Darien Schools Defy Low-Income Trend

DARIEN, IL – Historically, schools with fewer low-income students perform better on standardized tests. Darien's numbers from last year don't reflect that trend.

Of the city's three districts, Center Cass 66 had the lowest rate of low-income students last year, at 8 percent.

According to the Illinois Report Card website, 49 percent of the district's students met standards on the English language arts part of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness in 2022. Meanwhile, 41 percent met the mark in math.

Cass 63, with a quarter of its students low-income, beat Center Cass in both English language arts and math, at 53 percent and 43 percent, respectively.

At Darien 61, 38 percent of students are considered low-income. According to state data, 32 percent of students met standards in English language arts, while 36 percent did so in math, just 5 percentage points behind Center Cass.

Of nearby districts, Western Springs 101 and Hinsdale 181 scored the highest on the assessment – about 70 percent in both sections. Western Springs reported having no low-income students, while Hinsdale had 2 percent.

On the other end, Burr Ridge 180, where nearly 90 percent of students are low-income, 16 percent met standards in English language arts and math.

Statewide, 30 percent of students met standards in English language arts and 26 percent in math. Nearly half of students in Illinois come from low-income families.

Here are the percentages of students meeting standards on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, as well as the rate of low-income students in each district:

Source: Illinois Report Card