The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Elem School
Jefferson Elementary serves kindergarten through third grade in Pekin, a mid-sized Illinois River city that mixes residential neighborhoods with commercial corridors and industrial sites. The school has a small enrollment for its grade band, drawn mostly from the immediate area. About a third of students identify as white, with the rest distributed among two-or-more-races, Hispanic, Black, and Asian backgrounds in smaller shares. Free and reduced price lunch data were not available, so family income levels cannot be assessed from the provided information.
On the most recent state testing available, third-grade results show proficiency rates below the midpoint among Tazewell County districts. In math, the school's proficiency rate was below half. In English language arts, it was similarly modest. No results are available for kindergarten, first, or second grade because those grades are not tested under Illinois state assessment; fourth through eighth grade results are missing because Jefferson serves only through third grade. A parent may want to look into the school's approach to early literacy and numeracy, and what progress monitoring looks like across kindergarten and first and second grade, since state testing data do not measure those critical foundational years.
Pekin Public School District 108 has made two notable changes affecting families in the elementary grades. Washington and Wilson Intermediate Schools, which receive students after third grade, are moving to standards-based grading and reporting starting in the 2025-2026 school year, so Jefferson parents will see that shift in report cards and conferences when their children advance. The entire district is participating in the federal Community Eligibility Provision for 2025-2026, which means every enrolled student receives free breakfast and lunch daily with no application required, a meaningful household-budget benefit across the district.
The housing market in Pekin's zip code shows modest home values with an upward trend, and rents are affordable. The broader economic context includes active mixed-use and residential development, notably the Lutticken Property purchase and several new duplex and single-family projects, suggesting neighborhood stability and investment. The city operates strong civic anchors including the Pekin Park District, which runs 13 parks totaling substantial acreage, and public transit through CityLink with local routes connecting to Peoria. Downtown revitalization efforts are ongoing along Court Street.
School discipline data, chronic absenteeism rates, staffing details, and program offerings beyond the core academic program were not available. A parent considering Jefferson should connect directly with the school to understand behavioral expectations, attendance patterns, any specialized services or enrichment programs, and what the early-grade classroom experience looks like across the day.
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