The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Math. The lowest is 34% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Elem School
Jefferson Elementary School serves grades two and three in Dixon, a small Illinois county-seat city along the Rock River. The school enrolls a modest student body drawn from families across the Lee County region, with the enrollment split fairly evenly between second and third graders.
The student body reflects the broader Lee County demographics, with a large majority of white students and smaller shares of students identifying as two or more races, Black, Hispanic, and other groups. Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, English learner status, and special education enrollment were not available. The school's testing participation rate is very high: nearly all eligible third graders took the state math and reading assessments.
On the Illinois Assessment of Reading and Mathematics (IAR) administered in spring 2025, third-grade results show proficiency in both subjects but at levels that place the school toward the lower end of the county's spectrum. In math, about half of tested third graders reached proficiency (Levels 3-4); in reading, roughly one-third did. These results reflect a softer performance band, and a parent may want to discuss with the school where students who did not reach proficiency stand and what support pathways exist.
No testing data exist for fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth grades because the school serves only grades two and three. Students move to other schools for upper elementary and beyond, which is a common structure in many districts but means families should understand the transition points and what happens to student records and relationships.
State assessment proficiency benchmarks changed year-to-year in Illinois, so direct year-over-year comparisons are not reliable at this point. The current results represent a single snapshot from spring 2025.
Dixon USD 170, the parent district, is navigating significant fiscal headwinds. The district's fiscal 2026 budget, approved in September 2025, projects a substantial deficit driven by the end of federal pandemic relief funds, reduced Title I and special-education grant allocations, and rising health insurance costs, compounded by declining enrollment across the district. Administration has warned that without corrective action, the operating fund balance could erode notably by fiscal year 2028, with specific cut recommendations scheduled for board votes in early 2026. These budget pressures will likely shape staffing levels, program breadth, and possibly tax or levy considerations over the next few years.
The district has made one significant addition for families with students who have behavioral or emotional challenges: in August 2024, it opened the Thomas J. Dempsey Therapeutic Day School at the Shippert Campus in nearby Nachusa. Previously, students needing therapeutic services were bused out of the district to the Quad Cities, Rockford, and Loves Park, often departing early and not returning until late afternoon, which disrupted school participation and family life. The in-district therapeutic school is a material change for families whose children benefit from that level of support.
The district also completed a renovation of its Career and Technical Education wing at Dixon High School in summer 2024, a modernization aimed at boosting student interest in building trades and construction pathways.
Jefferson's location in Dixon places families in a city experiencing active growth and reinvestment. The city approved a comprehensive plan in January 2026 targeting increased housing, with new residential development underway through projects like Pirups Landing and the Washington Park neighborhood. A major I-88 Gateway commercial development is nearing completion, and downtown walkability improvements are underway, including expanded trail systems and park investment. Housing values in the Dixon zip code are below the state median and reasonably affordable relative to household income. The city's largest employers include KSB Hospital (an independent local hospital), Dixon Correctional Center (a state prison), and manufacturing firms focused on garage doors, truck equipment, and automotive components.
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