Walden Elementary School

Summary:

Walden Elementary School is a highly-ranked public elementary school in Deerfield, Illinois, serving 452 students in grades K-5 and part of the Deerfield School District 109, which is ranked 38th out of 813 districts in the state.

Walden Elementary School has consistently been among the top-performing elementary schools in Illinois, ranking 152nd out of 2,067 schools for the 2023-2024 school year and maintaining a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's academic performance is exceptional, with 62.8% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 62.4% in Mathematics, significantly outpacing state and district averages. Walden's students also excel in Science, with 70.5% proficient or better, compared to 53.2% statewide and 77% in the district. The school's success extends across various student subgroups, including female, male, white, special education, and disabled students.

Compared to nearby schools in the Deerfield School District, such as South Park Elementary and Kipling Elementary, Walden's performance is consistently stronger, particularly in English Language Arts and Science. When compared to schools in the neighboring North Shore School District 112, Walden's Mathematics and Science proficiency rates are also notably higher. With a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, Walden serves a more affluent student population, which may contribute to its exceptional academic outcomes.


Detail:

Public K-5

 630 Essex Ct
       Deerfield, IL  60015-2367


(847) 945-9660

District: Deerfield School District 109

SchoolDigger Rank:
152nd of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $19,045 Help


Students who attend Walden Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Alan B Shepard Middle School
High:    Deerfield High School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.9 Help
Number of students:  452

Racial breakdown:

White:
85.4%
Hispanic:
6.0%
Two or more races:
4.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  2.4% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Walden Elementary School ranks better than 92.6% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks 3rd among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Deerfield School District 109. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.35. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Walden Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Deerfield School District 109.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Walden Elementary School is $19,045, which is the lowest among 4 elementary schools in the Deerfield School District 109!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Walden Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Walden Elementary School 152nd of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See Walden Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
White students:


Deerfield School District 109:

SchoolDigger ranks Deerfield School District 109 38th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Walden Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Walden Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 88.63 68th 2020 96.6%
2004 90.57 16th 2030 99.2%
2005 89.03 38th 2022 98.1%
2006 86.98 50th 2086 97.6%
2007 85.64 66th 2095 96.8%
2008 89.18 21st 2092 99.0%
2009 88.29 45th 2120 97.9%
2010 87.01 71st 2139 96.7%
2011 87.03 72nd 2147 96.6%
2012 87.52 54th 2166 97.5%
2013 93.22 50th 2167 97.7%
2014 94.87 19th 2093 99.1%
2015 99.16 11th 2052 99.5%
2016 98.46 12th 2046 99.4%
2017 98.00 21st 2044 99.0%
2018 99.14 8th 2037 99.6%
2019 98.01 15th 2086 99.3%
2021 96.43 62nd 1948 96.8%
2022 92.65 120th 2082 94.2%
2023 90.36 174th 2077 91.6%
2024 92.35 152nd 2067 92.6%
See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Walden Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 94.66 33rd 1194 97.2%
2021 91.94 27th 640 95.8%
2022 83.08 97th 1113 91.3%
2023 90.21 63rd 1156 94.6%
2024 96.21 32nd 1195 97.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Female students at Walden Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.75 11th 1964 99.4%
2019 97.48 19th 2019 99.1%
2021 94.73 57th 1680 96.6%
2022 93.32 102nd 1970 94.8%
2023 88.05 196th 1957 90.0%
2024 87.56 201st 1942 89.6%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Walden Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 82.94 71st 886 92.0%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Walden Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 99.39 5th 1972 99.7%
2019 97.44 16th 2019 99.2%
2021 94.17 72nd 1707 95.8%
2022 88.74 175th 1977 91.1%
2023 90.18 155th 1984 92.2%
2024 94.39 92nd 1959 95.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Walden Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.47 6th 1463 99.6%
2019 94.78 20th 1462 98.6%
2021 92.37 48th 1308 96.3%
2022 85.18 134th 1425 90.6%
2023 79.85 214th 1419 84.9%
2024 84.98 153rd 1392 89.0%
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.

Walden Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

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Enrollment information for Walden Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 269 4 10 9 n/a n/a n/a 0 292
1989 270 6 9 8 n/a n/a n/a 0 293
1990 279 5 15 5 n/a n/a n/a 0 304
1991 291 3 13 11 0 n/a n/a 0 318
1992 301 4 12 11 0 n/a n/a 0 328
1993 296 1 13 9 0 n/a n/a 0 319
1994 338 1 9 3 0 n/a n/a 0 351
1995 400 1 5 8 0 n/a n/a 0 414
1996 400 1 5 8 0 n/a n/a 0 414
1997 388 3 6 7 0 n/a n/a 0 404
1998 417 5 4 9 0 n/a n/a 0 435
1999 490 3 7 19 0 n/a n/a 0 519
2000 409 4 6 17 2 n/a n/a 0 438
2001 431 1 9 11 0 n/a n/a 0 452
2002 458 6 9 1 0 n/a n/a 0 474
2003 458 6 9 1 0 n/a n/a 0 474
2004 453 0 10 5 0 n/a n/a 0 468
2005 465 1 8 1 0 n/a n/a 12 487
2006 471 2 11 1 0 n/a n/a 0 485
2007 445 3 10 2 0 n/a n/a 10 470
2008 443 3 9 7 0 n/a n/a 10 472
2009 466 6 9 8 0 n/a n/a 12 501
2010 452 4 6 13 0 n/a n/a 12 487
2011 451 4 14 29 0 0 6 0 504
2012 429 8 13 24 0 0 8 0 482
2013 424 3 8 20 1 0 12 0 468
2014 415 3 11 23 1 0 11 0 464
2015 384 3 15 22 1 1 13 0 439
2016 404 2 15 21 1 1 10 0 454
2017 402 3 16 20 1 1 15 0 458
2018 405 1 17 23 0 1 24 0 471
2019 407 1 17 27 0 1 27 0 480
2020 395 1 15 26 1 1 31 0 470
2021 394 3 17 30 0 0 25 0 469
2022 375 5 20 31 0 1 25 0 457
2023 386 5 14 27 0 0 20 0 452

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 Walden Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 292 19.0 15.3 n/a
1989 293 19.0 15.4 n/a
1990 304 19.0 16.0 n/a
1991 318 18.8 16.9 n/a
1992 328 19.5 16.8 n/a
1993 319 19.5 16.4 n/a
1994 351 19.5 18.0 n/a
1995 414 23.0 18.0 n/a
1996 414 23.0 18.0 n/a
1997 404 22.5 18.0 n/a
1998 435 23.9 18.2 n/a
1999 519 25.5 20.4 n/a
2000 438 25.5 17.2 n/a
2001 452 26.5 17.1 n/a
2002 474 29.7 16.0 0
2003 474 29.7 16.0 0
2004 468 30.2 15.5 0
2005 487 32.0 15.2 0
2006 485 32.4 15.0 0
2007 470 29.0 16.2 0
2008 472 28.0 16.9 0
2009 501 32.4 15.5 0
2010 487 33.2 14.6 0
2011 504 32.6 15.4 0
2012 482 33.0 14.6 1
2013 468 n/a n/a 0.6
2014 464 n/a n/a 0.9
2015 439 33.0 13.3 0.9
2016 454 32.0 14.1 1.3
2017 458 31.2 14.6 1.3
2018 471 33.0 14.2 1.5
2019 480 34.5 13.9 1.7
2020 470 33.0 14.2 1.9
2021 469 n/a n/a n/a
2022 457 35.0 13.0 2.4
2023 452 35.0 12.9 n/a

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 Walden Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 292 19.0 15.3 n/a
1989 293 19.0 15.4 n/a
1990 304 19.0 16.0 n/a
1991 318 18.8 16.9 n/a
1992 328 19.5 16.8 n/a
1993 319 19.5 16.4 n/a
1994 351 19.5 18.0 n/a
1995 414 23.0 18.0 n/a
1996 414 23.0 18.0 n/a
1997 404 22.5 18.0 n/a
1998 435 23.9 18.2 n/a
1999 519 25.5 20.4 n/a
2000 438 25.5 17.2 n/a
2001 452 26.5 17.1 n/a
2002 474 29.7 16.0 0
2003 474 29.7 16.0 0
2004 468 30.2 15.5 0
2005 487 32.0 15.2 0
2006 485 32.4 15.0 0
2007 470 29.0 16.2 0
2008 472 28.0 16.9 0
2009 501 32.4 15.5 0
2010 487 33.2 14.6 0
2011 504 32.6 15.4 0
2012 482 33.0 14.6 1
2013 468 n/a n/a 0.6
2014 464 n/a n/a 0.9
2015 439 33.0 13.3 0.9
2016 454 32.0 14.1 1.3
2017 458 31.2 14.6 1.3
2018 471 33.0 14.2 1.5
2019 480 34.5 13.9 1.7
2020 470 33.0 14.2 1.9
2021 469 n/a n/a n/a
2022 457 35.0 13.0 2.4
2023 452 35.0 12.9 n/a

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

Walden Elementary School

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Compare
YearPolioMeaslesMumpsRubellaVaricellaDTPHepatitis B
201598.9%98.6%98.6%98.6%98.4%98.9%
201697.2%96.5%96.5%96.5%96.5%97.2%
201798.7%98.3%98.3%98.3%98.3%98.7%
201898.1%97.9%97.9%97.9%97.9%98.1%
201997.9%97.7%97.7%97.7%97.7%97.9%
202198.0%98.0%98.0%98.0%98.0%98.0%98.0%
202297.6%97.6%97.6%97.6%97.6%97.6%97.6%
202396.9%96.5%96.5%96.5%96.9%96.9%
202497.6%96.9%96.9%96.9%96.9%97.6%97.8%

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Walden Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $2,557 (15.0%) $14,506 (85.0%) $17,063
2020 $223 (1.3%) $16,900 (98.7%) $17,123
2021 $299 (1.7%) $17,287 (98.3%) $17,586
2022 $299 (1.7%) $17,287 (98.3%) $17,586
2023 $94 (0.5%) $20,151 (99.5%) $20,246
2024 $370 (1.9%) $18,675 (98.1%) $19,045

Data source: Illinois Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Walden Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 15th of 2086 Elementary schoolsRanks 174th of 2077 Elementary schools
 7.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Walden Elementary School)71.142.1
 29%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Deerfield School District 109)71.858.3
 13.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.428.8
 7.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Walden Elementary School)85.664.9
 20.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Deerfield School District 109)80.467.8
 12.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Illinois)40.633
 7.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Walden Elementary School)79.455.3
 24.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Deerfield School District 109)78.465.6
 12.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.735.4
 1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Walden Elementary School)73.656.3
 17.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Deerfield School District 109)75.762.7
 13%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)33.527.7
 5.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Walden Elementary School)92.968.6
 24.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Deerfield School District 109)82.367.9
 14.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)37.935.2
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Walden Elementary School)7564.2
 10.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Deerfield School District 109)71.765.8
 5.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)29.825.6
 4.2%
5th Grade Science (Walden Elementary School)88.274.6
 13.6%
   5th Grade Science (Deerfield School District 109)80.977.5
 3.4%
   5th Grade Science (Illinois)54.452.4
 2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students480452
 5.8%
African American15
 400%
American Indian00
Asian1714
 17.6%
Hispanic2727
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White407386
 5.2%
Two or More Races2720
 25.9%


Schools Near Walden Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Walden Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 452 students attended Walden Elementary School.

Yes. Walden Elementary School ranks in the top 7.4% of Illinois elementary schools.

Students at Walden Elementary School are 85% White, 6% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 1% African American.

Students who attend Walden Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Alan B Shepard Middle School
High : Deerfield High 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.





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