The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Math. The lowest is 60% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Park School
Jefferson Park School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through second grade in El Paso, a small central Illinois city in Woodford County. The school enrolls a small student body distributed fairly evenly across its grade levels. The student population is predominantly white, with very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
The school's student demographics and setting reflect El Paso itself: a historic small city with a suburban-rural character where most families own their homes. The school sits within El Paso-Gridley Community Unit School District 11, a consolidated PreK-12 district that also serves the neighboring town of Gridley. El Paso's economy centers on local employers including the school district itself, agricultural and building-supply businesses, and some commuting into the larger Peoria metropolitan area. The housing market in the area is modest, with median home values below the state benchmark and monthly housing costs that leave room in typical household budgets.
Because Jefferson Park serves only the earliest grades, state assessment results are available only for third grade, where testing data comes from students who have moved on to other schools in the district. In the most recent available year, third graders showed math proficiency at a solid level, placing Jefferson Park above the midpoint of proficiency across Woodford County schools overall. English language arts proficiency was somewhat lower, falling in the middle range county-wide. The school's participation rate in state testing was strong.
Information about free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, English learner populations, and chronic absenteeism is not available in the school's reported data. A parent may want to look into these details directly with the school to understand the broader student support picture. The school's early grades focus means it does not have discipline, attendance, or course-access data that schools serving older students typically report.
The district itself has faced a significant facilities question. In early 2023, voters rejected a bond measure that would have funded a long-term capital plan including grade-level realignment, demolition of aging building sections, construction of a new junior high, and accessibility improvements across multiple schools. The rejection leaves the district's aging buildings and accessibility gaps in place, which is relevant for families considering the district's long-term stability and learning environment quality.
El Paso is a stable but slowly declining community, with essentially flat population between the 2020 census and recent estimates. The town has an unusually large stock of pre-World War II architecture, giving the older core a historic small-town texture, though much commercial activity has shifted to highway-oriented corridors near Interstate 39 and major routes. A compact downtown along Front Street centers civic life, but daily driving is typical for most residents and families.
Jefferson Park is located at 250 West 3rd Street in El Paso. No website for the school was provided. A parent interested in programs, special services, staffing details, or other specifics would need to contact the school or district office directly for that level of information.
See more original research from School Decision →