The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on J L Hensey Elem School
J L Hensey Elementary School serves prekindergarten through third grade in Washington, a residential Peoria suburb in Tazewell County. The school enrolls a small population across its grade band, with roughly balanced numbers across kindergarten and third grade and slightly smaller cohorts in pre-K, first, and second.
The enrollment is predominantly white, with smaller populations of Hispanic and multiracial students, and a very small Black enrollment. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data was not available, so family income composition cannot be assessed from the data provided.
The school's 2024-25 state testing results show proficiency challenges. In grade 3 math, proficiency was just under 30 percent on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. In grade 3 ELA, proficiency reached closer to 40 percent. Grade 4 and above testing results are not reported because the school does not serve those grades. The state adjusted proficiency cut scores in 2024-25, so direct year-over-year trend comparisons are not possible. A participation rate near 98 percent indicates strong test attendance. When placed against the proficiency index used to compare schools within Tazewell County, J L Hensey scores below the midpoint of its county peer group, suggesting academic outcomes lag behind the typical Tazewell County elementary school.
Washington itself is a family-oriented suburban community with sparse development outside its small historic downtown. Most residents own their homes. The town sits within Caterpillar's central-Illinois footprint and the broader Peoria labor market. A major EF-4 tornado in 2024 caused extensive damage to the city; subsequent rebuilding has produced large swaths of new construction. Housing values in the area have risen, and the market shows modest supply with high demand. Schools are connected to neighborhoods primarily through a multi-phase Recreation Trail system rather than through proximity to walkable retail or services.
The school is a regular public school, not charter or magnet. It is part of District 50 Schools. No recent information about district-level curriculum changes, referenda, or policy shifts was found, so the reader may want to contact the district directly to learn about strategic priorities and any ongoing initiatives.
Parent and prospective resident questions about placement, support for learning gaps, or special programming may be best directed to the school and district directly, as such information was not available in the data on hand.
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