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A+

Union School District 81

Public school districtGrades K–8

Joliet’s School Grade C− better than 15% of Illinois school districts

Students
143
Schools
1
Spent per student
$40,195
IL $21,567
Students per teacher
12:1
Free or reduced lunch
37%
Debt
$0.2M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Union School District 81

  • Its letter, A+: results better than 96% of Illinois districts
  • Math proficiency 19 pts above the state
  • Reading proficiency 37 pts above the state
  • Spends 86% more per student than the IL average
  • 12 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 27.7% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $0.2M, about $1,147 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A+: better than 96% of the 887 Illinois school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well above the state, 2021–22
A+

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Joliet. Grade by grade →

K–514 elementary schoolsJoliet Public School District 86
6–84 middle schoolsJoliet Public School District 86
9–122 high schoolsJoliet Township High School District 204

Test scores vs. IL

2020–21 · 2021–22
Math proficiency40–49%
State average 25.8% · 53 students tested
Reading / language arts65–69%
State average 29.9% · 67 students tested

Graduation rate 82% at Joliet Twp HSD 204, which runs the high school (state 87.6%) · class of 2023.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$40,195 per student · 86% above IL
Spending
Classroom instruction 44%Support & administration 33%Other 24%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 78%State 16%Federal 6%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
112’20
114’21
115’22
128’23
143’24

Up 27.7% since 2020–21.

Students
Hispanic 46%White 36%Black 9%Two or more races 9%

Schools in the district

1 public school. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Illinois’s other public schools.

Union Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Joliet
A
143 students12:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Joliet Township High School District 204Elwood, Jackson Township, Rockdale
$20,589per student
Lincoln Way Community High School District 210Frankfort Township, Frankfort, Manhattan Township
$19,546per student
Lockport Township High School District 205Crest Hill, Homer Township, Lockport Township
$20,557per student
Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201Channahon, Shorewood, Troy Township
$16,775per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Illinois.