Bell Elem School

Bell Elem School is an elementary school of sprawling scale in Chicago, Illinois, one of the schools within Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, caters to 902 students in grades K through 8. Compared to the state average of about 381 students per school, that is 137% larger than typical.

Within Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, which oversees 622 schools and 324,396 students, Bell Elem School is one campus in the system.

In terms of who attends, Bell Elem School reports that 56% of the student body identifies as White. Other groups include 17% Hispanic, 13% multiracial, 12% Asian, 2% Black. The wider county runs roughly 44% White, putting the school's mix considerably more White than the area baseline.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Bell Elem School has 61 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 14.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Bell Elem School higher than the state norm the norm. About 10% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is south of Cook County's rate of about 66%.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Bell Elem School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 65.7%; this one delivers 78.6%.

Zooming out to the county, ACS estimates for Cook County put median household earnings sit near $83,498, roughly 43% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate sits near 10%. In all, Cook County runs 1406 public schools (combined enrollment of about 697,934 students), of which Bell Elem School is one.

The closest other public school is Lane Technical High School, roughly 0.4 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Bell Elem School at 3rd of 9; the average score across the group is 52.9%.

The campus sits in a high-density setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Bell Elem School has declined 6%, going from 958 students in 2018 to 902 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share shrank from 60% to 56%. Class-load math has fell: from 17.6:1 in 2018 to 14.8:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, the feed for Bell Elem School typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.