Walt Whitman Elementary School

Summary:

Walt Whitman Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 401 students in grades PK-5 in Wheeling, Illinois, which is part of the Wheeling CCSD 21 district.

Walt Whitman Elementary School consistently underperforms compared to the district and state averages on standardized tests, with only 10.1% of students proficient or better in ELA and 5.6% in Math, compared to 28.7% and 24.6% for the district, and 41.2% and 28.4% for the state. The school also struggles with high rates of chronic absenteeism, reaching 31.7% in the 2022-2023 school year, significantly higher than the district and state averages. Additionally, Walt Whitman has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 66.83% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

When compared to nearby schools within the same district, such as Robert Frost Elementary, Joyce Kilmer Elementary, and Eugene Field Elementary, Walt Whitman Elementary is the lowest-performing school. Looking outside the district, schools like Anne Sullivan Elementary and South Park Elementary consistently outperform Walt Whitman on academic measures and have lower rates of chronic absenteeism, suggesting that Walt Whitman faces significant challenges in providing a high-quality education to its students.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 133 Wille Ave
       Wheeling, IL  60090-3127


(847) 520-2795

District: Wheeling CCSD 21

SchoolDigger Rank:
1873rd of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $22,119 Help


Students who attend Walt Whitman Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Oliver W Holmes Middle School
High:    Wheeling High School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.9 Help
Number of students:  401

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
76.8%
White:
13.0%
African American:
5.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  66.8% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Walt Whitman Elementary School ranks worse than 90.6% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks last among 9 ranked elementary schools in the Wheeling CCSD 21 School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 14.35. (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 Walt Whitman Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Wheeling CCSD 21 School District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Walt Whitman Elementary School is $22,119, which is the highest among 9 elementary schools in the Wheeling CCSD 21 School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Walt Whitman Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Walt Whitman Elementary School 1873rd of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See Walt Whitman Elementary School 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:
Male students:
Hispanic students:


Wheeling CCSD 21:

SchoolDigger ranks Wheeling CCSD 21 588th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Walt Whitman Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 24.98 1612th 2020 20.2%
2004 46.84 1266th 2030 37.6%
2005 44.83 1335th 2022 34.0%
2006 46.91 1364th 2086 34.6%
2007 35.81 1582nd 2095 24.5%
2008 7.29 1968th 2092 5.9%
2009 5.58 2027th 2120 4.4%
2010 11.92 1947th 2139 9.0%
2011 6.25 2064th 2147 3.9%
2012 4.09 2115th 2166 2.4%
2013 13.47 1951st 2167 10.0%
2014 18.26 1791st 2093 14.4%
2015 15.69 1821st 2052 11.3%
2016 16.05 1808th 2046 11.6%
2017 16.12 1790th 2044 12.4%
2018 19.46 1670th 2037 18.0%
2019 15.96 1853rd 2086 11.2%
2021 22.82 1475th 1948 24.3%
2022 18.33 1728th 2082 17.0%
2023 14.17 1902nd 2077 8.4%
2024 14.35 1873rd 2067 9.4%
See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.26 557th 718 22.4%
2019 27.85 652nd 743 12.2%
2021 47.72 192nd 537 64.2%
2022 28.12 657th 768 14.5%
2023 26.26 702nd 788 10.9%
2024 28.38 675th 826 18.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 18.09 1168th 1194 2.2%
2023 21.48 1024th 1156 11.4%
2024 33.05 773rd 1195 35.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.56 1429th 1765 19.0%
2019 22.81 1574th 1816 13.3%
2021 35.23 991st 1514 34.5%
2022 23.39 1468th 1763 16.7%
2023 18.54 1670th 1808 7.6%
2024 19.59 1606th 1793 10.4%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.53 1717th 1964 12.6%
2019 20.78 1671st 2019 17.2%
2021 26.40 1210th 1680 28.0%
2022 22.19 1530th 1970 22.3%
2023 12.95 1838th 1957 6.1%
2024 13.67 1808th 1942 6.9%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 25.97 719th 907 20.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.36 1515th 1972 23.2%
2019 14.01 1862nd 2019 7.8%
2021 19.79 1403rd 1707 17.8%
2022 16.37 1749th 1977 11.5%
2023 16.96 1714th 1984 13.6%
2024 15.97 1723rd 1959 12.0%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.02 841st 938 10.3%
2019 14.24 933rd 955 2.3%
2021 19.32 714th 742 3.8%
2022 15.47 933rd 954 2.2%
2023 13.41 957th 970 1.3%
2024 14.80 934th 959 2.6%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Walt Whitman Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 82.94 165th 1462 88.7%
2023 22.47 1167th 1419 17.8%
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.

Walt Whitman 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 Walt Whitman Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 352 15 8 118 8 n/a n/a 0 501
1989 346 23 26 120 n/a n/a n/a 0 515
1990 343 19 18 149 3 n/a n/a 0 532
1991 324 23 41 128 0 n/a n/a 0 516
1992 317 31 25 94 0 n/a n/a 0 467
1993 336 36 25 213 1 n/a n/a 0 611
1994 323 28 35 225 1 n/a n/a 0 612
1995 295 36 23 246 1 n/a n/a 0 601
1996 295 36 23 246 1 n/a n/a 0 601
1997 302 35 25 259 1 n/a n/a 0 622
1998 285 46 34 250 1 n/a n/a 0 616
1999 296 45 41 270 0 n/a n/a 0 652
2000 238 42 42 231 0 n/a n/a 0 553
2001 226 36 39 267 2 n/a n/a 0 570
2002 185 27 42 579 0 n/a n/a 0 833
2003 185 27 42 579 0 n/a n/a 0 833
2004 181 32 34 619 0 n/a n/a 0 866
2005 172 16 42 569 0 n/a n/a 0 799
2006 151 16 43 487 0 n/a n/a 5 702
2007 137 19 55 532 0 n/a n/a 15 758
2008 133 11 44 549 0 n/a n/a 16 753
2009 81 7 19 513 0 n/a n/a 11 631
2010 70 6 18 456 0 n/a n/a 14 564
2011 67 5 26 446 5 0 6 0 555
2012 59 7 24 469 8 0 6 0 573
2013 62 7 25 483 9 0 5 0 591
2014 64 6 18 450 10 0 9 0 557
2015 59 3 12 469 10 1 8 0 562
2016 56 5 9 473 7 0 8 0 558
2017 49 5 10 452 8 0 5 0 529
2018 49 7 5 423 11 0 5 0 500
2019 47 8 6 401 9 0 10 0 481
2020 46 11 13 379 6 0 7 0 462
2021 59 12 13 348 5 0 9 0 446
2022 51 11 15 321 4 0 7 0 409
2023 52 20 13 308 3 0 5 0 401

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 Walt Whitman Elementary School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 501 28.5 17.5 n/a
1989 515 27.5 18.7 n/a
1990 532 28.5 18.6 n/a
1991 516 29.5 17.4 n/a
1992 467 29.5 15.8 n/a
1993 611 29.5 20.7 n/a
1994 612 31.0 19.7 n/a
1995 601 33.5 17.9 n/a
1996 601 33.5 17.9 n/a
1997 622 34.5 18.0 n/a
1998 616 34.4 17.9 n/a
1999 652 36.5 17.9 n/a
2000 553 37.0 14.9 n/a
2001 570 35.0 16.3 n/a
2002 833 40.0 20.8 52.8
2003 833 40.0 20.8 52.8
2004 866 42.0 20.6 54.8
2005 799 36.5 21.9 48.1
2006 702 35.5 19.8 47.3
2007 758 38.0 19.9 45
2008 753 40.0 18.8 51.6
2009 631 42.9 14.7 62.6
2010 564 37.4 15.0 69.6
2011 555 34.8 15.9 74.2
2012 573 35.0 16.3 79.9
2013 591 66.0 8.9 86.3
2014 557 36.0 15.4 85.8
2015 562 36.0 15.6 87
2016 558 37.0 15.0 82.8
2017 529 34.9 15.1 84.3
2018 500 31.1 16.0 72.4
2019 481 30.3 15.8 72.3
2020 462 29.5 15.6 70.8
2021 446 n/a n/a n/a
2022 409 32.0 12.7 70.2
2023 401 31.0 12.9 66.8

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 Walt Whitman Elementary School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 501 28.5 17.5 n/a
1989 515 27.5 18.7 n/a
1990 532 28.5 18.6 n/a
1991 516 29.5 17.4 n/a
1992 467 29.5 15.8 n/a
1993 611 29.5 20.7 n/a
1994 612 31.0 19.7 n/a
1995 601 33.5 17.9 n/a
1996 601 33.5 17.9 n/a
1997 622 34.5 18.0 n/a
1998 616 34.4 17.9 n/a
1999 652 36.5 17.9 n/a
2000 553 37.0 14.9 n/a
2001 570 35.0 16.3 n/a
2002 833 40.0 20.8 52.8
2003 833 40.0 20.8 52.8
2004 866 42.0 20.6 54.8
2005 799 36.5 21.9 48.1
2006 702 35.5 19.8 47.3
2007 758 38.0 19.9 45
2008 753 40.0 18.8 51.6
2009 631 42.9 14.7 62.6
2010 564 37.4 15.0 69.6
2011 555 34.8 15.9 74.2
2012 573 35.0 16.3 79.9
2013 591 66.0 8.9 86.3
2014 557 36.0 15.4 85.8
2015 562 36.0 15.6 87
2016 558 37.0 15.0 82.8
2017 529 34.9 15.1 84.3
2018 500 31.1 16.0 72.4
2019 481 30.3 15.8 72.3
2020 462 29.5 15.6 70.8
2021 446 n/a n/a n/a
2022 409 32.0 12.7 70.2
2023 401 31.0 12.9 66.8

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

Walt Whitman Elementary School

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Compare
YearPolioMeaslesMumpsRubellaVaricellaDTPHepatitis BPneumococcal
201599.8%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%
2016100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%99.8%100.0%
201799.6%99.6%99.6%99.6%99.6%99.6%
2018100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%99.8%100.0%3.2%3.2%
201998.5%98.5%98.5%98.5%98.5%98.5%9.7%9.7%
202195.6%95.6%95.6%95.6%95.6%95.6%95.6%8.3%
202296.1%96.3%96.3%96.3%95.6%96.3%96.3%13.2%
202392.6%93.2%93.2%93.2%93.0%92.6%18.5%18.5%
202493.1%94.3%94.3%94.3%93.3%93.6%16.7%

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Walt Whitman Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $747 (4.4%) $16,109 (95.6%) $16,856
2020 $1,662 (10.5%) $14,157 (89.5%) $15,819
2021 $1,752 (9.7%) $16,402 (90.3%) $18,154
2022 $1,752 (9.7%) $16,402 (90.3%) $18,154
2023 $2,303 (10.5%) $19,700 (89.5%) $22,002
2024 $1,218 (5.5%) $20,902 (94.5%) $22,119

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Walt Whitman 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 1853rd of 2086 Elementary schoolsRanks 1902nd of 2077 Elementary schools
 2.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Walt Whitman Elementary School)9.25.7
 3.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Wheeling CCSD 21)18.311.8
 6.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.428.8
 7.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Walt Whitman Elementary School)9.213.2
 4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Wheeling CCSD 21)30.124
 6.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Illinois)40.633
 7.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Walt Whitman Elementary School)13.63.3
 10.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Wheeling CCSD 21)26.918.1
 8.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.735.4
 1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Walt Whitman Elementary School)14.81.7
 13.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Wheeling CCSD 21)33.227.9
 5.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)33.527.7
 5.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Walt Whitman Elementary School)14.86.4
 8.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Wheeling CCSD 21)30.120.4
 9.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)37.935.2
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Walt Whitman Elementary School)17.39.7
 7.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Wheeling CCSD 21)34.225.7
 8.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)29.825.6
 4.2%
5th Grade Science (Walt Whitman Elementary School)28.820.3
 8.5%
   5th Grade Science (Wheeling CCSD 21)52.248.2
 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 Students481401
 16.6%
African American820
 150%
American Indian93
 66.7%
Asian613
 116.7%
Hispanic401308
 23.2%
Pacific Islander00
White4752
 10.6%
Two or More Races105
 50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients72.3%66.8%
 5.5%


Schools Near Walt Whitman Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Walt Whitman Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 401 students attended Walt Whitman Elementary School.

Students at Walt Whitman Elementary School are 77% Hispanic, 13% White, 5% African American, 3% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

Walt Whitman Elementary School ranks in the bottom 9.4% of Illinois elementary schools.

Students who attend Walt Whitman Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Oliver W Holmes Middle School
High : Wheeling 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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