Whistler Elem School

Whistler Elem School is a tight-knit elementary-level community in Chicago, Illinois, run under Chicago Public Schools Dist 299. The school enrolls 242 students in grades pre-K through 8. By comparison, Illinois's public schools average about 381 students each, so Whistler Elem School sits 36% smaller than that benchmark.

Whistler Elem School is one of 622 schools operated by Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, a district that hosts 324,396 students overall.

Demographically, Whistler Elem School lists that the student body is overwhelmingly Black (97%). The wider county runs roughly 22% Black, putting the school's mix visibly more Black than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school reports having 19 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 12.7:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 13.9:1 average. Around 89% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Cook County runs at roughly 66%, so the school's eligibility rate is higher than the surrounding baseline.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Whistler Elem School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 20.2% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 25.6%.

Around the school, Cook County reports that the typical household earns roughly $83,498 per year, 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 10%. Whistler Elem School is one of 1406 public schools in Cook County (combined enrollment of about 697,934 students).

Nearest neighbor: Higgins Elem Community Academy, around 0.5 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Whistler Elem School. Among the 8 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Whistler Elem School ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 21.3%.

The school occupies an urban site.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Whistler Elem School has edged down 29%, going from 343 students in 2018 to 242 in 2025. Class-load math has tightened: from 23.0:1 in 2018 to 12.7:1 in 2025.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Members of the school community can share what they know.