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Dirksen Junior High School

Public Grades 6-8

1110^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,368 Illinois Middle Schools

Better than 19% of Illinois middle schools

Summary

Dirksen Junior High School is a public middle school located in Joliet, Illinois, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 655 students. The school is part of the Joliet Public School District 86, which is ranked 755 out of 811 school districts in Illinois and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dirksen Junior High School consistently performs below the state and district averages in standardized test scores. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 29.5% of Dirksen students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 53.1% statewide and 29.9% in the Joliet district. In mathematics, the proficiency rate was just 15.3%, compared to 38.5% statewide and 17% in the district. The school also has high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 25.4% to 30.7% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state and district averages. Additionally, Dirksen Junior High School struggles to support the academic achievement of various student subgroups, ranking in the bottom 50% of Illinois middle schools for African American, Hispanic, White, and Special Education students.

In contrast, schools outside the Joliet district, such as Channahon Junior High School, Troy Middle School, and Kelvin Grove Junior High School, demonstrate significantly higher academic achievement, with proficiency rates well above the state averages. This highlights the stark differences in educational outcomes between Dirksen Junior High School and higher-performing schools in the surrounding area. Despite the increased per-student spending at Dirksen Junior High School, from $12,967 in the 2020-2021 school year to $20,359 in the 2023-2024 school year, the academic performance has not improved, suggesting that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution to the school's challenges.

653

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,491

Per pupil spending ?

98.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

203 S Midland Ave
Joliet, IL 60436-1305

(815) 729-1566

District: Joliet PSD 86

Feeder schools for Dirksen Junior High School:

Elementary:	Lynne Thigpen Elementary School
	Pershing Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

65.2%

African American:

22.2%

White:

8.4%

See top rated Illinois middle schools

Compare Dirksen Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 11th percentile in 2022 → 19th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 19th (2025) from a 11th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (22% vs 46% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (19th percentile)

!Science scores 24 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school22%

District avg23%

Illinois avg46%

1,110^th of 1,368

Illinois public middle schools ?

Bottom 19%▼ down 35 pts since 2015

From top 47% (2015) to bottom 19% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 4Middle Schools in the Joliet PSD 86

755^th of 811Joliet PSD 86 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	20.3	1110 of 1368	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.0	960 of 1363	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.3	1175 of 1367	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.7	1223 of 1369	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.0	1060 of 1241	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.1	1144 of 1356	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.2	910 of 1293	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.8	888 of 1293	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	39.3	743 of 1294	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	46.6	606 of 1302	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	42.6	791 of 1322	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	49.1	718 of 1367	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	51.2	778 of 1365	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	52.4	744 of 1344	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	48.0	815 of 1327	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	57.1	669 of 1318	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	59.8	623 of 1293	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	32.7	966 of 1287	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	24.8	1019 of 1272	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	28.4	906 of 1209	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	29.4	900 of 1204	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2003	24.3	914 of 1185	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.6	510 of 574	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.5	409 of 548	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.4	472 of 569	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.4	530 of 573	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	30.1	289 of 385	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.1	470 of 565	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	41.4	275 of 511	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.9	563 of 694	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.7	410 of 639	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.6	534 of 674	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	36.5	307 of 483	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.1	156 of 486	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	33.5	347 of 480	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.5	373 of 454	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.4	214 of 277	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.7	267 of 339	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.2	170 of 285	40.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	21.3	997 of 1248	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.5	823 of 1251	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.9	1123 of 1275	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.2	1130 of 1286	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.2	875 of 1017	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.3	1021 of 1276	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.9	843 of 1226	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.5	517 of 669	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.8	383 of 643	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.6	560 of 661	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.6	625 of 662	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.9	441 of 517	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.7	551 of 639	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.7	322 of 590	45.4%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	30.5	34 of 58	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.8	44 of 70	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.5	46 of 53	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	60.0	7 of 34	79.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	32.1	845 of 1229	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.1	682 of 1219	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.9	970 of 1234	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.2	1054 of 1221	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.5	780 of 1019	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.7	944 of 1217	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.2	608 of 1161	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	19.4	1047 of 1271	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.3	974 of 1264	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.5	1078 of 1292	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.5	1144 of 1286	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.9	968 of 1048	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.0	1170 of 1296	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	25.9	904 of 1223	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	28.3	142 of 204	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.8	131 of 184	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.6	173 of 194	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.8	166 of 195	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.5	142 of 179	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.3	139 of 164	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	25.1	615 of 812	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.3	584 of 802	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.4	559 of 805	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.6	608 of 781	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.6	501 of 548	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.7	700 of 792	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.6	437 of 602	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	32.8	622 of 884	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.0	615 of 875	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.1	858 of 895	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.8	870 of 898	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.8	780 of 813	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.1	883 of 905	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.4	805 of 889	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2025)41st percentile+23 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)36th percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)31st percentile+12 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)30th percentile+12 vs school

White (2025)30th percentile+11 vs school

Special Education (2025)24th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)23rd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)20th percentile~ school

Disabled (2025)19th percentile~ school

Male (2025)18th percentile~ school

African American (2025)11th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts30%-24 vs state

Science21%-24 vs state

Mathematics15%-23 vs state

4.5

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Yes, this is a school which strives always to do its best for students and parents. Love the fact that this school is smaller than other Junior High Schools. The teachers really are able to focus on the needs and questions of students at all times. Teachers are also wonderful and well prepared educators with personalities and positive attitudes that truly represent what Leader Educators should be... These teachers and staff really go above and beyond to prepare our sons and daughters to begin the crossing of the bridge of knowledge to connect with the bigger world of responsibilities and innovating information that is being created each new day they live!
Thank you for all your good work!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Alvarado Close Quote

Schools Near Dirksen 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 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 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	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dirksen Junior High School	Public	6-8	203 S Midland Ave	Joliet	60436	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 729-1566	653	46	14.1	98.2%	55 (8.4%)	145 (22.2%)	426 (65.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.8%)	20.3	1110^th of 1368 public middle schools	18.9%		27	960^th of 1363 public middle schools	29.6%	150		21.1			28.4	26.3	34.0	29.5			15.6	14.2	16.0	15.3	98.9	99.3	99.3	99.3	98.9	99.3	99.3	95.2	$21,491	$1,843	$19,648
Hufford Junior High School	Public	6-8	1125 N Larkin Ave	Joliet	60435	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 725-3540	1,072	81	13.1	97.3%	124 (11.6%)	208 (19.4%)	694 (64.7%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (3.9%)	19.1	1137^th of 1368 public middle schools	16.9%		25.9	984^th of 1363 public middle schools	27.8%	153		23.3			33.3	26.2	31.2	30.2			12.7	10.8	12.7	12.0	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	96.4	$18,530	$1,671	$16,859
Will County Detention Center 6-8	Public	6-8	3200 McDonough St	Joliet	60431	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(815) 730-7233	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Washington Junior High & Academy Prgm	Public	6-8	402 Richards St	Joliet	60433	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 727-5271	724	51	14.1	98.5%	28 (3.9%)	144 (19.9%)	532 (73.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (2.8%)	19	1139^th of 1368 public middle schools	16.7%		19.8	1100^th of 1363 public middle schools	19.3%	39		21.9			29.8	30.0	34.1	31.4			9.7	13.8	11.8	11.7	99.0	99.0	99.0	99.0	99.1	99.0	99.0	94.0	$20,028	$1,528	$18,499
Gompers Junior High School	Public	6-8	1501 Copperfield Ave	Joliet	60432	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 727-5276	615	61	10.0	99.2%	5 (0.8%)	50 (8.1%)	548 (89.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.0%)	22.2	1066^th of 1368 public middle schools	22.1%		28	941^st of 1363 public middle schools	31.0%	125		23.9			32.2	35.2	38.9	35.5			7.1	17.3	13.4	12.8	97.0	98.0	98.0	98.0	97.5	97.3	99.0	95.5	$21,008	$1,585	$19,423
Timber Ridge Middle School	Public	6-8	2101 S Bronk Rd	Plainfield	60586	Will County	Plainfield School District 202	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 439-3410	885	58	15.3	40.1%	400 (45.2%)	97 (11.0%)	320 (36.2%)	24 (2.7%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (4.5%)	50.1	618^th of 1368 public middle schools	54.8%		50.7	590^th of 1363 public middle schools	56.7%	28		43.3			47.4	63.2	58.1	56.2			19.4	27.1	26.8	24.4	99.0	99.0	99.0	99.0	98.9	99.0	99.0	98.2	$14,224	$1,026	$13,199
Troy Middle School	Public	7-8	5800 Theodore Dr	Plainfield	60586	Will County	Troy CCSD 30C	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 577-6760	881	69	12.6	44.8%	344 (39.0%)	162 (18.4%)	328 (37.2%)	21 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.0%)	66.1	411^th of 1368 public middle schools	70.0%		61.6	431^st of 1363 public middle schools	68.4%	20		46.6				65.1	70.1	67.6				31.4	38.2	34.8									$16,804	$196	$16,608
Orenic Intermediate School	Public	5-6	5820 Theodore Dr	Plainfield	60586	Will County	Troy CCSD 30C	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 577-6760	812	69	11.7	48.8%	306 (37.7%)	155 (19.1%)	294 (36.2%)	25 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (3.9%)								(n/a)	39.7			55.2	66.3			60.6		34.9	33.7			34.3									$18,122	$481	$17,641
Kelvin Grove Junior High School	Public	4-8	808 Adams St	Lockport	60441	Will County	Lockport School District 91	No	(n/a)	No	No	(815) 838-0737	260	30	8.6	36.5%	200 (76.9%)	8 (3.1%)	42 (16.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.5%)	82.3	216^th of 1368 public middle schools	84.2%		70.5	337^th of 1363 public middle schools	75.3%	121	58.3	52.6	72.5	89.8	85.4	73.5	63.2	76.7	54.9	61.0	65.9	46.9	50.9	55.6	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.1	97.5	56.4	$19,511	$248	$19,263
Drauden Point Middle School	Public	6-8	1911 Drauden Rd	Plainfield	60586	Will County	Plainfield School District 202	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 577-4900	658	49	13.5	36.0%	282 (42.9%)	132 (20.1%)	205 (31.2%)	12 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.0%)	53.4	576^th of 1368 public middle schools	57.9%		53.8	544^th of 1363 public middle schools	60.1%	32		43.4			58.6	58.2	55.9	57.6			30.9	29.1	21.3	27.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	98.2	100.0	98.1	98.2	97.9	$16,871	$914	$15,958

Frequently Asked Questions about Dirksen Junior High School

What district is Dirksen Junior High School in?

Joliet PSD 86

What is the racial makeup of Dirksen Junior High School?

Students at Dirksen Junior High School are 65% Hispanic, 22% African American, 8% White, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Dirksen Junior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 653 students attended Dirksen Junior High School.

Is Dirksen Junior High School a good school?

Dirksen Junior High School ranks in the bottom 18.9% of Illinois middle schools.

Rate Dirksen 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.