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Needs Improvement

#3764 of 3,813 schools in IL

Carl Sandburg Elementary

Elementary School · Joliet Psd 86 · Joliet, IL

A Joliet Psd 86 elementary school where students score 3 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1100 Lilac Ln, Joliet, IL 60435

  • Math 3% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 3% proficient (2022)
  • 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress2.7Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-6.44 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics3.5Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency2.5% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency2.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency3% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)6% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-3.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile17th
Resources & Environment3.2Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.4:1
District spending per student$22,414
Chronic Absenteeism24.8%

Students at Carl Sandburg Elementary score 2% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 6%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.

Math Proficiency3%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency3%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 7 points since 2019, to 3% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
82%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
52%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
65%
2012
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2013
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2014
Math
8%
ELA
27%
2015
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2016
Math
14%
ELA
21%
2017
Math
8%
ELA
22%
2018
Math
3%
ELA
17%
2019
Math
3%
ELA
17%
2020*
Math
3%
ELA
8%
2021*
Math
3%
ELA
8%
2022
ELA
3%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 27 test records from IL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

94.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Carl Sandburg Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Chicago map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 27Car-Dependent
  • Transit 21Minimal Transit
  • Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High1,601/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Joliet), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$74,967

Median home value

$217,200

Median rent

$1,145/mo

College educated

23.1%

Homeownership

66.6%

Poverty rate

13.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60435; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Our Savior Lutheran Preschool & KindergartenPrivate · tuitionNot ratedPK–K0.5 mi8Compare →
Tlc Learning CenterPrivate · tuitionNot ratedPK–K0.6 mi6Compare →
Taft Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.2K–51.0 mi424Compare →
Thomas Jefferson Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.4K–51.0 mi264Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Joliet Psd 86

Schools in district
22
Rank in district
#19 of 20
District spending per student
$22,414NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
19.0%Census SAIPE · 2024

Carl Sandburg Elementary is listed in Joliet PSD 86; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Carl Sandburg Elementary

Carl Sandburg Elementary is a public elementary school in Joliet, IL, part of Joliet Psd 86, serving approximately 367 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10 and ranks #3,764 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 29% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Carl Sandburg Elementary

What grades does Carl Sandburg Elementary serve?

Carl Sandburg Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Carl Sandburg Elementary?

Carl Sandburg Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 367 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Carl Sandburg Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Carl Sandburg Elementary is 20.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Carl Sandburg Elementary rank in IL?

Carl Sandburg Elementary ranks #3,764 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Carl Sandburg Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Carl Sandburg Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Carl Sandburg Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Carl Sandburg Elementary has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 29% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Carl Sandburg Elementary a charter school?

No, Carl Sandburg Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Carl Sandburg Elementary a Title I school?

No, Carl Sandburg Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Carl Sandburg Elementary?

94.8% of students at Carl Sandburg Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
367
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Will County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
24.8%
Area population (ZIP 60435)
48,521
Area average commute
25.1 min
Area median age
37.1
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 60435; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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