Needs Improvement
#3585 of 3,813 schools in IL
Dirksen Junior High School
Middle School · Joliet Psd 86 · Joliet, IL
A Joliet Psd 86 middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
203 S Midland Ave, Joliet, IL 60436
- Math 5% proficient (2021)
- Reading 7% proficient (2022)
- 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Dirksen Junior High School score 6% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 5%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 74 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 7% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 38% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 34% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
97.4%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Dirksen Junior High School 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 51Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 29Some Transit
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,601/100K
Powered by
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
$63,570
Median home value
$170,800
Median rent
$1,242/mo
College educated
14.5%
Homeownership
57.2%
Poverty rate
15.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60436; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ucp-cds-melvin J Larson SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | PK–12 | 0.4 mi | 33 | Compare → |
| Hufford Junior High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | 6–8 | 1.8 mi | 1,095 | Compare → |
| Washington JR High & Academy PrgmEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | 6–8 | 2.2 mi | 739 | Compare → |
| Gompers Junior High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | 6–8 | 4.0 mi | 590 | Compare → |
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.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Joliet Psd 86
- Schools in district
- 22
- Rank in district
- #14 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
Dirksen Junior High School is listed in Joliet PSD 86; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Dirksen Junior High School
Dirksen Junior High School is a public middle school in Joliet, IL, part of Joliet Psd 86, serving approximately 655 students in grades 6th-8th with a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks #3,585 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dirksen Junior High School
What grades does Dirksen Junior High School serve?
Dirksen Junior High School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Dirksen Junior High School?
Dirksen Junior High School has an enrollment of approximately 655 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dirksen Junior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dirksen Junior High School is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dirksen Junior High School rank in IL?
Dirksen Junior High School ranks #3,585 of 3,813 schools in IL.
What is Dirksen Junior High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Dirksen Junior High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.8 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 Dirksen Junior High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dirksen Junior High School has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Dirksen Junior High School a charter school?
No, Dirksen Junior High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dirksen Junior High School a Title I school?
No, Dirksen Junior High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dirksen Junior High School?
97.4% of students at Dirksen Junior High School 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 655
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 46
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Will County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 40.5%
- Phone
- (815) 729-1566
- Area population (ZIP 60436)
- 19,446
- Area average commute
- 26.8 min
- Area median age
- 34.3
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 60436; 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
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