Summary:
There is only one middle school located in the 60432 zip code - Gompers Junior High School, which serves grades 6-8 and is part of the Joliet PSD 86 district. The school faces significant challenges, with academic performance well below state and district averages across all subject areas and grade levels. Despite relatively high per-student spending and a low student-teacher ratio, the school struggles with a high chronic absenteeism rate and serves a student population with a very high percentage of economic disadvantage.
Gompers Junior High School's statewide ranking has fluctuated in recent years, ranging from 941 out of 1,363 Illinois middle schools in 2023-2024 to 1,066 out of 1,368 in 2024-2025. The school's English Language Arts proficiency rates range from 32.2% to 38.9%, compared to state averages of 54.3% to 56.7%, while Mathematics proficiency rates range from 7.1% to 17.3%, compared to state averages of 32.7% to 37%. Science proficiency for 8th grade is also significantly lower than the state average, at 23.9% compared to 45.4%.
The high chronic absenteeism rate of 25.4% and the school's very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (99.15%) suggest that the school faces significant socioeconomic challenges that may be contributing to its academic struggles. While the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 9.6, this factor alone does not appear to be translating into improved academic outcomes. Addressing the root causes of the school's underperformance, such as improving instructional practices, addressing chronic absenteeism, and targeting support for economically disadvantaged students, could be crucial next steps for the school and district.
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