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Hester Junior High School

Q: Is Hester Junior High School a good school?

Hester Junior High School ranks 443 rd of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

443^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 68% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Hester Junior High School is a public middle school located in Franklin Park, Illinois, serving 453 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Franklin Park School District 84, which is ranked 279 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Hester Junior High School has consistently performed better than the state average in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency, with 63.3% of students proficient or better in 2024-2025 compared to the state average of 53.1%. However, the school's mathematics proficiency has been lower than the state average, with only 37.2% of students proficient or better in 2024-2025 compared to the state average of 38.5%. The school's performance in science, as measured by the ISA test, is also lower than the state average, with 37.5% of 8th-grade students proficient or better in 2024-2025 compared to the state average of 45.4%. Hester Junior High School generally outperforms nearby schools like Irving Middle School and Roosevelt Middle School in both ELA and mathematics proficiency, but lags behind higher-performing schools like Churchville Middle School and J. Giles Elementary School.

Hester Junior High School has a relatively high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 57.4% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2023-2024. The school has also experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 16.0% to 26.3% over the past few years, which is higher than the state average. While the school has a relatively high per-student spending of $16,765 in 2023-2024 and a low student-teacher ratio of 13.2, addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism and ensuring equity and inclusion for all students, particularly English Language Learners and Special Education students, could be areas of focus for the school and district.

426

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,407

Per pupil spending ?

62.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2836 Gustav St
Franklin Park, IL 60131-2905

(847) 455-2150

District: Franklin Park School District 84

Students who attend Hester Junior High School usually attend:

High:

East Leyden High School

Feeder schools for Hester Junior High School:

Elementary:	Dan H Pietrini Elementary School
	North Elementary School
	Passow Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

72.8%

White:

21.8%

Asian:

4.0%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Hester Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 37th percentile in 2015 → 68th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 31 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Illinois median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg49%

Illinois avg46%

443^rd of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 31 pts since 2015

From bottom 37% (2015) to top 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

279^th of 811Franklin Park School District 84 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	63.4	443 of 1368	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.3	473 of 1363	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	450 of 1367	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.9	537 of 1369	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.2	397 of 1241	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.2	481 of 1356	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.5	320 of 1293	75.3%	★★★★☆
2017	65.0	386 of 1293	70.1%	★★★★☆
2016	60.3	435 of 1294	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	34.0	824 of 1302	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	60.4	525 of 1322	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	54.9	623 of 1367	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	64.1	538 of 1365	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	56.5	682 of 1344	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	60.1	611 of 1327	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	51.4	754 of 1318	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	48.6	784 of 1293	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	41.6	869 of 1287	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	53.5	692 of 1272	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	63.1	531 of 1209	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	58.9	578 of 1204	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2003	50.6	666 of 1185	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	43.5	320 of 694	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	32.1	438 of 639	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.7	365 of 674	45.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	60.0	126 of 483	73.9%	★★★★☆
2024	31.4	368 of 486	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.1	283 of 480	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	28.4	403 of 454	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.3	200 of 277	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	49.4	113 of 339	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.7	101 of 285	64.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	63.0	414 of 1248	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.1	479 of 1251	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.0	385 of 1275	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.8	422 of 1286	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.5	314 of 1017	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.8	535 of 1276	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.9	338 of 1226	72.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	65.8	181 of 669	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	60.3	196 of 643	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.1	203 of 661	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.0	248 of 662	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.9	106 of 517	79.5%	★★★★☆
2019	61.6	184 of 639	71.2%	★★★★☆
2018	73.7	104 of 590	82.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	72.7	227 of 1229	81.5%	★★★★☆
2024	67.8	269 of 1219	77.9%	★★★★☆
2023	62.9	329 of 1234	73.3%	★★★★☆
2022	62.9	322 of 1221	73.6%	★★★★☆
2021	73.4	138 of 1019	86.5%	★★★★☆
2019	72.1	222 of 1217	81.8%	★★★★☆
2018	82.6	108 of 1161	90.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	60.1	441 of 1271	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.4	424 of 1264	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.7	524 of 1292	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.8	620 of 1286	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.6	455 of 1048	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.5	385 of 1296	70.3%	★★★★☆
2018	71.1	281 of 1223	77.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	30.4	531 of 812	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.8	498 of 802	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.3	410 of 805	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.2	418 of 781	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.4	243 of 548	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.5	472 of 792	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.1	188 of 602	68.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	63.1	285 of 884	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.9	373 of 875	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.4	231 of 895	74.2%	★★★★☆
2022	50.0	415 of 898	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.2	300 of 813	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.2	440 of 905	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.6	234 of 889	73.7%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)82nd percentile+14 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)74th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)73rd percentile+5 vs school

White (2025)68th percentile~ school

Female (2025)67th percentile~ school

Male (2025)65th percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)54th percentile-14 vs school

Special Education (2025)35th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts63%+10 vs state

Science38%-8 vs state

Mathematics37%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Hester Junior High 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)	% 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 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 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	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hester Junior High School	Public	6-8	2836 Gustav St	Franklin Park	60131	Cook County	Franklin Park School District 84	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 455-2150	426	34	12.6	62.9%	93 (21.8%)	4 (0.9%)	310 (72.8%)	17 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	63.4	443^rd of 1368 public middle schools	67.6%		58.3	473^rd of 1363 public middle schools	65.3%	30		37.5		57.7	70.4	61.0	63.3		39.8	39.4	32.4	37.2	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	$17,407	$388	$17,019
Mannheim Middle School	Public	6-8	2600 Hyde Park Ave	Melrose Park	60164	Cook County	Mannheim School District 83	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 455-5020	768	74	10.3	65.4%	57 (7.4%)	14 (1.8%)	676 (88.0%)	10 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.0%)	35.1	859^th of 1368 public middle schools	37.2%		34.6	825^th of 1363 public middle schools	39.5%	34		44.3		32.5	40.7	48.1	40.7		16.7	22.8	18.7	19.3	91.5	91.5	91.5	91.5	91.5	91.5	91.5	91.5	$20,782	$839	$19,943
Lincoln Middle School	Public	6-8	9750 Soreng Ave	Schiller Park	60176	Cook County	Schiller Park School District 81	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(847) 671-1816	474	34	14.0	68.4%	200 (42.2%)	6 (1.3%)	232 (48.9%)	23 (4.9%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.5%)	58.8	503^rd of 1368 public middle schools	63.2%		55.5	519^th of 1363 public middle schools	61.9%	16		58.1		48.1	53.6	62.8	55.1		30.4	36.4	29.7	32.2	93.9	93.9	93.9	93.9	93.9	93.9	93.9	93.9	$15,393	$680	$14,713
Stevenson Middle School	Public	6-8	1630 N 20th Ave	Melrose Park	60160	Cook County	Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview 89	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 450-2053	682	65	10.4	62.8%	11 (1.6%)	45 (6.6%)	618 (90.6%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.6%)	45.2	689^th of 1368 public middle schools	49.6%		31.2	882^nd of 1363 public middle schools	35.3%	193		39.4		50.7	48.5	60.9	53.9		22.2	21.5	22.5	22.1	97.5	96.9	96.7	96.9	97.5	95.9	97.6	93.3	$20,318	$1,149	$19,168
Northlake Middle School	Public	6-8	202 S Lakewood Ave	Northlake	60164	Cook County	Berkeley School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 449-3195	378	31	12.3	84.4%	11 (2.9%)	4 (1.1%)	355 (93.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	30.2	933^rd of 1368 public middle schools	31.8%		21	1077^th of 1363 public middle schools	21.0%	144		24.6		38.2	21.8	46.9	35.9		23.6	18.8	24.8	22.5	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	99.2	96.1	$21,524	$1,155	$20,370
Elm Middle School	Public	6-8	7607 W Cortland St	Elmwood Park	60707	Cook County	Elmwood Park CUSD 401	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 452-3550	615	46	13.3	63.1%	207 (33.7%)	20 (3.3%)	368 (59.8%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (1.8%)	60.8	479^th of 1368 public middle schools	65.0%		59	463^rd of 1363 public middle schools	66.0%	16		51.0		49.1	70.5	76.0	65.8		20.5	27.3	37.0	28.6	99.4	98.2	98.2	98.2	97.1	96.6	100.0	93.7	$16,961	$854	$16,107
Roosevelt Middle School	Public	6-8	2500 Oak St	Bellwood	60104	Cook County	Bellwood School District 88	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 410-3900	614	41	14.8	99.3%	1 (0.2%)	270 (44.0%)	328 (53.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.4%)	13.7	1238^th of 1368 public middle schools	9.5%		17.8	1162^nd of 1363 public middle schools	14.7%	76		16.0		18.7	23.1	26.9	22.9		7.1	12.4	10.9	10.1	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	95.4	$21,946	$1,454	$20,491
J Giles Elementary School	Public	5-8	4251 N Oriole Ave	Norridge	60706	Cook County	Norridge School District 80	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 453-4847	499	31	16.3	43.1%	343 (68.7%)	0 (0.0%)	94 (18.8%)	54 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	73.1	328^th of 1368 public middle schools	76.0%		69.7	349^th of 1363 public middle schools	74.4%	21	42.6	63.1	63.0	67.9	69.3	76.9	69.6	24.1	25.9	43.9	36.2	32.8	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	98.4	95.8	98.4	67.7	$11,874	$581	$11,293
MacArthur Middle School	Public	6-8	1310 N Wolf Rd	Berkeley	60163	Cook County	Berkeley School District 87	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(708) 449-3185	357	29	12.3	75.9%	9 (2.5%)	152 (42.6%)	189 (52.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	24.3	1024^th of 1368 public middle schools	25.1%		24.8	1006^th of 1363 public middle schools	26.2%	18		23.4		31.6	35.0	30.4	32.2		19.1	21.6	15.2	18.4	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.7	99.4	99.7	99.7	96.4	$22,179	$732	$21,447
Irving Middle School	Public	5-8	805 S 17th Ave	Maywood	60153	Cook County	Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview 89	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(708) 450-2015	515	41	12.5	64.3%	2 (0.4%)	324 (62.9%)	176 (34.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.5%)	15.4	1210^th of 1368 public middle schools	11.5%		20	1098^th of 1363 public middle schools	19.4%	112		10.9		31.5	28.9	24.7	28.2		8.7	16.4	5.2	9.9	97.1	97.3	97.3	97.3	97.5	96.7	97.5	93.2	$23,479	$1,648	$21,831

Frequently Asked Questions about Hester Junior High School

Is Hester Junior High School a good school?

Hester Junior High School ranks 443^rd of 1368 Illinois middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Hester Junior High School in?

Franklin Park School District 84

What is the racial makeup of Hester Junior High School?

Students at Hester Junior High School are 73% Hispanic, 22% White, 4% Asian.

How many students attend Hester Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 426 students attended Hester Junior High School.

What high school do graduates of Hester Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Hester Junior High School usually go on to attend East Leyden High School

Rate Hester Junior 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.