- Enrollment
- 652
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Des Plaines, IL
Forest Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Forest Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 67/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 171212001464
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forest Elem School earns 67/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #1 of 17
- public schools in Des Plaines · Resource Index
- 67
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.5:1
- small classes for Illinois
- 658
- students enrolled
Forest Elem School has class sizes smaller than 77% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Elem School ranks #1 of 17 public schools in Des Plaines, IL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+69 students YoY
Forest Elem School grew from 588 students in 2022-23 to 657 in 2023-24 (+11.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 57.2 → 55.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+69 students YoY 171212001464 · Des Plaines, IL Other · MID · TRAD
658 enr · 11.5:1 · RII 67
Nearest enrollment peer: Chippewa Middle School (652 students)
Forest Elem School grew from 588 students in 2022-23 to 657 in 2023-24 (+11.7%). Teacher FTE lost 57.2 → 55.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Forest Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Forest Elem School
658 students
- Chippewa Middl
Chippewa Middle School
652 students
- North Elementa
North Elementary School
599 students
- Algonquin Midd
Algonquin Middle School
597 students
- Iroquois Commu
Iroquois Community School
411 students
- Central Elem S
Central Elem School
322 students
What this shows Forest Elem School reports 658 students on the CCD universe file.
How Forest Elem School compares
Forest Elem School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.5:1 | ▼ 18% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 658 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.5:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
658
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
11.5:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 23% in Illinois - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
9.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$25,359
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 42.4%
Hispanic or Latino 31.3%
Asian 19.5%
African American 3.5%
Two or More 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 42.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.2, Forest Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ccsd 62 reports $25,359 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Forest Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Elementary School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Algonquin Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Iroquois Community School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forest Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 599
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 597
- Students per teacher
- 10.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 411
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
- Enrollment
- 322
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Similar other schools in Des Plaines
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~658 students)
Frequently asked questions about Forest Elem School
How many students attend Forest Elem School?
Forest Elem School has 658 students enrolled. It is a public school in Des Plaines, IL. CCD year-over-year: 588 (2022-23) → 657 (2023-24), up 69.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest Elem School is 11.5:1, which is 18% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 27% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forest Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Forest Elem School is White at 42.4% of enrollment, in Des Plaines, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forest Elem School?
Forest Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 67/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Forest Elem School rank among public schools in Des Plaines?
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Elem School ranks #1 of 17 public schools in Des Plaines, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Des Plaines on the city page.
What other schools are in Ccsd 62?
Besides Forest Elem School, Ccsd 62 also operates Chippewa Middle School (652 students), North Elementary School (599 students), and Algonquin Middle School (597 students). See the Ccsd 62 district page for the complete list.