The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Math. The lowest is 68% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Elem School
Jefferson Elementary is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school in Elmhurst, Illinois, serving a stable enrollment of roughly one-third of a thousand students. The school's student body is predominantly White, with meaningful representation from Asian, multiracial, Hispanic, and a small number of Black families. Specific data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner enrollment were not available.
On state assessments administered this school year, Jefferson's math proficiency in third grade reached a strong level, while fourth-grade math sat in the low-to-mid range and fifth-grade math dipped further. English language arts results showed more variability: third grade lagged noticeably, fourth grade was very strong, and fifth grade returned to a solid middle position. Science proficiency in fifth grade was below the midpoint. Performance across tested subjects and grades places Jefferson in the top quartile relative to other schools in its comparison set within DuPage County. The school conducts full testing with complete participation across grades. It is worth noting that scoring criteria for Illinois assessments shifted this year, which can complicate trend analysis, and the school has no multiyear data available to show whether these results represent growth, decline, or consistency.
Jefferson sits in Elmhurst, a compact inner-ring Chicago suburb with a genuine downtown anchored by the Metra station on York Street. The village center is walkable, lined with independent shops, restaurants, and the historic York Theatre, and hosts major civic events including one of the region's largest St. Patrick's Day parades. Beyond downtown, Elmhurst is a single-family residential community with tree-lined streets and neighborhood shopping strips along North Avenue, Roosevelt Road, and Lake Street. The Elmhurst Public Library, art museum, and Wilder Park conservatory sit a few blocks from the school, integrated into the walkable grid rather than on a separated campus. About five miles of the Illinois Prairie Path run through town, and the park district maintains dozens of neighborhood parks and greenspaces.
Housing values in the Elmhurst ZIP code are well above national benchmarks and have appreciated modestly over the past year. Rents are correspondingly elevated. The local job base is anchored by healthcare (Endeavor Health, formerly Edward-Elmhurst Hospital), education (the school district itself is one of the largest employers), the McMaster-Carr industrial distribution operation, and Elmhurst University. The community is in the midst of downtown redevelopment focused on mixed-use transit-oriented housing, including luxury apartment complexes and townhome infill projects approved in recent years.
Elmhurst School District 205, Jefferson's parent district, has undergone visible infrastructure renewal. Two new elementary buildings opened in 2022 and 2023, funded by a major referendum, adding classrooms for full-day kindergarten and new STEM and security facilities. The district also launched a Two-Way Immersion Spanish-English dual-language program at one elementary school that has expanded into middle school, creating a K-8 bilingual pathway for families who seek it. At the middle school level, the district restructured the daily schedule so that science and social studies are now taught year-round rather than semester-by-semester, a pedagogical shift that changes how every student's day is organized.
A parent may want to look into Jefferson's specific approach to math instruction in the upper elementary grades and inquire about any targeted supports or enrichment in that area, given the variance in results across grades. The school would also be a good place to ask about how the new elementary facilities and full-day kindergarten expansion are affecting students and families.
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