of students: 330

Racial breakdown:

African American:

87.9%

Hispanic:

5.2%

White:

3.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 73.3%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Bret Harte Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Bret Harte Elementary School ranks worse than 72.7% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks 197^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 26.49. (See more...)

Compare Details Bret Harte Elementary School ranks worse than 63.5% of middle schools in Illinois. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 32.04. (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 Bret Harte Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Chicago Public Schools District 299. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bret Harte Elementary School is $19,768. 276 elementary schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299 spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bret Harte Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bret Harte Elementary School 1503^rd of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See Bret Harte Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

SchoolDigger ranks Bret Harte Elementary School 865^th of 1363 Illinois public middle schools. (See Bret Harte Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American 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 Rating:

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Rank History for Bret Harte Elementary School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2003	34.59	1478^th	2020	26.8%
2004	38.22	1449^th	2030	28.6%
2005	54.54	1132^nd	2022	44.0%
2006	43.28	1435^th	2086	31.2%
2007	44.09	1422^nd	2095	32.1%
2008	48.97	1286^th	2092	38.5%
2009	47.78	1325^th	2120	37.5%
2010	59.01	1080^th	2139	49.5%
2011	50.30	1282^nd	2147	40.3%
2012	47.87	1346^th	2166	37.9%
2013	37.91	1443^rd	2167	33.4%
2014	45.51	1197^th	2093	42.8%
2015	38.28	1170^th	2052	43.0%
2016	36.00	1267^th	2046	38.1%
2017	36.06	1268^th	2044	38.0%
2018	34.98	1296^th	2037	36.4%
2019	33.28	1365^th	2086	34.6%
2022	22.22	1588^th	2082	23.7%
2023	21.26	1635^th	2077	21.3%
2024	26.49	1503^rd	2067	27.3%

See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	49.48	818^th	1765	53.7%
2019	40.30	1094^th	1816	39.8%
2022	37.85	1074^th	1763	39.1%
2023	31.51	1275^th	1808	29.5%
2024	32.12	1262^nd	1793	29.6%

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

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	40.43	1128^th	1964	42.6%
2019	39.36	1183^rd	2019	41.4%
2022	23.54	1497^th	1970	24.0%
2023	17.78	1678^th	1957	14.3%
2024	21.36	1553^rd	1942	20.0%

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

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	33.09	1306^th	1972	33.8%
2019	27.02	1480^th	2019	26.7%
2022	18.49	1665^th	1977	15.8%
2023	30.28	1321^st	1984	33.4%
2024	42.70	1022^nd	1959	47.8%

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

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	69.16	120^th	698	82.8%
2019	63.28	164^th	711	76.9%
2022	47.06	285^th	684	58.3%
2023	48.94	277^th	692	60.0%
2024	48.37	272^nd	655	58.5%

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

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

Rank History for Bret Harte Elementary School

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Rank History for all middle school students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2014	52.09	657^th	1322	50.3%
2015	30.52	887^th	1302	31.9%
2016	20.97	1078^th	1294	16.7%
2017	31.40	874^th	1293	32.4%
2018	20.86	1039^th	1293	19.6%
2019	28.77	959^th	1356	29.3%
2021	38.26	675^th	1241	45.6%
2022	25.10	997^th	1369	27.2%
2023	25.54	1004^th	1367	26.6%
2024	32.04	865^th	1363	36.5%

See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	33.46	487^th	802	39.3%

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

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

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	34.68	780^th	1161	32.8%
2019	44.19	645^th	1217	47.0%
2021	52.57	377^th	1019	63.0%
2022	35.14	762^nd	1221	37.6%
2023	32.97	846^th	1234	31.4%
2024	45.18	605^th	1219	50.4%

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

Rank History for middle school Female students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	22.13	976^th	1226	20.4%
2019	32.03	880^th	1276	31.0%
2022	27.73	901^st	1286	29.9%
2023	19.65	1036^th	1275	18.7%
2024	31.65	818^th	1251	34.6%

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

Rank History for middle school Male students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	21.61	988^th	1223	19.2%
2019	28.05	913^th	1296	29.6%
2022	23.37	984^th	1286	23.5%
2023	38.32	738^th	1292	42.9%
2024	34.18	766^th	1264	39.4%

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

Rank History for middle school African American students at Bret Harte Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	50.39	190^th	511	62.8%
2019	55.12	180^th	565	68.1%
2021	82.10	24^th	385	93.8%
2022	56.73	162^nd	573	71.7%
2023	50.41	219^th	569	61.5%
2024	59.66	152^nd	548	72.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for African American 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%

No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Bret Harte Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	4	276	1	3	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	284
1989	2	324	2	2	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	330
1990	1	303	2	2	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	308
1991	2	304	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	310
1992	3	329	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	335
1993	2	309	4	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	319
1994	1	295	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	297
1995	0	317	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	321
1996	0	317	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	321
1997	0	300	5	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	306
1998	6	333	5	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	346
1999	1	372	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	375
2000	1	384	0	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	390
2001	4	428	2	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	441
2002	17	386	3	17	4	n/a	n/a	0	427
2003	17	386	3	17	4	n/a	n/a	0	427
2004	17	378	2	18	0	n/a	n/a	0	415
2005	14	390	3	18	1	n/a	n/a	0	426
2006	14	372	4	15	0	n/a	n/a	26	431
2007	19	357	7	17	1	n/a	n/a	3	404
2008	20	359	5	19	0	n/a	n/a	21	424
2009	18	376	10	34	1	n/a	n/a	1	440
2010	16	307	12	28	1	n/a	n/a	0	364
2011	15	311	8	23	0	0	1	0	358
2012	11	278	5	18	0	0	22	0	334
2013	13	269	5	21	2	0	11	0	321
2014	15	303	2	27	5	0	9	0	361
2015	10	317	3	30	1	0	8	0	369
2016	13	320	4	36	2	1	6	0	382
2017	12	285	2	23	0	1	5	0	328
2018	7	278	3	23	0	0	4	0	315
2019	8	290	4	21	0	0	6	0	329
2020	13	279	2	24	1	0	5	0	324
2021	8	248	2	20	1	0	10	0	289
2022	11	278	3	22	1	0	13	0	328
2023	11	290	3	17	0	1	8	0	330

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 Bret Harte Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	284	13.0	21.8	n/a
1989	330	15.0	22.0	n/a
1990	308	15.0	20.5	n/a
1991	310	15.0	20.6	n/a
1992	335	18.0	18.6	n/a
1993	319	17.0	18.8	n/a
1994	297	18.0	16.5	n/a
1995	321	18.0	17.8	n/a
1996	321	18.0	17.8	n/a
1997	306	21.0	14.6	n/a
1998	346	20.0	17.3	n/a
1999	375	21.0	17.9	n/a
2000	390	21.0	18.6	n/a
2001	441	23.0	19.2	n/a
2002	427	25.0	17.1	58.5
2003	427	25.0	17.1	58.5
2004	415	20.3	20.4	57.6
2005	426	25.0	17.0	65
2006	431	28.0	15.4	75.3
2007	404	22.0	18.4	74.3
2008	424	24.0	17.7	82.4
2009	440	26.0	16.9	73.8
2010	364	27.0	13.4	78.8
2011	358	18.0	19.8	80.2
2012	334	17.0	19.6	82.6
2013	321	22.5	14.2	78.2
2014	361	18.0	20.0	78.9
2015	369	21.0	17.5	87
2016	382	19.0	20.1	77.5
2017	328	17.4	18.7	78
2018	315	16.1	19.5	80
2019	329	18.5	17.7	73.6
2020	324	18.5	17.5	77.5
2021	289	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	328	24.5	13.3	68
2023	330	23.5	14.0	73.3

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 Bret Harte Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	284	13.0	21.8	n/a
1989	330	15.0	22.0	n/a
1990	308	15.0	20.5	n/a
1991	310	15.0	20.6	n/a
1992	335	18.0	18.6	n/a
1993	319	17.0	18.8	n/a
1994	297	18.0	16.5	n/a
1995	321	18.0	17.8	n/a
1996	321	18.0	17.8	n/a
1997	306	21.0	14.6	n/a
1998	346	20.0	17.3	n/a
1999	375	21.0	17.9	n/a
2000	390	21.0	18.6	n/a
2001	441	23.0	19.2	n/a
2002	427	25.0	17.1	58.5
2003	427	25.0	17.1	58.5
2004	415	20.3	20.4	57.6
2005	426	25.0	17.0	65
2006	431	28.0	15.4	75.3
2007	404	22.0	18.4	74.3
2008	424	24.0	17.7	82.4
2009	440	26.0	16.9	73.8
2010	364	27.0	13.4	78.8
2011	358	18.0	19.8	80.2
2012	334	17.0	19.6	82.6
2013	321	22.5	14.2	78.2
2014	361	18.0	20.0	78.9
2015	369	21.0	17.5	87
2016	382	19.0	20.1	77.5
2017	328	17.4	18.7	78
2018	315	16.1	19.5	80
2019	329	18.5	17.7	73.6
2020	324	18.5	17.5	77.5
2021	289	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	328	24.5	13.3	68
2023	330	23.5	14.0	73.3

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.

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