John Laidlaw Elementary School (Ranked Top 5% for 2025-26)

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John Laidlaw Elementary School

4072 Forest Ave
Western Springs, IL 60558

( shown in map)

10/

Top 5%

Serving 420 students in grades Kindergarten-5, John Laidlaw Elementary School ranks in the top 5% of all schools in Illinois for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).

The percentage of students achieving is 57% (which is higher than the Illinois state average of 27%). The percentage of students achieving is 63% (which is higher than the Illinois state average of 30%).

The student-teacher ratio of 13:1 is equal to the Illinois state level of 13:1.

Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Illinois state average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 420 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 14%
: Top 5% in IL
: 57% (Top 10%)
: 63% (Top 5%)
: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

John Laidlaw Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:

School Overview

John Laidlaw Elementary School's student population of 420 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 33 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	John Laidlaw Elementary School
Pre-K	12
Kind	64
1	61
2	66
3	72
4	62
5	83

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Total Students

420 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School
2023	419
2022	412
2021	422
2020	407
2019	407
2018	386
2017	386
2016	383
2015	392
2014	371
2013	392
2012	394
2011	431
2010	426
2009	432
2008	399
2007	393
2006	382
2005	402
2004	417
2003	426
2002	412
2001	405
2000	375
1999	352
1998	337
1997	347
1996	321
1995	298
1994	285
1993	273
1992	262
1991	265
1990	256
1989	270
1988	271
1987	261

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

33 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School
2023	35
2022	34
2020	32
2019	32
2018	33
2017	33
2016	32
2015	30
2014	29
2013	26
2011	19
2010	19
2009	18
2008	18
2007	19
2006	21
2005	23
2004	25
2003	24
2002	22
2001	22
2000	20
1999	19
1998	18
1997	17
1996	15
1995	14
1994	15
1993	15
1992	16
1991	16

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Year Founded

1905

School Calendar

School Rankings

John Laidlaw Elementary School ranks within the top 5% of all 3,542 schools in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of John Laidlaw Elementary School is 0.25, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (IL)

#155 out of 3542 schools
(Top 5%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School
2023	#155
2019	#97
2018	#113
2017	#80
2016	#115
2015	#42
2014	#14
2013	#26
2012	#11
2011	#19
2010	#85

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57%

27%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	57%	27%	64%
2019	74%	33%	74%
2018	71%	32%	73%
2017	74%	32%	75%
2016	74%	31%	75%
2015	72%	29%	71%
2014	95%	59%	91%
2013	92%	58%	91%
2012	99%	80%	98%
2011	99%	80%	98%
2010	96%	80%	97%

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63%

30%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2022)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2022	63%	30%	69%
2019	68%	38%	77%
2018	71%	37%	73%
2017	74%	38%	76%
2016	65%	36%	70%
2015	77%	38%	75%
2014	92%	57%	89%
2013	94%	58%	90%
2012	97%	75%	97%
2011	96%	75%	97%
2010	95%	74%	96%

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≥95%

50%

Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	12:1	14:1	12:1
2022	12:1	14:1	12:1
2020	13:1	15:1	12:1
2019	13:1	15:1	12:1
2018	12:1	16:1	12:1
2017	12:1	15:1	12:1
2016	12:1	16:1	12:1
2015	13:1	16:1	13:1
2014	13:1	16:1	14:1
2013	15:1	13:1	15:1
2011	23:1	16:1	23:1
2010	23:1	16:1	22:1
2009	24:1	16:1	23:1
2008	22:1	18:1	23:1
2007	21:1	17:1	20:1
2006	18:1	16:1	18:1
2005	17:1	16:1	17:1
2004	17:1	17:1	16:1
2003	18:1	16:1	17:1
2002	19:1	16:1	17:1
2001	18:1	16:1	16:1
2000	19:1	16:1	17:1
1999	19:1	16:1	16:1
1998	19:1	17:1	16:1
1997	20:1	17:1	16:1
1996	21:1	17:1	16:1
1995	21:1	17:1	16:1
1994	20:1	18:1	16:1
1993	18:1	18:1	15:1
1992	16:1	17:1	15:1
1991	17:1	17:1	15:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	1%	6%	2%
2022	1%	5%	2%
2021	1%	5%	1%
2020	1%	5%	3%
2019	1%	5%	3%
2018	2%	5%	3%
2017	2%	5%	3%
2016	3%	5%	2%
2015	2%	6%	1%
2014	2%	5%	2%
2009	2%	5%	2%
2008	2%	5%	3%
2007	2%	5%	2%
2006	2%	5%	2%
2004	1%	4%	1%
2003	1%	4%	1%
2002	1%	4%	2%
2001	1%	4%	1%
2000	1%	3%	1%
1999	1%	3%	1%
1998	1%	3%	1%
1997	1%	3%	1%
1996	2%	3%	1%
1995	3%	3%	1%
1994	2%	3%	1%
1993	4%	3%	2%
1992	3%	3%	1%
1991	3%	3%	2%
1990	3%	3%	2%
1989	3%	3%	1%
1988	2%	2%	1%

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Hispanic

28%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	7%	27%	6%
2022	6%	27%	6%
2021	3%	27%	4%
2020	3%	26%	3%
2019	3%	26%	3%
2018	1%	26%	2%
2017	1%	26%	2%
2016	1%	26%	2%
2015	2%	25%	4%
2014	1%	25%	3%
2013	1%	24%	1%
2012	1%	24%	1%
2011	2%	23%	2%
2010	3%	22%	2%
2009	2%	22%	3%
2008	2%	21%	2%
2007	2%	20%	2%
2006	2%	19%	2%
2005	2%	18%	2%
2004	1%	18%	2%
2003	2%	17%	2%
2002	1%	16%	1%
1998	1%	13%	1%
1997	1%	13%	1%
1996	1%	12%	1%
1995	1%	12%
1993	2%	11%	1%
1990	1%	9%	1%

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Black

17%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1989-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	1%	17%	1%
2021	1%	17%	1%
2020	1%	17%
2019	1%	17%
2018	1%	17%
2017	1%	17%
2014	1%	17%
2013	1%	18%
1998	1%	21%
1997	1%	20%
1996	2%	21%	1%
1992	1%	21%	1%
1991	2%	21%	1%
1990	2%	22%	2%
1989	3%	22%	1%

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White

86%

45%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	88%	45%	88%
2022	88%	47%	88%
2021	92%	47%	91%
2020	92%	48%	91%
2019	92%	48%	91%
2018	93%	49%	93%
2017	93%	49%	93%
2016	95%	49%	94%
2015	96%	49%	95%
2014	96%	50%	95%
2013	98%	50%	97%
2012	99%	51%	98%
2011	98%	51%	94%
2010	97%	53%	95%
2009	96%	53%	95%
2008	96%	54%	95%
2007	96%	55%	96%
2006	96%	56%	96%
2005	98%	57%	97%
2004	98%	57%	97%
2003	97%	58%	97%
2002	97%	59%	97%
2001	99%	60%	98%
2000	99%	61%	98%
1999	99%	62%	99%
1998	97%	63%	98%
1997	96%	64%	98%
1996	95%	64%	97%
1995	96%	65%	99%
1994	98%	65%	99%
1993	94%	65%	97%
1992	96%	66%	97%
1991	95%	66%	97%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2016-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	3%	4%	3%
2022	5%	4%	4%
2021	3%	4%	3%
2020	3%	4%	3%
2019	3%	4%	3%
2018	3%	3%	2%
2017	3%	3%	2%
2016	1%	3%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.25

0.69

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	0.22	0.70	0.22
2022	0.22	0.68	0.22
2021	0.15	0.68	0.17
2020	0.15	0.68	0.17
2019	0.15	0.68	0.17
2018	0.13	0.67	0.14
2017	0.13	0.67	0.14
2016	0.10	0.67	0.12
2015	0.08	0.67	0.10
2014	0.08	0.66	0.09
2013	0.04	0.66	0.05
2012	0.02	0.65	0.03
2011	0.04	0.66	0.12
2010	0.10	0.64	0.08
2009	0.10	0.64	0.10
2008	0.10	0.64	0.08
2007	0.08	0.63	0.08
2006	0.10	0.61	0.07
2005	0.06	0.61	0.05
2004	0.04	0.60	0.05
2003	0.06	0.59	0.05
2002	0.06	0.59	0.05
2001	0.02	0.58	0.04
2000	0.03	0.57	0.03
1999	0.02	0.56	0.03
1998	0.06	0.56	0.03
1997	0.08	0.54	0.04
1996	0.09	0.53	0.04
1995	0.08	0.53	0.03
1994	0.04	0.52	0.03
1993	0.12	0.52	0.06
1992	0.08	0.52	0.05
1991	0.10	0.52	0.06

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Eligible for

43%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2019-2023)
Year	John Laidlaw Elementary School	Illinois	Western Springs School District 101
2023	1%	43%	1%
2022	1%	43%	1%
2021	1%	44%	1%
2020	1%	47%	1%
2019	1%	47%	1%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Western Springs School District 101

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is John Laidlaw Elementary School's ranking?

John Laidlaw Elementary School is ranked #155 out of 3,542 schools, which ranks it among the top 5% of public schools in Illinois.

What schools are John Laidlaw Elementary School often compared to?

John Laidlaw Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Field Park Elementary School, Forest Hills Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

57% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 27% IL state average), while 63% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 30% IL state average).

How many students attend John Laidlaw Elementary School?

420 students attend John Laidlaw Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

86% of John Laidlaw Elementary School students are White, 8% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student-teacher ratio of John Laidlaw Elementary School?

John Laidlaw Elementary School has a student ration of 13:1, which is equal to the Illinois state average of 13:1.

What grades does John Laidlaw Elementary School offer ?

John Laidlaw Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5

What school district is John Laidlaw Elementary School part of?

John Laidlaw Elementary School is part of Western Springs School District 101.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 420 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 14%
: Top 5%
: 57% (Top 10%)
: 63% (Top 5%)
: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education