Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy vs. Hernandez Middle School
Should I attend Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy or Hernandez Middle School? Visitors of our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare the two schools' rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Hernandez Middle School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Most improved public schools
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Overview
Serving 796 students in grades Prekindergarten-8, Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Illinois for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 16% (which is lower than the Illinois state average of 28%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 25% (which is lower than the Illinois state average of 30%).
The student:teacher ratio of 15:1 is higher than the Illinois state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Illinois state average of 53% (majority Hispanic).
Serving 901 students in grades 6-8, Hernandez Middle School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Illinois for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 8% (which is lower than the Illinois state average of 28%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 12% (which is lower than the Illinois state average of 30%).
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the Illinois state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Illinois state average of 53% (majority Hispanic).
Grades Offered
PK-8
6-8
Total Students
796 students
901 students
![This chart displays total students of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays total students of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_students/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-PMNiB5.png)
![This chart displays total students of Hernandez Middle School by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays total students of Hernandez Middle School by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_students/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-dH0KHr.png)
% Male | % Female
52% | 48%
51% | 49%
![This chart displays gender of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy This chart displays gender of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/gender/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-blYQ3YG.png)
![This chart displays gender of Hernandez Middle School This chart displays gender of Hernandez Middle School](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/gender/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-1KJE0l.png)
Total Classroom Teachers
54 teachers
58 teachers
![This chart displays the total teachers of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the total teachers of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_teachers/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-Mf1UGX.png)
![This chart displays the total teachers of Hernandez Middle School by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the total teachers of Hernandez Middle School by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/total_teachers/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-bxgVuEf.png)
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
16:1
![This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the public school average student teacher ratio of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the public school average student teacher ratio of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/teacher_student_ratio/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-EGL2Tb.png)
![This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Hernandez Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Hernandez Middle School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/teacher_student_ratio/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-beBL9c6.png)
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#1982 out of 3426 schools in IL
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
#2782 out of 3426 schools in IL
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
![This chart displays the overall school rank of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the overall school rank of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/overall_school_rank/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-nhX8bl.png)
![This chart displays the overall school rank of Hernandez Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the overall school rank of Hernandez Middle School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/overall_school_rank/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-bljasDT.png)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
16%
8%
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/math_percent/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-Hi71x8.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Illinois by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/math_percent/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-ZT3EOv.png)
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
25%
12%
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/rla_percent/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-Fqw4Ew.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/rla_percent/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-qSBqCf.png)
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50-54%
31%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
![This chart displays the students of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy by grade. This chart displays the students of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy by grade.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/students_by_grade/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-bxeSjIR.png)
![This chart displays the students of Hernandez Middle School by grade. This chart displays the students of Hernandez Middle School by grade.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/students_by_grade/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-bitmtLA.png)
Pre-K Students
85
-
Kindergarten Students
69
-
Grade 1 Students
65
-
Grade 2 Students
75
-
Grade 3 Students
67
-
Grade 4 Students
59
-
Grade 5 Students
82
-
Grade 6 Students
91
269
Grade 7 Students
90
324
Grade 8 Students
113
308
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
n/a
% Hispanic
98%
97%
![This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/hispanic_students_ethnicity/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-9iKDeg.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/hispanic_students_ethnicity/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-EHKrXd.png)
% Black
1%
2%
![This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of Black public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of Black public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/black_students_ethnicity/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-blYQ4a1.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of Black public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/black_students_ethnicity/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-jp9SOg.png)
% White
1%
1%
![This chart displays the percentage of White students in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of White public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of White students in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of White public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/white_students_ethnicity/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-Mf1UIN.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of White students in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of White public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of White students in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of White public school students in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/white_students_ethnicity/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-bcLdlH3.png)
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
n/a
n/a
Diversity Score
0.04
0.06
![This chart displays the diversity score of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the public school average diversity score of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the diversity score of Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the public school average diversity score of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/diversity_score/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-btx6VPA.png)
![This chart displays the diversity score of Hernandez Middle School and the public school average diversity score of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the diversity score of Hernandez Middle School and the public school average diversity score of Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/diversity_score/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-uvSiXV.png)
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
100%
100%
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/freelunch_students/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-dHvnSp.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/freelunch_students/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-ZdC0Yu.png)
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
5%
5%
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.](http://images1.publicschoolreview.com/charts/reduced_pricelunch_students/24000/24440/columbia-explorers-elementary-academy-chart-b0MnxFm.png)
![This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data. This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Hernandez Middle School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Illinois by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.](http://images2.publicschoolreview.com/charts/reduced_pricelunch_students/137000/136662/hernandez-middle-school-chart-MgBN1i.png)