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Lester Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

147^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 93% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Lester Elementary School is a high-performing public elementary school in Downers Grove, Illinois, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 546 students. The school consistently outperforms the state and Downers Grove GSD 58 district averages in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, ranking in the top 5% of Illinois elementary schools.

In the 2024-2025 school year, 79.1% of Lester students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 76.3% for the district and 53.1% for the state of Illinois. In Mathematics, 70.9% of Lester students were proficient or better, compared to 66.4% for the district and 38.5% for the state. Lester's performance is particularly strong in 4th grade ELA and 3rd grade Mathematics. The school also performs exceptionally well across various student subgroups, including female students, male students, Hispanic students, white students, special education students, and disabled students.

While Belle Aire Elementary, Fairmount Elementary, Whittier Elementary, and Highland Elementary are also part of the Downers Grove GSD 58 district, Lester Elementary outperforms them in both ELA and Mathematics. However, Prospect Elementary School, which is part of the Hinsdale CCSD 181 district, consistently outperforms Lester Elementary in both academic subjects.

531

Students ?

17.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,503

Per pupil spending ?

11.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

236 Indianapolis Ave
Downers Grove, IL 60515-3100

(630) 719-5855

District: Downers Grove GSD 58

Students who attend Lester Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Herrick Middle School
High:	Community High School District 99 - North High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.6%

Hispanic:

10.9%

Two or more races:

6.0%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Lester Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 79th percentile in 2015 → 93rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Illinois average (70% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Illinois elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school70%

District avg69%

Illinois avg44%

147^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 14 pts since 2015

From top 21% (2015) to top 7% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 11Elementary Schools in the Downers Grove GSD 58

91^st of 811Downers Grove GSD 58 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	91.5	147 of 2056	92.9%	★★★★★
2024	93.3	144 of 2067	93.0%	★★★★★
2023	93.0	128 of 2077	93.8%	★★★★★
2022	94.9	83 of 2082	96.0%	★★★★★
2021	95.6	71 of 1948	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	92.1	122 of 2086	94.2%	★★★★★
2018	89.8	164 of 2037	91.9%	★★★★★
2017	69.5	581 of 2044	71.6%	★★★★☆
2016	60.9	716 of 2046	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	75.3	428 of 2052	79.1%	★★★★☆
2014	84.7	271 of 2093	87.1%	★★★★☆
2013	88.4	177 of 2167	91.8%	★★★★★
2012	84.1	184 of 2166	91.5%	★★★★★
2011	83.5	198 of 2147	90.8%	★★★★★
2010	73.7	604 of 2139	71.8%	★★★★☆
2009	80.4	328 of 2120	84.5%	★★★★☆
2008	74.5	563 of 2092	73.1%	★★★★☆
2007	76.3	443 of 2095	78.9%	★★★★☆
2006	79.9	304 of 2086	85.4%	★★★★☆
2005	80.0	304 of 2022	85.0%	★★★★☆
2004	86.0	146 of 2030	92.8%	★★★★★
2003	82.8	256 of 2020	87.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	97.4	21 of 1049	98.0%	★★★★★
2024	97.7	17 of 886	98.1%	★★★★★
2023	90.7	36 of 907	96.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	89.5	163 of 1942	91.6%	★★★★★
2024	92.9	116 of 1942	94.0%	★★★★★
2023	93.2	104 of 1957	94.7%	★★★★★
2022	93.7	97 of 1970	95.1%	★★★★★
2021	94.4	62 of 1680	96.3%	★★★★★
2019	92.8	89 of 2019	95.6%	★★★★★
2018	85.0	235 of 1964	88.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	81.8	102 of 982	89.6%	★★★★☆
2024	81.6	94 of 959	90.2%	★★★★★
2023	85.1	72 of 970	92.6%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	58.6	665 of 1800	63.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	91.0	127 of 1947	93.5%	★★★★★
2024	91.5	144 of 1959	92.6%	★★★★★
2023	89.7	161 of 1984	91.9%	★★★★★
2022	94.2	83 of 1977	95.8%	★★★★★
2021	93.9	78 of 1707	95.4%	★★★★★
2019	90.0	142 of 2019	93.0%	★★★★★
2018	90.1	138 of 1972	93.0%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	95.3	50 of 1292	96.1%	★★★★★
2024	92.7	57 of 1195	95.2%	★★★★★
2023	91.3	57 of 1156	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	95.5	27 of 1113	97.6%	★★★★★
2021	91.8	28 of 640	95.6%	★★★★★
2019	84.4	96 of 1194	92.0%	★★★★★
2018	89.3	29 of 763	96.2%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	83.7	167 of 1389	88.0%	★★★★☆
2024	86.1	132 of 1392	90.5%	★★★★★
2023	86.2	126 of 1419	91.1%	★★★★★
2022	89.7	77 of 1425	94.6%	★★★★★
2021	91.0	64 of 1308	95.1%	★★★★★
2019	84.5	143 of 1462	90.2%	★★★★★
2018	79.6	231 of 1463	84.2%	★★★★☆

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)

Disabled (2025)98th percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2025)96th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)93rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)92nd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)90th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)88th percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)63rd percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts79%+26 vs state

Mathematics71%+32 vs state

Science60%+19 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, January 28, 2019

Very happy with Lester School. I've had kids enrolled here for 7 years. Great activities, good network of parents. Close Quote

Schools Near Lester 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)	% 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	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 All Grades	IAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	IAR Mathematics 4th Grade	IAR Mathematics 5th Grade	IAR Mathematics 6th 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
Lester Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	236 Indianapolis Ave	Downers Grove	60515	DuPage County	Downers Grove GSD 58	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 719-5855	531	30	17.5		412 (77.6%)	9 (1.7%)	58 (10.9%)	19 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.0%)	91.5	147^th of 2056 public elementary schools	92.9%		93.3	144^th of 2067 public elementary schools	93.0%	3	60.0	76.9	88.3	75.6	78.7	79.1	75.8	83.3	61.1	66.7	70.9	98.7	98.9	98.9	98.9	19.1	98.9	98.7	3.6	15.1	$18,503	$1,075	$17,427
C E Miller Elementary School	Public	K-1	125 W Traube Ave	Westmont	60559	DuPage County	Cusd 201	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(630) 468-8300	194	17	11.4	38.7%	97 (50.0%)	17 (8.8%)	57 (29.4%)	8 (4.1%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (7.2%)								(n/a)												96.4	96.4	96.4	96.4	96.9	95.9	96.4			$30,136	$475	$29,662
Whittier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	536 Hill St	Downers Grove	60515	DuPage County	Downers Grove GSD 58	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 719-5865	307	18	16.9		251 (81.8%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (11.1%)	10 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.9%)	89.6	186^th of 2056 public elementary schools	91.0%		89.2	205^th of 2067 public elementary schools	90.1%	19	65.8	76.1	84.4	68.4	71.4	75.3	84.8	66.7	63.2	60.4	68.9	98.0	99.3	99.3	99.3	17.5	99.3	98.7		15.2	$19,487	$1,207	$18,280
J T Manning Elementary School	Public	2-5	200 N Linden Ave	Westmont	60559	DuPage County	Cusd 201	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(630) 468-8050	386	25	15.4	31.6%	214 (55.4%)	27 (7.0%)	93 (24.1%)	24 (6.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.0%)	89.2	195^th of 2056 public elementary schools	90.5%		89.3	202^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	90.2%	7	55.3	68.8	84.4	77.4		76.7	74.0	76.7	66.7		72.4	97.9	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.4	97.7	97.9			$25,067	$452	$24,615
Highland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3935 Highland Ave	Downers Grove	60515	DuPage County	Downers Grove GSD 58	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 719-5835	352	22	16.1		275 (78.1%)	6 (1.7%)	36 (10.2%)	19 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.5%)	91.9	134^th of 2056 public elementary schools	93.5%		95.5	91^st of 2067 public elementary schools	95.6%	43	70.4	63.5	82.1	79.6	81.7	77.0	82.7	70.9	77.8	61.7	72.9	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	17.0	98.1	98.3	2.8	14.2	$18,327	$998	$17,329
Pierce Downer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1436 Grant St	Downers Grove	60515	DuPage County	Downers Grove GSD 58	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 719-5860	337	21	16.4		295 (87.5%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.2%)	8 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.6%)	89.1	202^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	90.2%		82.8	306^th of 2067 public elementary schools	85.2%	104	53.2	73.9	66.0	70.2	85.7	73.4	84.8	73.6	78.7	61.9	75.0	98.9	98.9	98.9	98.9	18.4	98.9	99.4		15.5	$17,253	$998	$16,255
Belle Aire Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3935 Belle Aire Ln	Downers Grove	60515	DuPage County	Downers Grove GSD 58	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(630) 719-5820	276	18	15.2		182 (65.9%)	20 (7.2%)	26 (9.4%)	27 (9.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.2%)	94.6	79^th of 2056 public elementary schools	96.2%		95.8	80^th of 2067 public elementary schools	96.1%	1	75.0	78.6	74.3	84.4	79.4	79.1	89.3	77.1	87.5	79.4	82.9	95.9	96.3	96.3	96.3	14.0	95.9	95.5	4.5	8.6	$19,367	$999	$18,368
Maercker Elementary School	Public	3-5	5827 S Cass Ave	Westmont	60559	DuPage County	Maercker School District 60	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 515-4820	456	34	13.5	50.0%	209 (45.8%)	45 (9.9%)	87 (19.1%)	97 (21.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.7%)	68.6	630^th of 2056 public elementary schools	69.4%		79.7	373^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	82.0%	257	58.1	40.3	61.0	63.9		55.9	43.9	57.5	61.9		55.0	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1			$17,571	$743	$16,828
Fairmount Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	6036 Blodgett Ave	Downers Grove	60516	DuPage County	Downers Grove GSD 58	No	(n/a)	No	No	(630) 719-5830	342	20	17.4		272 (79.5%)	8 (2.3%)	31 (9.1%)	13 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.3%)	94.7	74^th of 2056 public elementary schools	96.4%		95.3	100^th of 2067 public elementary schools	95.2%	26	89.5	80.0	78.0	92.1	90.0	84.5	81.8	62.0	81.6	80.0	76.2	99.1	98.4	98.4	98.4	14.8	98.1	98.7	4.7	10.1	$18,459	$1,317	$17,142
Prospect Elementary School	Public	K-5	130 N Prospect Ave	Clarendon Hills	60514	DuPage County	Hinsdale CCSD 181	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(630) 861-4400	302	25	11.8		214 (70.9%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.6%)	46 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.3%)	97.5	20^th of 2056 public elementary schools	99.0%		98.8	14^th of 2067 public elementary schools	99.3%	6	81.7	88.9	85.7	91.7		89.0	96.8	81.6	88.3		89.5	98.7	98.7	99.0	99.0	99.7	99.0	98.4			$23,683	$364	$23,318

Frequently Asked Questions about Lester Elementary School

How many students attend Lester Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 531 students attended Lester Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Lester Elementary School?

Students at Lester Elementary School are 78% White, 11% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 2% African American.

What district is Lester Elementary School in?

Downers Grove GSD 58

Is Lester Elementary School a good school?

Yes. Lester Elementary School ranks in the top 7.1% of Illinois elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Lester Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Herrick Middle School
High : Community High School District 99 - North High School

Rate Lester Elementary School!

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Latest Illinois data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 30, 2025

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 30, 2025

2024–25 ACT, IAR, ISA & PreACT Secure test scoresOct 30, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataOct 30, 2024

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.