Kaneland John Stewart Elem Sch, Elburn IL

Original Research by School Decision on Kaneland John Stewart Elem Sch

Kaneland John Stewart Elementary is a small regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Elburn, a rural-suburban village about 46 miles west of Chicago in Kane County. The school enrolls a diverse student body in a setting that is predominantly white with a meaningful Hispanic population and small numbers of students of other backgrounds. The enrollment spans roughly equal numbers across grade levels, with notably larger kindergarten and second-grade cohorts.

The school's recent state test results show mixed performance. In math, proficiency among tested third and fourth graders runs in the mid-to-upper range, but fifth-grade math proficiency dips noticeably lower. Reading proficiency is uneven as well. Fourth grade shows stronger results while third grade lags, and fifth-grade reading sits in the mid-range. Fifth-grade science proficiency comes in slightly above the midpoint. Test participation rates across all grades exceed 95 percent, indicating consistent engagement with state assessment. One note for parents reviewing these numbers: Illinois recently changed its testing standards, so year-over-year comparisons are not yet reliable, and the school's longer performance trend is not yet visible in the data.

Positioned against other districts in Kane County, Kaneland John Stewart's overall proficiency index sits just above the midpoint. The school's performance is neither an outlier nor a standout within its county peer group.

Elburn itself is in the midst of rapid residential growth tied to Metra rail service that arrived in January 2024. The village has shifted from a small farm town to an active commuter bedroom community, with major new subdivisions under development and buildout plans that could significantly expand the school-age population in coming years. Housing values in the area sit above the national benchmark and continue to appreciate. This growth trajectory means the school may face enrollment pressures and changing student composition ahead.

The district recently passed a major bond referendum in April 2025 after voters rejected a smaller proposal two years earlier. The new funding will support HVAC upgrades, roof and classroom work, playground updates, and renovations across all six Kaneland schools, with construction set to begin in summer 2026. The district pledged that annual property tax payments would remain stable despite the larger borrowing, a commitment relevant to household finances. John Stewart will benefit from these improvements, though families should expect some disruption during the construction window.

School-level detail on staffing, special education services, English learner support, and program breadth is not available in the data provided. Parents considering this school may want to reach out directly to discuss those dimensions and to ask how the school is managing the influx of new families arriving in Elburn's growing neighborhoods.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 355%

School 55% · District 58% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 456%

School 56% · District 53% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 42% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 344%

School 44% · District 55% · ▼ 10 pts below district

even with state median · even with county median

Grade 469%

School 69% · District 71% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 558%

School 58% · District 66% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Science

Grade 554%

School 54% · District 54%

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

This schoolKaneland CUSD 302, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.