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Jefferson Elementary School

Q: Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Jefferson Elementary School ranks 1048 th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

1048^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,056 Illinois Elementary Schools

Better than 49% of Illinois elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-4 in Ottawa, Illinois, with 306 students enrolled. The school is part of the Ottawa Education Service District 141, which is ranked 462 out of 811 districts in Illinois and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Jefferson Elementary School's performance, as measured by proficiency rates on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) exams, is generally lower than the district and state averages. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (51.4%) and Mathematics (35.8%) were below the district (50.8% and 29.6%) and state (53.1% and 38.5%) averages. The school's performance has been inconsistent over the years, with its ranking among Illinois elementary schools ranging from 717 (2023-2024) to 1,492 (2018-2019). Notably, the school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Hispanic students performing relatively well, while White students and students with disabilities perform significantly worse.

Additionally, Jefferson Elementary School has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 19.0% to 26.3% over the past few years, which are significantly higher than the state average. The school's spending per student has fluctuated, ranging from $16,477 to $20,397 over the past few years, which is generally higher than the district average. Compared to nearby schools, such as McKinley Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School, both of which are also part of the Ottawa Education Service District 141, Jefferson Elementary School's performance is generally lower.

304

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,526

Per pupil spending ?

64.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1709 Columbus St
Ottawa, IL 61350-1526

(815) 434-0726

District: Ottawa Education Service District 141

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Central Intermediate School
	Shepherd Middle School
High:	Ottawa Township High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.5%

Hispanic:

23.0%

African American:

6.6%

See top rated Illinois elementary schools

Compare Jefferson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 28th percentile in 2015 → 49th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 21 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 school44%

District avg40%

Illinois avg46%

1,048^th of 2,056

Illinois public elementary schools ?

Bottom 49%▲ up 21 pts since 2015

From bottom 28% (2015) to bottom 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Illinois Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3Elementary Schools in the Ottawa Education Service District 141

462^nd of 811Ottawa Education Service District 141 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	47.6	1048 of 2056	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.9	717 of 2067	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.9	860 of 2077	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.0	1130 of 2082	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.4	789 of 1948	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	28.5	1492 of 2086	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.2	1095 of 2037	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.7	1200 of 2044	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	46.5	1020 of 2046	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	27.7	1485 of 2052	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	37.8	1360 of 2093	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.8	1409 of 2167	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	52.7	1226 of 2166	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	28.9	1682 of 2147	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	24.1	1750 of 2139	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	35.9	1547 of 2120	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	36.6	1515 of 2092	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	41.9	1473 of 2095	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	39.0	1524 of 2086	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	46.3	1309 of 2022	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	48.4	1239 of 2030	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2003	27.5	1577 of 2020	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	28.8	749 of 1049	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	53.9	855 of 1942	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.4	790 of 1942	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.6	956 of 1957	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.4	895 of 1970	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	31.8	1108 of 1680	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.8	1474 of 2019	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.0	988 of 1964	49.7%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	58.3	355 of 982	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.8	173 of 959	82.0%	★★★★☆
2018	54.0	378 of 938	59.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	55.4	748 of 1800	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.6	362 of 1793	79.8%	★★★★☆
2023	59.5	576 of 1808	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.2	678 of 1763	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.1	631 of 1514	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.8	994 of 1816	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.1	648 of 1765	63.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	38.2	1167 of 1947	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	62.3	628 of 1959	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.3	765 of 1984	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	33.9	1226 of 1977	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	62.4	524 of 1707	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.2	1237 of 2019	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.7	1041 of 1972	47.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	28.6	917 of 1292	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.8	615 of 1156	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.6	695 of 1194	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.5	196 of 763	74.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Illinois percentile	Rating
2025	29.5	1050 of 1389	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.7	829 of 1392	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.0	941 of 1419	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.0	1133 of 1425	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.6	831 of 1308	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	14.9	1339 of 1462	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	35.0	973 of 1463	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2025)64th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)58th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)56th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)40th percentile-9 vs school

Special Education (2025)29th percentile-20 vs school

Disabled (2025)29th percentile-20 vs school

White (2025)24th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Illinois (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts51%~ state avg

Mathematics36%-3 vs state

★

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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)	% 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	% Pneumococcal All Grades	% Meningococcal All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1709 Columbus St	Ottawa	61350	LaSalle County	Ottawa Education Service District 141	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 434-0726	304	23	13.2	64.8%	193 (63.5%)	20 (6.6%)	70 (23.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.3%)	47.6	1048^th of 2056 public elementary schools	49.0%		60.9	717^th of 2067 public elementary schools	65.3%	331			57.1	45.3					51.4	46.4	24.5					35.8	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1			$16,526	$1,029	$15,497
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1110 W Main St	Ottawa	61350	LaSalle County	Ottawa Education Service District 141	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 434-1250	387	29	13.1	69.3%	259 (66.9%)	3 (0.8%)	93 (24.0%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.2%)	41.4	1180^th of 2056 public elementary schools	42.6%		28.4	1448^th of 2067 public elementary schools	29.9%	268			35.2	60.3					47.0	37.1	27.0					32.3	94.8	94.8	94.8	94.8	95.0	94.8	94.8	32.6		$13,850	$745	$13,106
McKinley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1320 State St	Ottawa	61350	LaSalle County	Ottawa Education Service District 141	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 433-1907	364	25	14.8	40.9%	293 (80.5%)	9 (2.5%)	43 (11.8%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.6%)	79.9	395^th of 2056 public elementary schools	80.8%		83.6	294^th of 2067 public elementary schools	85.8%	101			71.4	72.6					72.0	65.1	49.2					57.3	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7	96.7			$15,770	$788	$14,982
Wallace Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1463 N 33rd Rd	Ottawa	61350	LaSalle County	Wallace CCSD 195	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 433-2986	420	28	14.8	26.7%	346 (82.4%)	7 (1.7%)	56 (13.3%)	7 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	75.9	482^nd of 2056 public elementary schools	76.6%		85	269^th of 2067 public elementary schools	87.0%	213	47.2	48.4	56.3	77.8	67.6	68.2	82.9	78.1	71.0	47.9	71.1	86.5	31.8	51.4	53.1	56.4	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.3	99.5	99.3	99.3	13.8	25.8	$14,393	$823	$13,569
Rutland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	3231 N Il Route 71	Ottawa	61350	LaSalle County	Rutland CCSD 230	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 433-2949	70	11	6.3	14.3%	55 (78.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (17.1%)	2 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)								(n/a)		70.0						80.0	81.6						60.0	60.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	98.5	97.0	98.5		29.9	$28,707	$1,010	$27,697
Marseilles Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	201 Chicago St	Marseilles	61341	LaSalle County	Marseilles Education Service District 150	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 554-4338	528	43	12.3	57.2%	396 (75.0%)	13 (2.5%)	87 (16.5%)	6 (1.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.4%)	30.6	1419^th of 2056 public elementary schools	31.0%		20.2	1675^th of 2067 public elementary schools	19.0%	256	34.0	38.3	16.7	26.5	44.6	21.7	20.4	36.7	28.1	35.2	33.3	32.1	23.9	10.2	18.4	25.8	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	94.6	11.0	25.5	$17,114	$2,167	$14,947
Grand Ridge School	Public	K-8	400 W Main St	Grand Ridge	61325	LaSalle County	Grand Ridge CCSD 95	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 249-6225	212	22	9.6	34.4%	195 (92.0%)	4 (1.9%)	6 (2.8%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.8%)	60.4	798^th of 2056 public elementary schools	61.2%		78.3	405^th of 2067 public elementary schools	80.4%	393	32.0	55.6	65.0	48.1	48.0	73.7	72.7	94.4	64.9	60.0	29.6	28.0	73.7	63.6	66.7	51.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	98.1	97.6	97.6	98.1		28.3	$18,780	$290	$18,490
Waltham Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2902 N Il Route 178	Utica	61373	LaSalle County	Waltham CCSD 185	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 667-4417	246	24	10.4		206 (83.7%)	1 (0.4%)	28 (11.4%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.0%)	67	667^th of 2056 public elementary schools	67.6%		52.4	878^th of 2067 public elementary schools	57.5%	211	41.4	58.3	57.1	56.7	62.1	80.0	94.7	88.0	70.5	67.9	66.7	24.1	26.7	68.4	16.0	45.9	96.5	97.7	97.7	97.7	96.9	97.7	97.3	11.0	30.2	$18,592	$704	$17,887
Deer Park C C Elementary School	Public	K-8	2350 E 1025th Rd	Ottawa	61350	LaSalle County	Deer Park CCSD 82	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 434-6930	44	7	6.2	11.4%	38 (86.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.5%)								(n/a)									80.0							50.0	82.9	82.9	82.9	82.9	82.9	82.9	82.9			$36,058	$348	$35,710
Harding Grade School	Public	PK, KG-4	1643 N 40th Rd	Earlville	60518	LaSalle County	Serena CUSD 2	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(815) 792-8216	130	9	14.4	36.2%	111 (85.4%)	1 (0.8%)	11 (8.5%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.6%)	66	690^th of 2056 public elementary schools	66.4%		65.9	633^rd of 2067 public elementary schools	69.4%	57			50.0	52.4					51.2	70.0	47.6					58.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	97.5	17.5		$21,301	$3,127	$18,174

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 : Central Intermediate School
Middle : Shepherd Middle School
High : Ottawa Township High School

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 304 students attended Jefferson Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary School?

Students at Jefferson Elementary School are 63% White, 23% Hispanic, 7% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Is Jefferson Elementary School a good school?

Jefferson Elementary School ranks 1048^th of 2056 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Jefferson Elementary School in?

Ottawa Education Service District 141

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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.