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Union Elementary School

Q: Is Union Elementary School a good school?

Union Elementary School ranks 407 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

407^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 80% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Union Elementary School is a public K-8 school in Joliet, Illinois, serving 128 students. The school is part of the Union School District 81, which is ranked 128 out of 811 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Union Elementary consistently outperforms the state average in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency, with 69.7% and 60.7% of students meeting or exceeding standards, respectively, compared to the state averages of 53.1% and 38.5%. The school's performance has steadily improved, rising from 723 out of 2,086 Illinois elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 407 out of 2,056 in 2024-2025. Union Elementary's upper-grade students are particularly strong, with 100% of 7th-graders and 80% of 8th-graders proficient in ELA.

Compared to nearby schools like Woodland Elementary, A.O. Marshall Elementary, and Edna Keith Elementary, which are part of the Joliet PSD 86 district, Union Elementary's academic performance is significantly higher. The nearby schools also have much higher percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 93% to 97%, compared to Union Elementary's 46-52%. However, Eisenhower Academy, another Joliet PSD 86 school, stands out as a high-performing outlier with proficiency rates similar to or exceeding Union Elementary's.

143

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$29,435

Per pupil spending ?

37.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1661 Cherry Hill Rd
Joliet, IL 60433-8508

(815) 726-5218

District: Union School District 81

Students who attend Union Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Joliet Central High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

46.2%

White:

35.7%

African American:

9.1%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Union Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 92nd percentile in 2022 → 80th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (62% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Illinois elementary schools

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 92nd-percentile peak (2022) to 80th (2025)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school62%

District avg62%

Illinois avg44%

Elementary school

407^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 20%▲ up 19 pts since 2015

From top 39% (2015) to top 20% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

151^st of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 41 pts since 2015

From bottom 48% (2015) to top 11% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

128^th of 811Union School District 81 among Illinois districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	79.4	407 of 2056	80.2%	★★★★☆
2024	81.3	335 of 2067	83.8%	★★★★☆
2023	87.4	222 of 2077	89.3%	★★★★☆
2022	90.0	173 of 2082	91.7%	★★★★★
2019	62.6	723 of 2086	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.0	474 of 2037	76.7%	★★★★☆
2017	46.1	1036 of 2044	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	55.5	795 of 2052	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	40.8	1299 of 2093	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	33.8	1514 of 2167	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	33.5	1612 of 2166	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	42.4	1442 of 2147	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	39.6	1486 of 2139	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	33.6	1590 of 2120	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	49.7	1273 of 2092	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	26.1	1736 of 2095	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	17.8	1810 of 2086	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	23.9	1682 of 2022	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	37.2	1468 of 2030	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	38.4	1410 of 2020	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	76.8	409 of 1942	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	58.6	765 of 2019	62.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	87.6	113 of 1389	91.9%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	87.9	151 of 1368	89.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.8	241 of 1363	82.3%	★★★★☆
2022	98.3	19 of 1369	98.6%	★★★★★
2019	69.8	356 of 1356	73.7%	★★★★☆
2017	61.4	430 of 1293	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	39.7	736 of 1294	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	42.0	681 of 1302	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	37.4	864 of 1322	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	33.5	967 of 1367	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	61.2	592 of 1365	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	22.3	1132 of 1344	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	46.4	844 of 1327	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.1	832 of 1318	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	22.9	1059 of 1293	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	40.0	890 of 1287	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	46.1	799 of 1272	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	28.8	902 of 1209	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	36.8	817 of 1204	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2003	27.5	891 of 1185	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2022	97.0	26 of 1286	98.0%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

White (2025)92nd percentile+12 vs school

Female (2025)79th percentile~ school

Middle school

Female (2022)98th percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts70%+17 vs state

Mathematics61%+22 vs state

Science59%+16 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, October 17, 2020

Amazing opportunities for a great education plus we get tax money returned to us every year! Close Quote

Schools Near Union Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISA Science (2025)		IAR English Language Arts (2025)							IAR Mathematics (2025)							% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% DTP (2024)	% Pneumococcal (2024)	% Meningococcal (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISA Science 5th Grade	ISA Science 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 6th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 7th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 8th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th Grade	IAR Mathematics 7th Grade	IAR Mathematics 8th Grade	IAR Mathematics All Grades	% Polio All Grades	% Measles All Grades	% Mumps All Grades	% Rubella All Grades	% Hepatitis B All Grades	% Varicella All Grades	% DTP All Grades	% Pneumococcal All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Union Elementary School	Public	K-8	1661 Cherry Hill Rd	Joliet	60433	Will County	Union School District 81	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 726-5218	143	12	11.5	37.1%	51 (35.7%)	13 (9.1%)	66 (46.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (9.1%)	79.4	407^th of 2056 public elementary schools	80.2%		81.3	335^th of 2067 public elementary schools	83.8%	72	58.8	60.0	57.1	62.5	64.7	71.4	100.0	80.0	69.7	61.9	75.0	58.8	42.9	63.6	60.0	60.7	98.4	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	97.6	97.6		23.0	$29,435	$779	$28,656
Eisenhower Academy	Public	1-5	406 Burke Dr	Joliet	60433	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 723-0233	209	13	16.0	100.0%	52 (24.9%)	47 (22.5%)	97 (46.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.7%)	97.7	17^th of 2056 public elementary schools	99.2%		98.7	16^th of 2067 public elementary schools	99.2%	1	73.8		95.1	90.2	97.6				94.4	97.6	82.9	81.0				87.1	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6	99.6			$18,356	$1,505	$16,851
Cherry Hill Elementary and EC Center	Public	PK, KG-8	205 Kingston Dr	New Lenox	60451	Will County	New Lenox School District 122	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 462-7831	141	16	9.0	23.4%	98 (69.5%)	7 (5.0%)	25 (17.7%)	4 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.0%)								(n/a)																	96.8	95.6	95.6	95.6	97.5	95.6	96.8	79.8		$35,132	$389	$34,743
Thompson Instructional Center	Public	K-8	1020 Rowell Ave	Joliet	60433	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 740-5458	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)																	95.7	97.1	97.1	97.1	95.7	97.1	95.7		61.4
Laraway School	Public	PK, KG-8	1715 Rowell Ave	Joliet	60433	Will County	Laraway CCSD 70C	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 727-5115	433	53	8.1	90.8%	23 (5.3%)	199 (46.0%)	194 (44.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.9%)	26.9	1511^th of 2056 public elementary schools	26.5%		31.9	1346^th of 2067 public elementary schools	34.9%	165	26.7	52.0	26.7	44.4	40.9	39.1	59.5	64.0	45.7	37.8	25.0	11.4	2.2	5.4	18.0	16.7										$54,221	$825	$53,396
T E Culbertson Elementary School	Public	K-5	1521 E Washington St	Joliet	60433	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 723-0035	377	16	24.3	92.3%	21 (5.6%)	51 (13.5%)	285 (75.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.0%)	26.6	1522^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	26.0%		30	1402^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	32.2%	120	18.4		31.9	25.0	36.7				30.6	42.6	23.4	24.5				29.4	94.7	95.2	95.2	95.2	97.6	95.2	95.2			$23,002	$1,582	$21,420
Woodland Elementary School	Public	K-5	701 3rd Ave	Joliet	60433	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 723-2808	368	22	17.1	95.1%	9 (2.4%)	67 (18.2%)	285 (77.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	16.9	1743^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	15.2%		17.7	1748^th of 2067 public elementary schools	15.4%	5	7.8		27.8	26.3	27.5				27.2	27.8	21.1	12.8				21.6	94.3	94.6	94.6	94.6	100.0	92.6	94.9			$19,126	$1,689	$17,437
Nelson Prairie School	Public	1-3	2366 Nelson Rd	New Lenox	60451	Will County	New Lenox School District 122	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 462-2874	388	21	18.3	13.7%	328 (84.5%)	5 (1.3%)	43 (11.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)								(n/a)			65.0						65.0	77.4						77.4	97.9	97.6	97.6	97.6	97.9	97.9	97.9			$12,349	$389	$11,960
A O Marshall Elementary School	Public	K-5	319 Harwood St	Joliet	60432	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 727-4919	246	18	13.4	95.1%	12 (4.9%)	28 (11.4%)	202 (82.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	17.2	1739^th of 2056 public elementary schools	15.4%		16.2	1797^th of 2067 public elementary schools	13.1%	58	26.5		8.8	16.7	39.4				20.9	17.6	14.6	18.2				16.5	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2	97.2			$20,378	$1,982	$18,396
Edna Keith Elementary School	Public	K-5	400 4th Ave	Joliet	60433	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 723-3409	402	25	16.0	95.0%	14 (3.5%)	122 (30.3%)	248 (61.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.5%)	7.9	1996^th of 2056 public elementary schools	2.9%		13	1942^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	6.0%	54	5.1		6.8	16.4	15.3				12.4	16.4	11.3	7.8				12.4	94.7	95.8	95.8	95.8	94.7	95.0	95.5			$20,584	$2,115	$18,469

Frequently Asked Questions about Union Elementary School

Is Union Elementary School a good school?

Union Elementary School ranks 407^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Union Elementary School?

Students at Union Elementary School are 46% Hispanic, 36% White, 9% African American, 9% Two or more races.

How many students attend Union Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 143 students attended Union Elementary School.

What district is Union Elementary School in?

Union School District 81

What schools do graduates of Union Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Union Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Joliet Central High School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.