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Taft Elementary School

Q: Is Taft Elementary School a good school?

Taft Elementary School ranks 1463 rd of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1463^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 29% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Taft Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Joliet, Illinois, serving grades K-5 with a total enrollment of 424 students. The school is part of the Joliet PSD 86 district, which is ranked 755 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Taft Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom half of Illinois elementary schools, with a ranking between 1400-1600 out of over 2,000 schools in recent years. The school's performance on state assessments is significantly below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with only 34.3% of Taft students proficient or better in ELA and 25.7% proficient or better in Math, compared to state averages of 53.1% and 38.5%, respectively. Taft's performance also lags behind the Joliet PSD 86 district averages, indicating the school is underperforming compared to other schools in the same district. The school faces challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 23.5% to 28.2% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

Comparing Taft Elementary to nearby schools, both within and outside the Joliet PSD 86 district, highlights the need for targeted interventions and support. While the nearby Lynne Thigpen Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, and Carl Sandburg Elementary also perform poorly on academic measures, the Richland Elementary School, which is in a different district (Richland GSD 88A), significantly outperforms Taft and the other Joliet PSD 86 schools on academic assessments, despite serving a student population with a lower percentage of low-income students.

424

Students ?

19.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,079

Per pupil spending ?

94.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1125 Oregon St
Joliet, IL 60435-3900

(815) 725-2700

District: Joliet PSD 86

Students who attend Taft Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:

Hufford Junior High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

65.8%

White:

13.9%

African American:

13.4%

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Compare Taft Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 26th percentile in 2015 → 29th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Illinois average (31% vs 44% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts scores 19 pts below the Illinois average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school31%

District avg22%

Illinois avg44%

1,463^rd of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 29%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From bottom 26% (2015) to bottom 29% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 15Elementary 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	28.9	1463 of 2056	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.5	1526 of 2067	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	1563 of 2077	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.2	1418 of 2082	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.6	1520 of 1948	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.4	1600 of 2086	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.8	1727 of 2037	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	29.1	1440 of 2044	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	25.9	1537 of 2046	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	26.4	1522 of 2052	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	41.4	1291 of 2093	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	57.4	1005 of 2167	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	67.4	825 of 2166	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	49.2	1309 of 2147	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	45.6	1383 of 2139	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	50.3	1271 of 2120	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	55.7	1138 of 2092	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	54.3	1220 of 2095	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	47.5	1343 of 2086	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	39.4	1428 of 2022	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	47.4	1259 of 2030	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2003	45.9	1282 of 2020	36.5%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	27.2	564 of 692	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	35.8	413 of 684	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.7	616 of 711	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.8	491 of 698	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	24.4	836 of 1049	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.4	827 of 886	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	31.1	612 of 907	32.5%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	46.0	383 of 788	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.2	483 of 826	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.3	550 of 788	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.7	462 of 768	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.8	678 of 743	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	34.3	514 of 718	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	38.6	1189 of 1942	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.1	1293 of 1942	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.0	1449 of 1957	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.1	1348 of 1970	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.4	1264 of 1680	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.1	1539 of 2019	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.7	1677 of 1964	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	44.5	523 of 982	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.6	583 of 959	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.2	598 of 970	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.0	473 of 954	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.4	354 of 742	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.8	765 of 955	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.7	746 of 938	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	48.9	896 of 1800	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.0	1004 of 1793	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.7	1061 of 1808	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.6	806 of 1763	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.8	969 of 1514	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.1	1029 of 1816	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.4	1296 of 1765	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	1502 of 1947	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.6	1543 of 1959	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.8	1460 of 1984	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.4	1259 of 1977	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	17.1	1491 of 1707	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.5	1513 of 2019	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.2	1629 of 1972	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	22.1	1053 of 1292	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	1106 of 1195	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	993 of 1156	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.2	919 of 1194	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2023	17.0	1256 of 1419	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.9	1212 of 1425	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.5	1101 of 1462	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.0	1373 of 1463	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2025)51st percentile+23 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)50th percentile+21 vs school

Hispanic (2025)47th percentile+18 vs school

Female (2025)39th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)23rd percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2025)20th percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2025)18th percentile-10 vs school

African American (2023)18th percentile-6 vs school

White (2023)11th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts34%-19 vs state

Science32%-8 vs state

Mathematics26%-13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Taft 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)	% 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	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Taft Elementary School	Public	K-5	1125 Oregon St	Joliet	60435	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 725-2700	424	21	19.9	94.6%	59 (13.9%)	57 (13.4%)	279 (65.8%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.9%)	28.9	1463^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	28.8%		25.5	1526^th of 2067 public elementary schools	26.2%	63	32.3		22.2	36.5	45.3				34.3	31.9	25.7	18.8				25.7	97.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.1	98.1	97.5		$18,079	$1,536	$16,543
Carl Sandburg Elementary	Public	K-5	1100 Lilac Ln	Joliet	60435	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 725-0281	371	20	18.7	95.1%	26 (7.0%)	157 (42.3%)	165 (44.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.9%)	9.3	1959^th of 2056 public elementary schools	4.7%		13.2	1937^th of 2067 public elementary schools	6.3%	22	10.0		15.3	7.8	28.0				16.9	10.2	11.8	8.0				10.0	96.5	97.9	97.9	97.9	98.6	97.5	96.5		$17,492	$1,746	$15,746
Pershing Elementary School	Public	K-5	251 N Midland Ave	Joliet	60435	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 725-0986	621	33	19.0	96.1%	60 (9.7%)	107 (17.2%)	432 (69.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.4%)	14.5	1806^th of 2056 public elementary schools	12.2%		17.8	1742^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	15.7%	64	15.4		26.8	24.8	30.8				27.2	22.7	8.5	6.6				12.5	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6	98.6		$18,428	$1,916	$16,512
M J Cunningham Elementary School	Public	K-5	500 Moran St	Joliet	60435	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 723-0169	484	33	14.5	94.0%	25 (5.2%)	29 (6.0%)	410 (84.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.9%)	15.7	1771^st of 2056 public elementary schools	13.9%		19.4	1699^th of 2067 public elementary schools	17.8%	72	16.0		19.4	19.7	27.4				22.3	24.7	21.1	15.5				20.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1	97.1		$17,539	$1,554	$15,985
Farragut Elementary School	Public	K-5	701 Glenwood Ave	Joliet	60435	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 723-0394	568	34	16.8	94.2%	25 (4.4%)	178 (31.3%)	340 (59.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.4%)	11.2	1901^st of 2056 public elementary schools	7.5%		17.5	1752^nd of 2067 public elementary schools	15.2%	149	17.9		15.5	16.7	26.9				19.3	12.4	14.3	6.4				11.2	95.7	95.3	95.3	95.3	96.4	95.3	95.3		$18,063	$1,817	$16,245
Richland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1919 Caton Farm Rd	Crest Hill	60403	Will County	Richland GSD 88A	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 744-6166	774	63	12.3	59.2%	197 (25.5%)	174 (22.5%)	345 (44.6%)	18 (2.3%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	35 (4.5%)	56.5	875^th of 2056 public elementary schools	57.4%		56.3	791^st of 2067 public elementary schools	61.7%	84	54.0	58.9	45.7	49.4	73.0	56.7	52.4	76.7	58.4	33.0	38.0	46.0	21.1	34.5	38.9	34.6									$18,335	$852	$17,483
Chaney-Monge School	Public	K-8	400 Elsie Ave	Crest Hill	60403	Will County	Chaney-Monge School District 88	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 722-6673	479	0		68.5%	133 (27.8%)	42 (8.8%)	257 (53.7%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (9.0%)	23.3	1591^st of 2056 public elementary schools	22.6%		24.5	1557^th of 2067 public elementary schools	24.7%	34	25.0	23.5	17.0	24.4	47.9	38.3	39.2	35.3	33.9	40.4	11.1	18.8	2.1	7.8	3.9	13.8	99.3	97.7	97.7	97.7	100.0	98.7	100.0	33.9	$19,439	$982	$18,457
Lynne Thigpen Elementary School	Public	K-5	207 S Midland Ave	Joliet	60436	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 741-7629	620	40	15.3	93.9%	45 (7.3%)	139 (22.4%)	397 (64.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.0%)	14.8	1790^th of 2056 public elementary schools	12.9%		17.2	1763^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	14.7%	27	18.8		15.1	17.8	36.5				23.1	17.0	19.8	9.3				15.4	96.4	97.4	97.4	97.4	98.4	97.4	96.6		$19,291	$2,041	$17,250
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School	Public	K-5	2651 Glenwood Ave	Joliet	60435	Will County	Joliet PSD 86	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 725-0262	235	28	8.4	94.0%	38 (16.2%)	48 (20.4%)	131 (55.7%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (6.8%)	32.7	1365^th of 2056 public elementary schools	33.6%		34.3	1281^st of 2067 public elementary schools	38.0%	84	25.6		34.8	36.1	35.9				35.5	60.9	19.4	17.9				34.7	98.5	99.1	99.1	99.1	99.1	98.9	98.9		$16,857	$1,404	$15,454
Rockdale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	715 Meadow Ave	Rockdale	60436	Will County	Rockdale School District 84	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 725-5321	257	24	10.6	71.2%	45 (17.5%)	31 (12.1%)	163 (63.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.6%)	13.4	1833^rd of 2056 public elementary schools	10.8%		26.1	1513^th of 2067 public elementary schools	26.8%	320	15.4	44.4	15.6	23.1	29.6	33.3	52.2	44.4	31.3	21.9	7.7	11.1	0.0	21.7	22.2	14.0	91.1	92.6	92.6	92.6	94.2	91.9	92.3	23.6	$23,152	$1,847	$21,305

Frequently Asked Questions about Taft Elementary School

What district is Taft Elementary School in?

Joliet PSD 86

How many students attend Taft Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 424 students attended Taft Elementary School.

Is Taft Elementary School a good school?

Taft Elementary School ranks 1463^rd of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Taft Elementary School?

Students at Taft Elementary School are 66% Hispanic, 14% White, 13% African American, 6% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Taft Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Hufford 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.