The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in English language arts. The lowest is 60% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Summit Hill Junior High School
Summit Hill Junior High School is a seventh and eighth grade school in Frankfort, Illinois, serving a mid-sized enrollment drawn largely from the three communities of Frankfort, Mokena, and Tinley Park that make up Summit Hill School District 161. The school's student population is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and Asian students. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, so the economic profile of the school's families cannot be assessed from the data at hand.
The school's recent test results show mixed performance across subjects. In English language arts, eighth graders scored solidly, with a strong majority meeting or exceeding proficiency. Seventh grade proficiency in ELA was also healthy. In math, eighth graders again performed well, while seventh graders showed notably lower proficiency—roughly half meeting or exceeding the standard. Eighth grade science proficiency was moderate, sitting around two-thirds of students at or above standard. The school's participation rates in state testing were very high, at or near complete across all grades and subjects tested, indicating that the data represents nearly the full student population.
Across tested grades and subjects, Summit Hill JH's overall proficiency sits in the top quartile when compared to other districts in Will County, placing it among the stronger performers in its regional peer group.
The school sits in Frankfort, a residential Chicago suburb about 28 miles southwest of the city with a historic downtown core known as Old Town, centered on Breidert Green and surrounded by planned single-family subdivisions. The area has a small-town character despite suburban density, with year-round programmed events in the downtown including farmers markets, outdoor concerts, craft fairs, and seasonal festivals. Frankfort is car-oriented overall, though the historic core and the 22-mile paved Old Plank Road Trail that runs through town offer walkability. Major local employers include Borg-Warner and Pactiv Corporation, along with the school districts and auto dealerships.
Housing values in the zip code have risen modestly over the past year, and median listing prices in Will County have climbed as well, reflecting broader regional market conditions. The county housing market shows steady inventory and moderate days on market, neither tight nor deeply soft.
The district itself has recently undergone significant structural change. In December 2023, the board voted 4-3 to close two elementary schools—Frankfort Square Elementary and Arbury Hills Elementary in Mokena—citing declining enrollment. The closures consolidated students across the remaining schools and reshaped attendance boundaries. The decision proved contentious: a November 2024 advisory referendum asked voters whether they approved of the process, specifically questioning why the district maintained its property tax levy rate despite closing buildings. In April 2025, a school board election saw multiple incumbents who backed the closures ousted by challengers, including Patrick Oliphant, the parent who organized the referendum petition. The turnover shifted board control to members aligned with the parent opposition, signaling potential shifts in district direction ahead.
Prospective families considering this school should be aware that while academic performance in this building compares favorably to its regional peers, the district has been in flux, and families moving to the area would be entering a community working through substantial questions about enrollment trends, resource allocation, and leadership direction. A parent may want to look into the current district's enrollment projections and any further changes in policy or structure that may follow the recent board transition.
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