L J Stevens Intermediate School, Wilmington IL

Original Research by School Decision on L J Stevens Intermediate School

L J Stevens Intermediate School serves students in grades two through five in Wilmington, a small Will County city on the Kankakee River about fifty miles southwest of Chicago. The school enrolls a small student body, split across the four grade levels it serves. The student population is predominantly white, with a smaller representation of Hispanic students and other ethnic groups.

Academic performance data from the 2024-25 school year shows students taking Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) tests in math and English language arts, and the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) in grade five. Math proficiency across the school ranges from roughly one-half to approaching two-thirds of students meeting the proficiency standard, with fourth grade performing above the other grades and fifth grade below. English language arts results track similarly, with roughly one-half proficiency in third and fourth grades and slightly lower in fifth grade. Science proficiency in fifth grade falls somewhat below these levels. When proficiency results are averaged across all tested subjects and grades, the school sits below the midpoint for proficiency compared to other districts in Will County.

The data suggests a school where academic outcomes warrant attention. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the current curriculum or instructional supports in place, and what specific initiatives are underway to strengthen proficiency. The school participates fully in state testing; all students assessed took the exams, which is not universally true across schools.

Wilmington itself is in an economic growth phase. A major logistics and industrial park along I-55 anchors the employment landscape, with tenants including large distribution centers. Residential development is also occurring, with new single-family communities under construction. Housing values in the zip code reflect the regional market, with recently active listings showing a modest inventory and prices stable relative to the broader state benchmark. The town has a walkable historic downtown along the river, lined with antique shops and locally owned restaurants, though beyond downtown the area is car-dependent. The nearest commuter rail stations are roughly a half-hour drive away in Joliet and Manhattan.

The school sits within the Wilmington CUSD 209U district. No major recent changes to curriculum, staffing, pedagogy, or operations in the district were found in available sources, suggesting the district is in a period of stability rather than active reform or new program rollout.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 353%

School 53% · District 53%

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 461%

School 61% · District 61%

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 50%

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 350%

School 50% · District 50%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 450%

School 50% · District 50%

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 48%

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

Science

Grade 541%

School 41% · District 41%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

This schoolWilmington CUSD 209U, 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.