The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in English language arts. The lowest is 61% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Middle School
Franklin Middle School serves students in grades six through eight in Wheaton, a residential suburb west of Chicago that functions as the DuPage County seat. The school has a modestly sized enrollment spanning the three grades it serves.
In English language arts, Franklin's performance stands out as a clear strength. Sixth graders show strong proficiency, seventh graders perform at an especially high level, and eighth graders also demonstrate solid attainment. The ELA pattern is consistent: students show command of the material the state measures. Mathematics presents a different picture. Sixth-grade math proficiency is moderate, seventh-grade performance edges lower, and eighth-grade math shows the lowest proficiency of the three grades. This downward trend in math across grades is worth noting and may warrant a conversation with the school about how students progress in mathematical reasoning and skill through middle school. Science testing at the eighth grade shows moderate proficiency.
The school's overall proficiency across tested grades and subjects places it in the top quartile among schools in DuPage County, a position that reflects strength but also shows that students in upper-performance schools across the county include some with even higher test results.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. White students make up the largest share of enrollment, followed by Hispanic students, Asian students, and Black students in smaller but meaningful numbers. A very small number of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students and students identifying as two or more races also attend. The demographic makeup differs noticeably from many suburban schools and reflects both the broader region and Wheaton's particular community composition.
The district recently passed a major bond referendum in November 2024—the largest in its history—to fund facility upgrades at Edison, Franklin, and Monroe middle schools. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2025. The project includes safety and security improvements, accessibility upgrades, infrastructure repairs, and renovations to science labs and instructional spaces. The district structured the bond repayment over a longer period than typical, which is projected to yield substantial interest savings and reduce the estimated annual tax impact on homeowners. For families at Franklin, this means significant physical improvements to the building alongside some construction disruption during the school year.
Wheaton itself is a walkable downtown core surrounded by residential neighborhoods. Housing values in the area reflect a stable to slightly appreciating market. The town offers good transit access through two Metra stations, parks managed by a well-regarded park district, and employment anchored in education (Wheaton College, College of DuPage), county government, and healthcare. Downtown has undergone revitalization in recent years, with new apartments and mixed-use development adding to the residential base while maintaining the small-town character the community values.
State testing data for grades below sixth and above eighth were not available, as Franklin serves only middle grades. No free-or-reduced-price-lunch data, special education enrollment, or English learner enrollment counts were reported. Chronic absenteeism data was also absent. These gaps often reflect how schools in this part of the state report data, though a parent interested in understanding the full support landscape at Franklin may want to reach out to the school directly about these populations and their services.
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