Glenwood Elementary School

Glenwood Elementary School is an elementary campus of roomy scale in Chatham, Illinois, overseen by Ball Chatham CUSD 5, serveing 573 students in grades K through 4. Enrollment runs roughly 50% larger than the state mean of about 381.

Across the 6 schools in Ball Chatham CUSD 5 (4,516 students total), Glenwood Elementary School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Glenwood Elementary School records that the largest single group is White, at 69% of enrollment; the rest reads as 10% Black, 8% Asian, 7% multiracial, 6% Hispanic. That is meaningfully less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 78%.

Looking at school resources, Glenwood Elementary School lists 36 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 15.8:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Glenwood Elementary School higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 23% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Sangamon County (around 48%), the school's rate is south of typical.

After controlling for student poverty, Glenwood Elementary School sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 58.1%; this one delivers 57.7%.

Around the school, the surrounding county (Sangamon County) reports that median household income runs about $75,357, 37% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 9%. Glenwood Elementary School is one of 77 public schools in Sangamon County (combined enrollment of about 27,345 students).

The closest other public school is Glenwood High School, roughly 0.2 miles away. 6 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Glenwood Elementary School ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, above the local average of 44.1%.

The school occupies a bedroom-community site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count contracted 18%: 701 students in 2018 compared to 573 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share edged down from 73% to 69%. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 18.7:1 in 2018 to 15.8:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.