Nettelhorst Elementary Stands Out For Community Focus
- 01. Nettelhorst Elementary: What Makes It Different Today
- 02. Historical Transformation: From Decline to Excellence
- 03. Key Transformation Milestones
- 04. Academic Performance Today
- 05. What Makes Nettelhorst Different Today
- 06. Student Demographics and Diversity
- 07. Practical Information for Families
- 08. Relevance to Marist Education Values
Nettelhorst Elementary: What Makes It Different Today
Nettelhorst Elementary is Louis B. Nettelhorst Elementary School, a public K-8 magnet cluster school in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood that transformed from a struggling neighborhood school into one of Illinois' top-performing public schools through grassroots parent activism and its designation as Chicago's first community school model in 2003. Today, it serves 650 students (PK-8) with 43% math proficiency and 45% reading proficiency-both significantly exceeding Illinois state averages of 28% and 30% respectively.
Historical Transformation: From Decline to Excellence
The school opened in 1892 and was named after Louis Nettelhorst Sr., a German immigrant who headed the Chicago Board of Education from 1888 to 1892. For decades it maintained a strong reputation, but by the 1950s performance declined sharply. Around 2000, only 35% of students met Illinois academic standards, enrollment dropped to 380 students, and 77% qualified as low-income.
The turning point came in 2001 when parent Jacqueline Edelberg met with principal Susan Kurland and established the "Roscoe Eight" parent group. This grassroots movement beautified the campus, organized committees, and personally painted corridors-creating a parent-driven turnaround model that later inspired the book How to Walk to School.
Key Transformation Milestones
- 2001: Parent group "Roscoe Eight" forms to improve the school
- 2003: CPS designates Nettelhorst as Chicago's first "community school"
- 2003: "Jane's Place" enrichment program opens with Jane Addams Hull House Association
- 2009: Families begin moving into attendance zone specifically for Nettelhorst
- 2010: 86% of students meet Illinois academic standards (up from 35% in 2001)
- 2025: Ranked #512 of 3,426 schools in Illinois (Top 20%)
Academic Performance Today
Nettelhorst consistently outperforms both Chicago Public Schools District 299 and Illinois state averages across all core subjects. The school's academic proficiency gap with state averages demonstrates the effectiveness of its community school model.
| Metric | Nettelhorst Elementary | Illinois State Average | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 43% | 28% | Top 20% |
| Reading/Language Arts | 45% | 30% | Top 20% |
| Science Proficiency | 70-74% | 50% | Top 20% |
| Overall Rank | #512 of 3,426 | - | Top 20% |
| Student:Teacher Ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 | - |
What Makes Nettelhorst Different Today
Three distinctive features set Nettelhorst Elementary apart from typical Chicago public schools:
- Community School Model: As one of CPS's first community schools, Nettelhorst partners with the Jane Addams Hull House Association to offer evening and weekend enrichment classes through "Jane's Place," serving both students and families
- Grassroots Parent Leadership: The "Roscoe Eight" model demonstrated that organized parent activism could transform a school without waiting for district intervention-now a documented strategy for school improvement
- Design Innovation: The campus features a French bistro-themed cafeteria and a $130,000 kitchen designed by celebrity designer Nate Berkus, plus a 1940 WPA mural (Horses from Literature) by Ethel Spears restored in 1996
Student Demographics and Diversity
The school serves a demographically diverse population with 650 students in grades Prekindergarten-8. Minority enrollment comprises 45% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Asian), lower than Illinois' 55% state average.
| Ethnic Group | Nettelhorst % | Illinois State % |
|---|---|---|
| White | 55% | 45% |
| Hispanic | 14% | 28% |
| Asian | 11% | 6% |
| Two or more races | 12% | 4% |
| Black | 8% | 16% |
| Diversity Score | 0.65 | 0.70 |
Low-income enrollment dropped dramatically from 77% in 2001 to 31% in 2010, with 34% currently eligible for free lunch compared to 43% state average.
Practical Information for Families
Relevance to Marist Education Values
While Nettelhorst is a public school, its transformation demonstrates core principles aligned with Marist education's emphasis on holistic development, community engagement, and educational equity. The school's success shows how grassroots community involvement, spiritual commitment to student flourishing, and partnership with social service organizations (like Jane Addams Hull House) can create transformative learning environments-principles central to Marist pedagogy across Brazil and Latin America.
The Nettelhorst model proves that neighborhood schools can become engines of community revitalization when parents, educators, and social partners unite around a shared vision of student success-offering actionable insights for school leaders implementing Marist's holistic education approach in diverse Latin American contexts.
Helpful tips and tricks for Nettelhorst Elementary Stands Out For Community Focus
What grades does Nettelhorst Elementary serve?
Nettelhorst serves grades Prekindergarten through 8th grade (PK-8), making it a complete elementary and middle school option.
What is Nettelhorst Elementary's ranking?
Nettelhorst ranks #512 out of 3,426 schools in Illinois, placing it in the top 20% of public schools statewide based on combined math and reading proficiency.
Where is Nettelhorst Elementary located?
The school is at 3252 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL 60657 in the Lake View East neighborhood. It's part of Chicago Public Schools Dist 299.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nettelhorst?
Nettelhorst maintains a 14:1 student-teacher ratio with 45 classroom teachers serving 650 students, slightly higher than Illinois' 13:1 state average.
What high school do Nettelhorst students attend?
Students zoned to Nettelhorst are also zoned to Lake View High School as part of the school's feeder pattern.
