Taft School

Located at 393 E 163rd St, in Harvey, Illinois, Taft School is a cozy primary school that educates 308 students (grades pre-K through 1), one of the schools within South Holland SD 151.

Across the 4 schools in South Holland SD 151 (1,319 students total), Taft School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On the student-mix side, Taft School records that the largest single group is Black, at 65% of enrollment; the rest is composed of 33% Hispanic. The wider county runs roughly 22% Black, putting the school's mix noticeably more Black than the area baseline.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, Taft School has 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.3:1. The state averages around 13.9:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 100% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Cook County (around 66%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

Across the wider county, community-level numbers for Cook County indicate median household earnings sit near $83,498, 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Cook County runs 1406 public schools (combined enrollment of about 697,934 students), of which Taft School is one.

Nearest neighbor: Holmes Elem School, around 0.4 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The campus sits in an outer-ring setting.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Taft School has expanded 12%, going from 276 students in 2018 to 308 in 2025. Over the same period, the Black share grew from 59% to 65%. The student-to-teacher ratio widened from 11.2:1 in 2018 to 12.3:1 today.

Inside the community feed, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.