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Barack Obama School of Ldership

Summary:

Barack Obama School of Leadership is an elementary school located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, serving grades 4-5 with a total enrollment of 329 students. The school is part of the Park Forest School District 163, and based on the data provided, it has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Illinois elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years.

The school faces significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 14.5% in 2019-2020 to a peak of 37.4% in 2021-2022, which is much higher than the state and district averages. Academically, the school's performance on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) is also well below state and district averages, with only 22% of students proficient or better in ELA and just 10.3% in mathematics in 2023-2024. While the school performs relatively well for African American students, it struggles with Hispanic students and students with disabilities, ranking in the bottom half of the state in these subgroups.

Interestingly, when comparing Barack Obama School of Leadership to nearby schools, both within the Park Forest School District 163 and the neighboring Chicago Heights School District 170, some schools, such as Roosevelt Elementary and Kennedy Elementary, demonstrate higher proficiency rates and better overall performance, despite also serving high-poverty communities.


Detail:

Public 4-5

 401 Concord Dr
       Chicago Heights, IL  60411-3916

(708) 668-9101

District: Park Forest School District 163

SchoolDigger Rank:
1545th of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $23,486 Help


Students who attend Barack Obama School of Ldership usually attend:

Middle:    Michelle Obama School of Technology
High:    Rich Township High School

Student/teacher ratio:  11.1 Help
Number of students:  329

Racial breakdown:

African American:
80.5%
Hispanic:
12.2%
Two or more races:
5.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  74.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Barack Obama School of Ldership ranks worse than 74.7% of elementary schools in Illinois. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 24.94. (See more...)
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Compare Details Barack Obama School of Ldership is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2015 the calculated Average Standard Score was 40.19. (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 Barack Obama School of Ldership has the largest elementary school student body size in the Park Forest School District 163.  (See more...)
Teachers
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Barack Obama School of Ldership is $23,486, which is the 2nd highest among 1 elementary schools in the Park Forest School District 163.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Barack Obama School of Ldership:

SchoolDigger ranks Barack Obama School of Ldership 1545th of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See Barack Obama School of Ldership in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:




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Rank History for Barack Obama School of Ldership

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Barack Obama School of Ldership

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2015 22.41 1647th 2052 19.7%
2016 26.97 1507th 2046 26.3%
2017 39.43 1182nd 2044 42.2%
2018 30.34 1415th 2037 30.5%
2019 20.08 1727th 2086 17.2%
2022 18.42 1724th 2082 17.2%
2023 21.52 1623rd 2077 21.9%
2024 24.94 1545th 2067 25.3%
See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Barack Obama School of Ldership

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.50 524th 763 31.3%
2019 21.24 1098th 1194 8.0%
2022 25.54 899th 1113 19.2%
2023 23.76 952nd 1156 17.6%
2024 26.84 902nd 1195 24.5%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Barack Obama School of Ldership

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.34 973rd 1765 44.9%
2019 30.35 1361st 1816 25.1%
2022 27.63 1348th 1763 23.5%
2023 30.44 1314th 1808 27.3%
2024 37.27 1136th 1793 36.6%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Barack Obama School of Ldership

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.16 1353rd 1964 31.1%
2019 21.75 1644th 2019 18.6%
2022 21.11 1560th 1970 20.8%
2023 27.24 1391st 1957 28.9%
2024 23.34 1495th 1942 23.0%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Disabled students at Barack Obama School of Ldership

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 29.58 643rd 907 29.1%
2024 36.47 529th 886 40.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Barack Obama School of Ldership

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.37 1330th 1972 32.6%
2019 21.55 1637th 2019 18.9%
2022 17.19 1716th 1977 13.2%
2023 17.72 1689th 1984 14.9%
2024 27.69 1378th 1959 29.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Barack Obama School of Ldership

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.75 233rd 698 66.6%
2019 45.46 331st 711 53.4%
2022 45.62 305th 684 55.4%
2023 51.28 250th 692 63.9%
2024 56.30 195th 655 70.2%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Barack Obama School of Ldership

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 25.89 785th 955 17.8%
2022 31.46 663rd 954 30.5%
2023 16.99 918th 970 5.4%
2024 32.79 658th 959 31.4%
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 Barack Obama School of Ldership

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2015 40.19 714th 1302 45.2%
See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

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

Barack Obama School of Ldership Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

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Enrollment information for Barack Obama School of Ldership

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 149 242 3 12 n/a n/a n/a 0 406
1989 128 241 2 12 1 n/a n/a 0 384
1990 129 260 2 12 n/a n/a n/a 0 403
1991 122 269 3 14 0 n/a n/a 0 408
1992 169 280 3 32 2 n/a n/a 0 486
1993 160 295 10 12 0 n/a n/a 0 477
1994 150 324 2 17 2 n/a n/a 0 495
1995 117 357 9 14 2 n/a n/a 0 499
1996 117 357 9 14 2 n/a n/a 0 499
1997 92 372 20 21 0 n/a n/a 0 505
1998 80 384 30 22 0 n/a n/a 0 516
1999 83 384 16 28 6 n/a n/a 0 517
2000 69 291 18 19 0 n/a n/a 0 397
2001 64 316 24 15 1 n/a n/a 0 420
2002 49 356 1 13 1 n/a n/a 0 420
2003 49 356 1 13 1 n/a n/a 0 420
2004 32 344 2 16 0 n/a n/a 0 394
2005 40 319 2 25 0 n/a n/a 0 386
2006 31 311 3 23 1 n/a n/a 21 390
2007 20 299 4 26 0 n/a n/a 27 376
2008 12 286 0 26 0 n/a n/a 30 354
2009 13 274 1 20 0 n/a n/a 32 340
2010 16 292 1 20 1 n/a n/a 36 366
2011 22 373 2 30 3 2 45 0 477
2012 13 361 3 30 3 1 25 0 436
2013 12 362 1 29 3 0 41 0 448
2014 6 353 1 19 0 1 42 0 422
2015 13 376 1 41 2 2 26 0 461
2016 13 353 0 35 4 1 30 0 436
2017 12 337 0 40 2 1 23 0 415
2018 10 308 0 40 1 1 28 0 388
2019 9 349 0 49 0 0 28 0 435
2020 10 341 0 46 0 0 19 0 416
2021 9 263 0 45 2 0 13 0 332
2022 5 239 0 40 0 0 9 0 293
2023 6 265 0 40 0 0 18 0 329

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 Barack Obama School of Ldership

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 406 20.4 19.9 n/a
1989 384 20.0 19.2 n/a
1990 403 20.0 20.1 n/a
1991 408 21.0 19.4 n/a
1992 486 23.2 20.9 n/a
1993 477 24.5 19.5 n/a
1994 495 27.5 18.0 n/a
1995 499 31.5 15.8 n/a
1996 499 31.5 15.8 n/a
1997 505 29.5 17.1 n/a
1998 516 27.0 19.1 n/a
1999 517 29.0 17.8 n/a
2000 397 26.0 15.3 n/a
2001 420 25.0 16.8 n/a
2002 420 29.0 14.5 83.1
2003 420 29.0 14.5 83.1
2004 394 28.0 14.1 84.5
2005 386 30.0 12.9 88.6
2006 390 28.0 13.9 86.7
2007 376 23.0 16.3 92
2008 354 24.0 14.8 86.4
2009 340 27.1 12.5 88.3
2010 366 27.1 13.5 101.8
2011 477 25.1 18.9 86.4
2012 436 24.0 18.1 90.1
2013 448 25.5 17.5 80.6
2014 422 21.0 20.0 89.3
2015 461 26.0 17.7 88.1
2016 436 32.0 13.6 84.9
2017 415 31.2 13.2 86
2018 388 31.2 12.4 77.3
2019 435 31.3 13.8 83
2020 416 35.4 11.7 84.4
2021 332 n/a n/a n/a
2022 293 29.4 9.9 86.3
2023 329 29.4 11.1 74.2

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 Barack Obama School of Ldership

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 406 20.4 19.9 n/a
1989 384 20.0 19.2 n/a
1990 403 20.0 20.1 n/a
1991 408 21.0 19.4 n/a
1992 486 23.2 20.9 n/a
1993 477 24.5 19.5 n/a
1994 495 27.5 18.0 n/a
1995 499 31.5 15.8 n/a
1996 499 31.5 15.8 n/a
1997 505 29.5 17.1 n/a
1998 516 27.0 19.1 n/a
1999 517 29.0 17.8 n/a
2000 397 26.0 15.3 n/a
2001 420 25.0 16.8 n/a
2002 420 29.0 14.5 83.1
2003 420 29.0 14.5 83.1
2004 394 28.0 14.1 84.5
2005 386 30.0 12.9 88.6
2006 390 28.0 13.9 86.7
2007 376 23.0 16.3 92
2008 354 24.0 14.8 86.4
2009 340 27.1 12.5 88.3
2010 366 27.1 13.5 101.8
2011 477 25.1 18.9 86.4
2012 436 24.0 18.1 90.1
2013 448 25.5 17.5 80.6
2014 422 21.0 20.0 89.3
2015 461 26.0 17.7 88.1
2016 436 32.0 13.6 84.9
2017 415 31.2 13.2 86
2018 388 31.2 12.4 77.3
2019 435 31.3 13.8 83
2020 416 35.4 11.7 84.4
2021 332 n/a n/a n/a
2022 293 29.4 9.9 86.3
2023 329 29.4 11.1 74.2

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

Barack Obama School of Ldership

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Compare
YearPolioMeaslesMumpsRubellaHepatitis BVaricellaDTPMeningococcal
201599.3%99.3%99.3%99.3%58.9%99.3%99.3%
201699.3%99.1%99.1%99.1%56.7%98.9%42.7%16.5%
201797.8%97.8%97.8%97.8%58.4%97.8%97.8%39.4%
201899.7%100.0%100.0%100.0%62.2%99.7%100.0%61.7%
201999.8%99.3%99.3%99.3%64.0%99.1%99.8%63.6%
202198.4%97.8%97.8%97.8%98.4%97.8%98.1%46.4%
2022100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%
202399.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%99.7%
202497.5%98.1%98.1%98.1%98.7%98.7%97.8%

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Barack Obama School of Ldership

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,835 (12.2%) $13,209 (87.8%) $15,044
2020 $1,879 (11.6%) $14,303 (88.4%) $16,182
2021 $3,155 (17.5%) $14,907 (82.5%) $18,062
2022 $3,155 (17.5%) $14,907 (82.5%) $18,062
2023 $3,689 (18.0%) $16,768 (82.0%) $20,457
2024 $3,889 (16.6%) $19,597 (83.4%) $23,486

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Barack Obama School of Ldership

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 1727th of 2086 Elementary schoolsRanks 1623rd of 2077 Elementary schools
 4.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
4th Grade English Language Arts (Barack Obama School of Ldership)14.611
 3.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Park Forest School District 163)21.311
 10.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.735.4
 1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Barack Obama School of Ldership)12.24.3
 7.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Park Forest School District 163)13.84.3
 9.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)33.527.7
 5.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Barack Obama School of Ldership)28.927.6
 1.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Park Forest School District 163)31.827.6
 4.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)37.935.2
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Barack Obama School of Ldership)9.66.7
 2.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Park Forest School District 163)12.56.7
 5.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)29.825.6
 4.2%
5th Grade Science (Barack Obama School of Ldership)34.129
 5.1%
   5th Grade Science (Park Forest School District 163)33.129
 4.1%
   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 Students435329
 24.4%
African American349265
 24.1%
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic4940
 18.4%
Pacific Islander00
White96
 33.3%
Two or More Races2818
 35.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients83%74.2%
 8.8%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Barack Obama School of Ldership

Barack Obama School of Ldership ranks 1545th of 2067 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Students who attend Barack Obama School of Ldership usually go on to attend:

Middle : Michelle Obama School of Technology
High : Rich Township High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 329 students attended Barack Obama School of Ldership.

Students at Barack Obama School of Ldership are 81% African American, 12% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% White.


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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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