Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center

153 Students

Middle School 5th - 8th

School Overview

Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center, located at 800 E 14th St in Ford Heights, Illinois, serves as a primary educational facility for students in the surrounding community. Operating within the East Chicago Heights School District 163, the school is dedicated to providing academic instruction to upper-grade students, typically focusing on the middle school transition years. The institution plays a vital role in the local area by offering a structured learning environment aimed at developing foundational skills in core subjects while preparing students for the rigors of high school education.

Beyond its academic curriculum, Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center acts as a focal point for the small community of Ford Heights. The school emphasizes the importance of student growth and community engagement, working to support the unique needs of its student population in an area that often faces socio-economic challenges. By providing consistent educational resources and support systems, the center strives to foster an environment where students can build confidence and academic competence, serving as a critical pillar for educational equity within the local school district.

153

Total Students

12.0

Full-Time Teachers

12.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cottage Grove Upper Grade Center
Demographic	Student Count
Hispanic	12
Black	141

Black
141 (92.2 %)
Hispanic
12 (7.8 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Ford Heights SD 169
Phone:	(708)758-1400
Grade Range:	5th - 8th
Total Students:	153
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	12.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 5 39

Grade 6 36

Grade 7 40

Grade 8 38