Jefferson Middle School, Villa Park IL

Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Middle School

Jefferson Middle School serves roughly middle grades in Villa Park, a residential Chicago suburb in DuPage County. The school enrolls a student body that is majority Hispanic, with substantial Black, White, and Asian representation. Precise counts on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available in the data.

State math and English language arts results from the most recent school year show proficiency rates that vary sharply by grade. In sixth grade, math proficiency sits well below the state benchmark, while English proficiency is marginally stronger. In seventh grade, both subjects show a meaningful jump, with English reaching the low-to-mid range. Eighth grade math performance drops back to a low rate, though English holds steady in the low-to-mid range. Science proficiency in eighth grade sits around the low-to-mid range. When averaged across all tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among the county's districts.

Against that context, a parent may want to look into the school's current academic supports and any targeted initiatives the school or district is using to address these results. The data shows testing participation rates were strong across grades, suggesting the numbers reflect actual performance rather than low test-taking rates.

At the district level, the picture is more mixed. SD 45, which includes Jefferson, reports that reading scores have more than doubled in recent years and that the district ranks first in math and tied for first in science among DuPage County peer districts. At the same time, voters on March 17, 2026, rejected a tax-rate referendum, leaving the district facing a substantial budget deficit. Board discussions have included possible cuts of 30 to 40 certified staff positions, larger class sizes, reduced programming, and potential redistricting and school closures beginning in 2027-28. These are not yet implemented decisions, but they represent real uncertainty about the district's near-term direction and resources.

The school itself has no data on chronic absenteeism, course offerings, staffing levels, or detailed discipline and conduct policy. Program information beyond core academics was not provided in the available data.

Villa Park itself is a mixed-income suburb with a historic downtown around its Metra station and trails that support walking and biking, though the village is largely car-oriented along its commercial corridors. Housing values in the area have been rising modestly. The community is in an active redevelopment phase, with major mixed-use projects near the downtown and the Metra station, including the recent opening of a new community recreation center. Employment is anchored in retail, light manufacturing, construction, and professional services, with the schools themselves listed as among the largest employers.

For a family considering Jefferson, the academic performance data and recent district budget uncertainty are the most immediate concerns to weigh. A conversation with the school about its instructional supports, class composition, and any initiatives aimed at improving math outcomes in the sixth and eighth grades would be a logical next step.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 612%

School 12% · District 33% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 39 pts below county median

Grade 730%

School 30% · District 36% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

Grade 816%

School 16% · District 25% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 36 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 635%

School 35% · District 44% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 39 pts below county median

Grade 746%

School 46% · District 40% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 38% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 33 pts below county median

Science

Grade 840%

School 40% · District 38% · ▲ 1 pts above district

even with state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

This schoolSD 45 DuPage County, 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.