Top Rankings
Prairie-Hills ESD 144 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 8 public preschools serving 1,722 students in Prairie-Hills ESD 144 School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Illinois.
Public Preschools in Prairie-Hills ESD 144 School District have an average math proficiency score of 8% (versus the Illinois public pre school average of 22%), and reading proficiency score of 17% (versus the 25% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Illinois public preschool average of 58% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IL)
# Schools
9 Schools
1,387 Schools
# Students
2,542 Students
512,005 Students
# Teachers
162 Teachers
38,167 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
District Rank
Prairie-Hills ESD 144 School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 844 school districts in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
Overall District Rank
#811 out of 852 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)7%
28%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
13%
30%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
25%
50%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.35
0.70
# American Indian Students
6 Students
1,218 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
15 Students
20,502 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
436 Students
162,757 Students
% Hispanic Students
17%
32%
# Black Students
2,006 Students
94,002 Students
% Black Students
79%
18%
# White Students
52 Students
213,555 Students
% White Students
2%
42%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
447 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
21 Students
19,465 Students
% of Two or more races Students
1%
4%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
198
76,065
# Students in K Grade:
238
71,052
# Students in 1st Grade:
244
68,700
# Students in 2nd Grade:
266
66,332
# Students in 3rd Grade:
250
56,657
# Students in 4th Grade:
285
53,643
# Students in 5th Grade:
241
46,874
# Students in 6th Grade:
272
28,049
# Students in 7th Grade:
294
22,127
# Students in 8th Grade:
254
22,424
# Students in 9th Grade:
-
40
# Students in 10th Grade:
-
12
# Students in 11th Grade:
-
12
# Students in 12th Grade:
-
18
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,307 in this school district is less than the state median of $21,990. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,435 is higher than the state median of $21,244. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$49 MM
$41,381 MM

Spending
$55 MM
$39,976 MM

Revenue / Student
$19,307
$21,990

Spending / Student
$21,435
$21,244

Best Prairie-Hills ESD 144 School District Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Fieldcrest Elementary School
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4100 Wagman St
Oak Forest, IL 60452
(708) 210-2872
Oak Forest, IL 60452
(708) 210-2872
Grades: PK-5
| 214 students
Rank: #22.
Nob Hill Elementary School
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3701 168th St
Country Club Hills, IL 60478
(708) 335-9770
Country Club Hills, IL 60478
(708) 335-9770
Grades: PK-5
| 181 students
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Highlands Elementary School
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3420 Laurel Ln
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 335-9773
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 335-9773
Grades: PK-5
| 290 students
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Markham Park Elementary School
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
16239 Lawndale Ave
Markham, IL 60428
(708) 210-2869
Markham, IL 60428
(708) 210-2869
Grades: PK-5
| 290 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Chateaux School
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3600 Chambord Ln
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 335-9776
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 335-9776
Grades: PK-5
| 271 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Mae Jemison School
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3450 W 177th St
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 225-3636
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 225-3636
Grades: PK-5
| 359 students
Rank: n/an/a
3055 W 163rd St
Markham, IL 60428
(708) 210-2888
Markham, IL 60428
(708) 210-2888
Grades: PK-4
| 105 students
Rank: n/an/a
3215 W 162nd St
Markham, IL 60428
(708) 331-3364
Markham, IL 60428
(708) 331-3364
Grades: PK
| 12 students
Recent Articles

Sexual Harassment at Age 6: The Tale of a First Grade Suspension
A six-year old in Aurora, Colorado, was suspended after singing an LMFAO song to a little girl in his class and reportedly “shaking his booty.” We look at the case and the sexual harassment problem in public schools today.

How Scaffolding Could Change the Way Your Child Learns
This article explores the concept of instructional scaffolding, a teaching method that enhances learning by breaking down complex tasks into manageable parts. It highlights how scaffolding supports students in developing critical thinking skills and becoming more independent learners. The article discusses the benefits of scaffolding, including improved engagement and reduced anxiety, and provides strategies for its implementation across various educational levels.

February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.