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Very Good

#739 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 19% in state

Lester Elem School

Elementary School · Downers Grove Gsd 58 · Downers Grove, IL

A Downers Grove Gsd 58 elementary school where students score 9 points above what's typical for similar communities.

236 Indianapolis Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515

  • Math 61% proficient (2019)
  • Reading 56% proficient (2022)
  • 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-4 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency61% (2019 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency59% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)49% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+9.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile90th
Resources & Environment4.8Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.8:1
District spending per student$20,037
Chronic Absenteeism13.2%

Students at Lester Elem School score 58% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IL average.

Math Proficiency61%(2019 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2019 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency56%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 34 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 56% recently.

Show all 12 years
2009
Math
91%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
95%
ELA
94%
2011
Math
96%
ELA
94%
2012
Math
77%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
79%
2014
Math
38%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
33%
ELA
45%
2016
Math
46%
ELA
41%
2017
Math
56%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
61%
ELA
64%
2019
Math
61%
ELA
64%
2022
ELA
56%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 67% (multi-year average, 2009-2019) · reading/ELA 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

Based on 23 test records from IL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

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 Lester Elem 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 56Somewhat Walkable
  • Transit 31Some Transit
  • Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,001/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Downers Grove), 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

$121,358

Median home value

$453,300

Median rent

$1,563/mo

College educated

61.3%

Homeownership

76.9%

Poverty rate

5.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 60515; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
C E Miller Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified8.0K–10.7 mi191Compare →
Whittier Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.8PK–60.8 mi311Compare →
St JosephPrivate · tuition5.0privatePK–80.9 mi356Compare →
J T Manning Elem SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.62–51.0 mi394Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

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

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Downers Grove Gsd 58

Schools in district
13
Rank in district
#2 of 13
District spending per student
$20,037NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
3.0%Census SAIPE · 2024

Lester Elem School is listed in Downers Grove GSD 58; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Lester Elem School

Lester Elem School is a public elementary school in Downers Grove, IL, part of Downers Grove Gsd 58, serving approximately 546 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #739 of 3,813 schools in IL. State assessment records show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Lester Elem School

What grades does Lester Elem School serve?

Lester Elem School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Lester Elem School?

Lester Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 546 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lester Elem School?

The student-teacher ratio at Lester Elem School is 18.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lester Elem School rank in IL?

Lester Elem School ranks #739 of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Lester Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lester Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 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 Lester Elem School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lester Elem School has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Lester Elem School a charter school?

No, Lester Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Lester Elem School a Title I school?

No, Lester Elem School is not currently a Title I school.

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

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
546
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
DuPage County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.2%
Area population (ZIP 60515)
29,045
Area average commute
27.3 min
Area median age
43.7
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 · 2019 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2019 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 60515; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2019, multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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