Woodgate Elem School

Woodgate Elem School, a tight-knit elementary-level community in Matteson, Illinois, one of the schools within ESD 159, serves 260 students, covering grades pre-K through 5. Enrollment runs roughly 32% smaller than the state mean of about 381.

Woodgate Elem School is one of 5 schools operated by ESD 159, a district that hosts 1,653 students overall.

Demographically, Woodgate Elem School lists that the student body is overwhelmingly Black (91%). Other groups include 6% Hispanic, 3% multiracial. By comparison, Cook County as a whole is about 22% Black, so the school skews noticeably more Black than its surroundings.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Woodgate Elem School has 22 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.0:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.9:1, putting Woodgate Elem School tighter than the state norm the norm. Roughly 73% of students at Woodgate Elem School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Woodgate Elem School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 29.5% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 33.7%.

In the broader community, Cook County reports that median household income runs about $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 Woodgate Elem School is one.

Nearest neighbor: Marya Yates Elementary School, around 0.8 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Woodgate Elem School. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Woodgate Elem School at 3rd of 8; the average score across the group is 28.6%.

Geographically, the school is in a commuter-belt area.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count shrank 27%: 356 students in 2018 compared to 260 in 2025.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around fundraisers, lost-and-found posts, and report-card season. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.