Is Zapata Elementary Academy a good school?

Zapata Elementary Academy ranks in the bottom 22.8% of Illinois elementary schools.

How many students attend Zapata Elementary Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 515 students attended Zapata Elementary Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Zapata Elementary Academy?

Students at Zapata Elementary Academy are 99% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Zapata Elementary Academy attend?

Students who attend Zapata Elementary Academy usually go on to attend: High : Infinity Math Science & Technical High School

Zapata Elementary Academy

Summary:

Zapata Elementary Academy is a public elementary school serving grades PK-8 in the Chicago Public Schools District 299, located in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. With 515 students, the school has a long history of low academic performance, consistently ranking in the bottom quartile of Illinois elementary schools over the past decade.

Zapata Elementary Academy faces significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates, well below-average academic achievement in both English Language Arts and Mathematics, and struggles to effectively serve its diverse student population. The school's performance has declined in recent years, with only 28.1% of students proficient in ELA and just 13.3% proficient in Math, compared to district and state averages. Nearby schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299 and the Cicero School District 99 show similar patterns of low academic performance and high chronic absenteeism, suggesting a broader systemic issue within the local education system.

Despite relatively high per-student spending of $17,632, Zapata Elementary Academy's academic outcomes remain poor, indicating that simply increasing funding may not be enough to drive meaningful improvements. The school's declining performance over time, from the top half of Illinois elementary schools in 2016-2017 to the bottom quartile in recent years, is concerning and points to the need for significant intervention and support to reverse the school's trajectory and better serve its diverse student population.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

2728 S Kostner Ave
Chicago, IL 60623-4218

(773) 534-1390

District: Chicago Public Schools District 299

SchoolDigger Rank:
1596^th of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,605

Students who attend Zapata Elementary Academy usually attend:

High:

Infinity Math Science & Technical High School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.9

Number of students: 515

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

99.4%

White:

0.4%

Two or more races:

0.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 92.4%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Zapata Elementary Academy to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Zapata Elementary Academy ranks worse than 77.2% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks 226^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 22.96. (See more...)

Compare Details Zapata Elementary Academy ranks worse than 57.4% of middle schools in Illinois. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.78. (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 Zapata Elementary Academy 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 Zapata Elementary Academy is $19,605. 293 elementary schools in the Chicago Public Schools District 299 spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Zapata Elementary Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Zapata Elementary Academy 1596^th of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See Zapata Elementary Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Zapata Elementary Academy 782^nd of 1363 Illinois public middle schools. (See Zapata Elementary Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Disabled students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

Chicago Public Schools District 299:

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

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Rank History for Zapata Elementary Academy

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2003	29.55	1547^th	2020	23.4%
2004	41.13	1384^th	2030	31.8%
2005	47.89	1279^th	2022	36.7%
2006	52.62	1251^st	2086	40.0%
2007	59.76	1039^th	2095	50.4%
2008	31.11	1605^th	2092	23.3%
2009	28.47	1671^st	2120	21.2%
2010	28.21	1678^th	2139	21.6%
2011	43.89	1410^th	2147	34.3%
2012	43.34	1436^th	2166	33.7%
2013	36.57	1468^th	2167	32.3%
2014	26.10	1628^th	2093	22.2%
2015	40.98	1111^th	2052	45.9%
2016	56.12	826^th	2046	59.6%
2017	64.22	663^rd	2044	67.6%
2018	59.02	782^nd	2037	61.6%
2019	61.56	742^nd	2086	64.4%
2021	21.08	1545^th	1948	20.7%
2022	33.06	1316^th	2082	36.8%
2023	31.61	1357^th	2077	34.7%
2024	22.96	1596^th	2067	22.8%

See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school English Language Learner students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	70.45	109^th	718	84.8%
2019	76.41	65^th	743	91.3%
2021	27.14	493^rd	537	8.2%
2022	56.00	226^th	768	70.6%
2023	46.69	336^th	788	57.4%
2024	35.79	541^st	826	34.5%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	36.09	429^th	763	43.8%
2019	30.80	817^th	1194	31.6%
2022	23.62	986^th	1113	11.4%
2023	27.07	863^rd	1156	25.3%
2024	28.68	867^th	1195	27.4%

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

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	79.46	188^th	1765	89.3%
2019	82.20	144^th	1816	92.1%
2021	34.32	1012^th	1514	33.2%
2022	57.27	610^th	1763	65.4%
2023	51.92	766^th	1808	57.6%
2024	33.60	1225^th	1793	31.7%

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

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	55.54	801^st	1964	59.2%
2019	60.36	739^th	2019	63.4%
2021	15.88	1494^th	1680	11.1%
2022	27.40	1391^st	1970	29.4%
2023	21.97	1533^rd	1957	21.7%
2024	17.37	1672^nd	1942	13.9%

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

Rank History for elementary school Disabled students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	22.21	795^th	907	12.3%
2024	37.92	509^th	886	42.6%

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

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	61.51	685^th	1972	65.3%
2019	60.69	709^th	2019	64.9%
2021	24.51	1278^th	1707	25.1%
2022	40.45	1083^rd	1977	45.2%
2023	43.40	1034^th	1984	47.9%
2024	32.14	1264^th	1959	35.5%

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

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	76.60	135^th	938	85.6%
2019	76.33	119^th	955	87.5%
2021	31.82	510^th	742	31.3%
2022	46.41	461^st	954	51.7%
2023	44.39	497^th	970	48.8%
2024	31.67	671^st	959	30.0%

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

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

Rank History for Zapata Elementary Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2003	27.79	889^th	1185	25.0%
2004	32.24	868^th	1204	27.9%
2005	34.63	855^th	1209	29.3%
2006	43.92	832^nd	1272	34.6%
2007	46.96	808^th	1287	37.2%
2008	60.81	609^th	1293	52.9%
2009	50.68	767^th	1318	41.8%
2010	52.77	740^th	1327	44.2%
2011	47.86	800^th	1344	40.5%
2012	45.14	867^th	1365	36.5%
2013	33.30	973^rd	1367	28.8%
2014	27.63	1004^th	1322	24.1%
2015	40.67	703^rd	1302	46.0%
2016	64.95	373^rd	1294	71.2%
2017	60.92	440^th	1293	66.0%
2018	74.31	270^th	1293	79.1%
2019	68.16	380^th	1356	72.0%
2021	28.81	848^th	1241	31.7%
2022	56.55	491^st	1369	64.1%
2023	61.04	433^rd	1367	68.3%
2024	37.78	782^nd	1363	42.6%

See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	53.13	68^th	285	76.1%
2019	59.50	63^rd	339	81.4%
2021	40.10	164^th	277	40.8%
2022	67.81	48^th	454	89.4%
2023	68.55	54^th	480	88.8%
2024	44.04	219^th	486	54.9%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	28.66	452^nd	602	24.9%
2019	30.74	555^th	792	29.9%
2022	36.75	450^th	781	42.4%
2023	48.43	296^th	805	63.2%
2024	46.58	324^th	802	59.6%

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

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	89.90	58^th	1161	95.0%
2019	86.20	80^th	1217	93.4%
2021	40.88	566^th	1019	44.5%
2022	74.19	180^th	1221	85.3%
2023	81.28	122^nd	1234	90.1%
2024	52.97	477^th	1219	60.9%

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

Rank History for middle school Female students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	70.18	308^th	1226	74.9%
2019	60.34	456^th	1276	64.3%
2021	20.27	844^th	1017	17.0%
2022	57.40	440^th	1286	65.8%
2023	54.42	485^th	1275	62.0%
2024	31.62	820^th	1251	34.5%

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

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	48.90	248^th	674	63.2%
2024	46.42	258^th	639	59.6%

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

Rank History for middle school Male students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	76.07	226^th	1223	81.5%
2019	73.78	283^rd	1296	78.2%
2021	37.60	599^th	1048	42.8%
2022	52.81	506^th	1286	60.7%
2023	65.37	353^rd	1292	72.7%
2024	46.75	592^nd	1264	53.2%

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

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Zapata Elementary Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IL State Percentile
2018	85.20	50^th	590	91.5%
2019	78.84	78^th	639	87.8%
2021	36.56	323^rd	517	37.5%
2022	66.67	148^th	662	77.6%
2023	73.30	118^th	661	82.1%
2024	45.83	300^th	643	53.3%

See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Hispanic 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

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Enrollment information for Zapata Elementary Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1997	3	5	0	767	0	n/a	n/a	0	775
1998	5	0	1	776	0	n/a	n/a	0	782
1999	2	4	1	806	0	n/a	n/a	0	813
2000	2	3	1	796	0	n/a	n/a	0	802
2001	3	2	1	772	0	n/a	n/a	0	778
2002	0	0	0	809	0	n/a	n/a	0	809
2003	0	0	0	809	0	n/a	n/a	0	809
2004	6	0	0	825	1	n/a	n/a	0	832
2005	12	3	0	805	0	n/a	n/a	0	820
2006	3	4	0	817	0	n/a	n/a	9	833
2007	4	5	0	901	0	n/a	n/a	12	922
2008	5	2	0	913	1	n/a	n/a	18	939
2009	6	7	0	975	0	n/a	n/a	0	988
2010	5	3	0	973	0	n/a	n/a	0	981
2011	0	4	0	951	0	0	1	0	956
2012	1	3	0	974	0	0	0	0	978
2013	2	4	0	959	2	0	0	0	967
2014	2	6	0	956	1	0	0	0	965
2015	1	1	0	887	1	0	0	0	890
2016	3	2	0	869	0	0	0	0	874
2017	4	0	0	825	0	0	0	0	829
2018	1	1	0	776	0	0	1	0	779
2019	3	1	0	714	0	0	0	0	718
2020	3	2	0	655	0	0	0	0	660
2021	5	1	0	625	0	0	1	0	632
2022	3	1	0	559	0	0	1	0	564
2023	2	0	0	512	0	0	1	0	515

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 Zapata Elementary Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	775	0.0	0.0	n/a
1998	782	0.0	0.0	n/a
1999	813	0.0	0.0	n/a
2000	802	0.0	0.0	n/a
2001	778	0.0	0.0	n/a
2002	809	36.0	22.5	94.7
2003	809	36.0	22.5	94.7
2004	832	34.8	23.9	98.8
2005	820	41.3	19.9	95
2006	833	48.0	17.4	98.1
2007	922	42.0	22.0	101
2008	939	48.0	19.6	99.6
2009	988	48.0	20.6	99.1
2010	981	50.0	19.6	99.7
2011	956	47.0	20.3	99.7
2012	978	47.0	20.8	99
2013	967	85.9	11.2	98.4
2014	965	58.2	16.5	97.9
2015	890	54.0	16.4	98.1
2016	874	49.0	17.8	96.9
2017	829	39.5	20.9	97
2018	779	38.6	20.1	94.6
2019	718	48.5	14.8	95.4
2020	660	50.5	13.0	94.4
2021	632	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	564	46.0	12.2	91.8
2023	515	43.0	11.9	92.4

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 Zapata Elementary Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	775	0.0	0.0	n/a
1998	782	0.0	0.0	n/a
1999	813	0.0	0.0	n/a
2000	802	0.0	0.0	n/a
2001	778	0.0	0.0	n/a
2002	809	36.0	22.5	94.7
2003	809	36.0	22.5	94.7
2004	832	34.8	23.9	98.8
2005	820	41.3	19.9	95
2006	833	48.0	17.4	98.1
2007	922	42.0	22.0	101
2008	939	48.0	19.6	99.6
2009	988	48.0	20.6	99.1
2010	981	50.0	19.6	99.7
2011	956	47.0	20.3	99.7
2012	978	47.0	20.8	99
2013	967	85.9	11.2	98.4
2014	965	58.2	16.5	97.9
2015	890	54.0	16.4	98.1
2016	874	49.0	17.8	96.9
2017	829	39.5	20.9	97
2018	779	38.6	20.1	94.6
2019	718	48.5	14.8	95.4
2020	660	50.5	13.0	94.4
2021	632	n/a	n/a	n/a
2022	564	46.0	12.2	91.8
2023	515	43.0	11.9	92.4

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