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Jefferson Elementary School

Q: Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Jefferson Elementary School ranks 885 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

885^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 57% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Dekalb, Illinois, serving 321 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the DeKalb CUSD 428 district, which is ranked 767 out of 811 districts in Illinois.

Jefferson Elementary School consistently outperforms the DeKalb district and the state of Illinois in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency across all grade levels. In the 2024-2025 school year, 46% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 23.8% for the district and 53.1% for the state. In Mathematics, 49.7% of students were proficient or better, compared to 19.3% for the district and 38.5% for the state. The school also performs exceptionally well for certain student subgroups, with African American, Hispanic, and English Language Learner students ranking highly compared to other Illinois elementary schools.

However, the school faces some challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 20.6% to 27.1% over the past few years. Additionally, while Jefferson Elementary School outperforms most nearby schools in the DeKalb district, some schools in the neighboring Sycamore CUSD 427 district, such as West Elementary and Southeast Elementary, have higher academic proficiency rates. The school has also seen a significant increase in spending per student, from $14,069 in 2020-2021 to $20,839 in 2023-2024, which may indicate a focus on investing in resources and support for the school.

308

Students ?

11.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,393

Per pupil spending ?

56.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

211 McCormick Dr
Dekalb, IL 60115-1813

(815) 754-2263

District: DeKalb CUSD 428

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Clinton Rosette Middle School
High:	DeKalb High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

36.0%

African American:

30.8%

Hispanic:

18.2%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Jefferson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2015 → 57th in 2025

Strengths

✓Among the top-ranked schools in DeKalb CUSD 428

✓Above the Illinois median (57th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg21%

Illinois avg44%

885^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 43%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From top 37% (2015) to top 43% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 8Elementary Schools in the DeKalb CUSD 428

767^th of 811DeKalb CUSD 428 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	56.1	885 of 2056	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.4	814 of 2067	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.7	934 of 2077	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.4	852 of 2082	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	25.9	1387 of 1948	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.3	1018 of 2086	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.9	1029 of 2037	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.3	1162 of 2044	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	34.4	1314 of 2046	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	57.6	758 of 2052	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	62.2	823 of 2093	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	47.7	1208 of 2167	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	49.6	1311 of 2166	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	55.1	1163 of 2147	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	51.8	1243 of 2139	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	37.5	1515 of 2120	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	52.9	1213 of 2092	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	65.5	866 of 2095	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	68.3	769 of 2086	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	58.9	1009 of 2022	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	71.7	641 of 2030	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2003	59.7	990 of 2020	51.0%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	73.2	110 of 688	84.0%	★★★★☆
2024	78.9	70 of 655	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	74.4	84 of 692	87.9%	★★★★☆
2022	80.5	53 of 684	92.3%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	64.5	185 of 788	76.5%	★★★★☆
2024	56.6	231 of 826	72.0%	★★★★☆
2023	52.7	265 of 788	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.2	115 of 768	85.0%	★★★★☆
2019	50.2	288 of 743	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.8	414 of 718	42.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	53.0	880 of 1942	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.4	808 of 1942	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.7	892 of 1957	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.2	660 of 1970	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	24.8	1254 of 1680	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.8	1086 of 2019	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.4	976 of 1964	50.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	73.2	183 of 982	81.4%	★★★★☆
2023	46.5	466 of 970	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.0	435 of 955	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.9	604 of 938	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	55.8	737 of 1800	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.4	517 of 1793	71.2%	★★★★☆
2023	52.8	745 of 1808	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.4	443 of 1763	74.9%	★★★★☆
2021	14.8	1509 of 1514	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	40.2	1101 of 1816	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.7	1171 of 1765	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	58.6	778 of 1947	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.6	732 of 1959	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.2	870 of 1984	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.5	949 of 1977	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	21.8	1356 of 1707	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.6	951 of 2019	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.9	973 of 1972	50.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	59.8	561 of 1389	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.5	602 of 1392	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.3	677 of 1419	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.8	717 of 1425	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.1	1169 of 1308	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.6	953 of 1462	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.7	688 of 1463	53.0%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2025)84th percentile+27 vs school

Hispanic (2025)81st percentile+24 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)77th percentile+20 vs school

Male (2025)60th percentile+3 vs school

White (2025)60th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)59th percentile~ school

Female (2025)55th percentile~ school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics50%+11 vs state

English Language Arts46%-7 vs state

Science40%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Jefferson Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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)	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	IAR English Language Arts 3rd Grade	IAR English Language Arts 4th Grade	IAR English Language Arts 5th Grade	IAR English Language Arts All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th 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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-5	211 McCormick Dr	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2263	308	28	11.1	56.8%	111 (36.0%)	95 (30.8%)	56 (18.2%)	21 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.1%)	56.1	885^th of 2056 public elementary schools	57.0%		55.4	814^th of 2067 public elementary schools	60.6%	71	39.6	40.9	40.4	58.3	46.0	42.4	53.2	56.3	49.7	96.5	96.2	96.2	96.2	98.1	95.0	96.5		$21,393	$1,449	$19,944
Littlejohn Elementary School	Public	K-5	1121 School St	DeKalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2258	362	24	14.9	70.7%	98 (27.1%)	51 (14.1%)	184 (50.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.7%)	26.4	1528^th of 2056 public elementary schools	25.7%		22.7	1600^th of 2067 public elementary schools	22.6%	72	20.6	31.0	35.2	27.1	30.8	39.0	29.6	20.0	29.0	98.1	98.3	98.3	98.3		96.1	97.5		$19,282	$1,674	$17,608
Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School	Public	K-5	3225 Sangamon Dr	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-9936	328	23	13.9	80.2%	53 (16.2%)	182 (55.5%)	48 (14.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (13.1%)	11	1911^th of 2056 public elementary schools	7.1%		13.3	1931^st of 2067 public elementary schools	6.6%	20	13.7	6.0	17.8	29.4	17.8	10.0	12.3	13.7	12.1	98.2	97.9	97.9	97.9	99.7	97.9	97.9		$19,757	$1,506	$18,251
Founders Elementary School	Public	K-5	821 S 7th St	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-3800	565	39	14.5	78.1%	103 (18.2%)	167 (29.6%)	248 (43.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (7.6%)	17.5	1729^th of 2056 public elementary schools	15.9%		20.5	1665^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.4%	64	16.3	23.3	34.2	15.2	23.7	24.4	26.6	9.9	19.9	97.3	97.1	97.1	97.1	32.1	95.8	97.1		$18,460	$1,482	$16,977
Tyler Elementary School	Public	K-5	1021 Alden Circle	Dekalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2389	265	19	13.9	78.9%	57 (21.5%)	148 (55.8%)	29 (10.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (10.6%)	10.1	1942^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	5.5%		14.4	1871^st of 2067 public elementary schools	9.5%	71	9.3	16.2	26.5	11.6	18.6	13.5	16.3	4.7	11.6	92.8	97.9	97.9	97.9		97.5	97.5		$19,143	$1,692	$17,451
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	K-5	220 E Sunset Pl	DeKalb	60115	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2212	272	17	15.8	62.9%	100 (36.8%)	123 (45.2%)	28 (10.3%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.0%)	12.9	1849^th of 2056 public elementary schools	10.1%		16.3	1787^th of 2067 public elementary schools	13.5%	62	12.5	20.0	21.6	29.2	23.4	16.4	15.7	10.4	14.3	95.5	95.1	95.1	95.1	99.2	94.7	95.1		$18,066	$1,371	$16,695
South Prairie Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Borden Ave	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8299	456	28	16.5	34.4%	324 (71.1%)	26 (5.7%)	75 (16.4%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.5%)	56.1	886^th of 2056 public elementary schools	56.9%		49.7	945^th of 2067 public elementary schools	54.3%	59	49.2	48.9	45.8	45.8	46.7	42.6	42.4	54.2	46.7	98.4	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.6	98.2	98.2	29.4	$13,822	$882	$12,940
West Elementary School	Public	K-5	718 S Locust St	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8219	270	24	11.2	60.0%	176 (65.2%)	15 (5.6%)	57 (21.1%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.4%)	59.9	812^th of 2056 public elementary schools	60.5%		42.9	1095^th of 2067 public elementary schools	47.0%	283	40.0	52.3	52.9	60.0	55.3	61.4	38.2	37.8	46.3	95.2	95.6	95.6	95.6		95.2	94.4		$16,190	$285	$15,905
Southeast Elementary School	Public	K-5	718 S Locust St	Sycamore	60178	DeKalb County	Sycamore CUSD 427	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 899-8219	300	24	12.3	30.7%	230 (76.7%)	8 (2.7%)	43 (14.3%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (5.0%)	69.2	618^th of 2056 public elementary schools	69.9%		61.7	707^th of 2067 public elementary schools	65.8%	89	56.8	72.5	47.6	50.0	56.3	72.5	52.4	38.6	55.1	96.0	94.6	94.6	94.6	27.5	94.6	95.3		$15,227	$280	$14,947
Cortland Elementary School	Public	K-5	370 E Lexington Ave	Cortland	60112	DeKalb County	DeKalb CUSD 428	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 754-2360	523	40	13.0	62.1%	195 (37.3%)	61 (11.7%)	221 (42.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (8.6%)	23.6	1588^th of 2056 public elementary schools	22.8%		20.5	1667^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.4%	79	30.3	29.3	24.4	33.3	28.9	24.0	19.5	25.3	22.8	97.3	97.7	97.7	97.7		96.5	96.1		$20,673	$1,871	$18,802

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Jefferson Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Clinton Rosette Middle School
High : DeKalb High School

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary School?

Students at Jefferson Elementary School are 36% White, 31% African American, 18% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 7% Asian.

What district is Jefferson Elementary School in?

DeKalb CUSD 428

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 308 students attended Jefferson Elementary School.

Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Jefferson Elementary School ranks 885^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Jefferson Elementary 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.