Budlong Elem School

As a heavily attended primary school in Chicago, Illinois, Budlong Elem School works with 776 students from grades pre-K through 8, run under Chicago Public Schools Dist 299. That puts it 104% bigger than the typical public school in Illinois, which averages around 381 students.

Across the 622 schools in Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 (324,396 students total), Budlong Elem School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, Budlong Elem School logs that 37% of students identify as Hispanic, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school lists 35% White, 16% Asian, 6% Black, 5% multiracial. By comparison, Cook County as a whole is about 27% Hispanic, so the school skews considerably more Hispanic than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, Staff filings list 54 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 14.5:1 students per teacher. The state averages about 13.9:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. About 55% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is lower than Cook County's rate of about 66%.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Budlong Elem School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 39.9% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 48.2%.

In the area at large, ACS estimates for Cook County put median household earnings sit near $83,498, 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 10%. Across Cook County's 1406 public schools (combined enrollment of about 697,934 students), Budlong Elem School is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Jamieson Elem School, around 0.7 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Budlong Elem School ranks 5th on composite proficiency, behind the local average of 56.8%.

The campus sits in a downtown setting.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Budlong Elem School has remained close to its prior level, going from 772 students in 2018 to 776 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 29% to 35% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio tightened from 20.4:1 in 2018 to 14.5:1 today.

On allk12, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.