The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mokena Intermediate School
Mokena Intermediate School serves grades four and five in a residential suburb about 35 miles southwest of Chicago. The school enrolls a small to mid-sized cohort, roughly split between the two grades, in a district serving a predominantly white, family-oriented community with growing Hispanic representation. The neighborhood around the school is typical suburban Mokena: single-family subdivisions built over several decades, mixed with commercial corridors and light industrial parks that have made the area an employment hub for the broader Will County region.
The school has reported recent state assessment results in both English language arts and mathematics for grades four and five. In grade four, students show proficiency rates near two-thirds in both subjects, reflecting solid foundational skills. Grade five performance softens somewhat, particularly in mathematics where roughly three-fifths of tested students met the state proficiency threshold. Science results for grade five indicate a notably softer profile, with fewer than half the students tested meeting proficiency. State testing data for grade three was not reported, and grades six through eight do not appear in the school's profile because this school's enrollment ends at grade five. The district changed cut scores for the state assessments, so direct year-over-year trend comparisons are not available.
When set against other districts across Will County on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, the school's performance sits above the midpoint of the county, a position that reflects modest, stable academic work. The school maintains strong participation rates on tested assessments, with near-complete attendance at testing.
Mokena SD 159 has undertaken substantive instructional changes that shape the school environment. Starting in the current school year, the district rolled out a new MTSS framework targeting advanced learners with tiered instruction meant to prepare students for rigorous coursework in high school. The district also adopted Heggerty Group Phonics for literacy instruction in grades kindergarten through five, and Project Lead the Way for STEM exploration in grades six through eight, a curricular shift that touches every student in intermediate grades. These represent deliberate moves to structure more targeted support within classrooms. A strategic plan developed in 2021 through a parent and community process continues to guide district priorities in curriculum and instruction.
Data on the school's free-or-reduced-price lunch enrollment, rates of special education identification, and English learner enrollment was not available. Staff information and discipline practices were similarly absent from the provided profile. A parent interested in understanding the school's support systems for lower-income families, students with disabilities, or language learners would want to contact the school directly.
Housing in Mokena's zip code shows values in the mid-range for the region, reflecting the suburban character and family-oriented market appeal of the area. The local market has moderate supply and demand, with prices rising modestly year over year. The village itself emphasizes steady commercial and residential growth, with new subdivisions and shopping development ongoing, making it an active, incrementally changing community rather than one with rapid turnover.
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