Dirksen Junior High School (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2025-26)

Dirksen Junior High School

203 S Midland Ave
Joliet, IL 60436

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Serving 655 students in grades 6-8, Dirksen Junior High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Illinois for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 6% (which is lower than the Illinois state average of 27%). The percentage of students achieving is 7% (which is lower than the Illinois state average of 30%).

The student-teacher ratio of 14:1 is higher than the Illinois state level of 13:1.

Minority enrollment is 91% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Illinois state average of 55% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 655 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 91%
: Bottom 50% in IL
: 6% (Btm 50%)
: 7% (Btm 50%)
: 18% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Dirksen Junior High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Illinois for:

School Overview

Dirksen Junior High School's student population of 655 students has declined by 9% over five school years.

The teacher population of 46 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 6-8

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Dirksen Junior High School
6	225
7	205
8	225

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Total Students

655 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School
2023	573
2022	654
2021	691
2020	721
2019	721
2018	668
2017	668
2016	655
2015	635
2014	670
2013	617
2012	619
2011	582
2010	531
2009	537
2008	529
2007	533
2006	561
2005	542
2004	554
2003	515
2002	478
2001	495
2000	489
1999	471
1998	425
1997	409
1996	403
1995	411
1994	483
1993	541
1992	524
1991	520
1990	466
1989	455
1988	432
1987	423

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

46 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School
2023	48
2022	44
2020	45
2019	45
2018	40
2017	40
2016	44
2015	41
2014	40
2013	45
2012	41
2011	39
2010	39
2009	39
2008	30
2007	39
2006	34
2005	33
2004	33
2003	35
2002	30
2001	30
2000	28
1999	28
1998	25
1997	27
1996	25
1995	26
1994	30
1993	32
1992	35
1991	33
1990	29

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School Calendar

School Motto

'I am a Peace Builder.'

School Rankings

Dirksen Junior High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 3,542 schools in Illinois (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Dirksen Junior High School is 0.55, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (IL)

#3301 out of 3542 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School
2023	#3301
2022	#3220
2021	#3316
2019	#3285
2018	#2826
2017	#2853
2016	#2235
2015	#1783
2014	#1983
2013	#1894
2012	#1581

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27%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2023	6%	27%	10%
2021	5%	28%	8%
2019	9%	33%	15%
2018	13%	32%	16%
2017	15%	32%	17%
2016	23%	31%	18%
2015	24%	29%	18%
2014	65%	59%	52%
2013	64%	58%	52%
2012	89%	80%	84%
2011	88%	80%	83%

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30%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2022	7%	30%	14%
2021	9%	32%	12%
2019	12%	38%	19%
2018	22%	37%	16%
2017	23%	38%	22%
2016	26%	36%	21%
2015	32%	38%	26%
2014	43%	57%	42%
2013	52%	58%	46%
2012	79%	75%	70%
2011	79%	75%	70%

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18%

50%

Student-Teacher Ratio

14:1

13:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2023	12:1	14:1	16:1
2022	15:1	14:1	16:1
2020	16:1	15:1	18:1
2019	16:1	15:1	18:1
2018	17:1	16:1	18:1
2017	17:1	15:1	18:1
2016	15:1	16:1	18:1
2015	15:1	16:1	19:1
2014	17:1	16:1	19:1
2013	14:1	13:1	16:1
2012	15:1	16:1	18:1
2011	15:1	16:1	19:1
2010	14:1	16:1	17:1
2009	14:1	16:1	19:1
2008	18:1	18:1	22:1
2007	14:1	17:1	19:1
2006	17:1	16:1	19:1
2005	16:1	16:1	18:1
2004	17:1	17:1	19:1
2003	15:1	16:1	19:1
2002	16:1	16:1	20:1
2001	17:1	16:1	20:1
2000	17:1	16:1	20:1
1999	17:1	16:1	21:1
1998	17:1	17:1	22:1
1997	15:1	17:1	21:1
1996	16:1	17:1	21:1
1995	16:1	17:1	20:1
1994	16:1	18:1	20:1
1993	17:1	18:1	19:1
1992	15:1	17:1	18:1
1991	16:1	17:1	18:1
1990	16:1	18:1	19:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2022)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2022	1%	5%
2021	1%	5%
2020	1%	5%
2019	1%	5%
2018	1%	5%
2017	1%	5%
2016	1%	5%
2014	1%	5%
2013	1%	5%	1%
2012	2%	4%	1%
2011	1%	5%	1%
2010	3%	5%	2%
2009	3%	5%	2%
2008	3%	5%	2%
2007	2%	5%	2%
2006	2%	5%	2%
2005	2%	5%	3%
2004	3%	4%	1%
2003	2%	4%	1%
2002	2%	4%	1%
2001	1%	4%	1%
2000	2%	3%	1%
1999	2%	3%	1%
1998	2%	3%	1%
1997	3%	3%	1%
1996	3%	3%	1%
1995	3%	3%	1%
1994	3%	3%	1%
1993	3%	3%	1%
1992	4%	3%	1%
1991	2%	3%	2%

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Hispanic

63%

28%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2023	59%	27%	67%
2022	59%	27%	66%
2021	60%	27%	64%
2020	60%	26%	62%
2019	60%	26%	62%
2018	54%	26%	56%
2017	54%	26%	56%
2016	52%	26%	59%
2015	50%	25%	58%
2014	42%	25%	56%
2013	40%	24%	53%
2012	36%	24%	51%
2011	36%	23%	50%
2010	35%	22%	46%
2009	37%	22%	50%
2008	38%	21%	49%
2007	35%	20%	46%
2006	32%	19%	45%
2005	28%	18%	40%
2004	28%	18%	38%
2003	24%	17%	37%
2002	20%	16%	35%
2001	19%	15%	33%
2000	16%	15%	30%
1999	15%	14%	28%
1998	14%	13%	26%
1997	10%	13%	26%
1996	11%	12%	24%
1995	14%	12%	23%
1994	14%	11%	21%
1993	13%	11%	20%
1992	8%	10%	19%
1991	9%	10%	19%

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Black

23%

17%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2023	25%	17%	22%
2022	23%	17%	22%
2021	22%	17%	22%
2020	24%	17%	24%
2019	24%	17%	24%
2018	26%	17%	24%
2017	26%	17%	24%
2016	27%	17%	26%
2015	31%	17%	27%
2014	33%	17%	27%
2013	35%	18%	27%
2012	35%	18%	28%
2011	34%	18%	29%
2010	36%	20%	33%
2009	34%	20%	31%
2008	32%	20%	32%
2007	37%	20%	34%
2006	37%	20%	34%
2005	39%	20%	36%
2004	38%	21%	37%
2003	40%	21%	39%
2002	40%	21%	39%
2001	39%	21%	40%
2000	38%	21%	41%
1999	36%	21%	41%
1998	33%	21%	41%
1997	31%	20%	40%
1996	33%	21%	41%
1995	28%	20%	40%
1994	28%	21%	40%
1993	25%	21%	39%
1992	27%	21%	39%
1991	29%	21%	39%

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White

45%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2023	9%	45%	8%
2022	12%	47%	9%
2021	13%	47%	10%
2020	11%	48%	10%
2019	11%	48%	10%
2018	14%	49%	11%
2017	14%	49%	11%
2016	16%	49%	12%
2015	15%	49%	13%
2014	20%	50%	14%
2013	20%	50%	15%
2012	22%	51%	15%
2011	21%	51%	15%
2010	26%	53%	19%
2009	26%	53%	17%
2008	27%	54%	17%
2007	26%	55%	18%
2006	27%	56%	19%
2005	31%	57%	21%
2004	31%	57%	22%
2003	34%	58%	23%
2002	38%	59%	25%
2001	40%	60%	26%
2000	44%	61%	28%
1999	47%	62%	30%
1998	51%	63%	32%
1997	56%	64%	33%
1996	53%	64%	34%
1995	55%	65%	36%
1994	55%	65%	38%
1993	59%	65%	40%
1992	61%	66%	41%
1991	60%	66%	40%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2023	7%	4%	3%
2022	5%	4%	3%
2021	4%	4%	4%
2020	4%	4%	4%
2019	4%	4%	4%
2018	5%	3%	9%
2017	5%	3%	9%
2016	4%	3%	3%
2015	4%	3%	2%
2014	4%	3%	3%
2013	4%	3%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.55

0.69

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2023	0.58	0.70	0.51
2022	0.59	0.68	0.52
2021	0.58	0.68	0.53
2020	0.57	0.68	0.55
2019	0.57	0.68	0.55
2018	0.62	0.67	0.61
2017	0.62	0.67	0.61
2016	0.64	0.67	0.58
2015	0.64	0.67	0.58
2014	0.68	0.66	0.61
2013	0.68	0.66	0.63
2012	0.71	0.65	0.64
2011	0.71	0.66	0.65
2010	0.72	0.64	0.63
2009	0.72	0.64	0.62
2008	0.72	0.64	0.63
2007	0.69	0.63	0.64
2006	0.69	0.61	0.65
2005	0.68	0.61	0.67
2004	0.69	0.60	0.67
2003	0.67	0.59	0.67
2002	0.66	0.59	0.67
2001	0.66	0.58	0.67
2000	0.64	0.57	0.68
1999	0.63	0.56	0.68
1998	0.62	0.56	0.67
1997	0.59	0.54	0.68
1996	0.60	0.53	0.67
1995	0.60	0.53	0.67
1994	0.60	0.52	0.66
1993	0.58	0.52	0.66
1992	0.55	0.52	0.65
1991	0.55	0.52	0.65

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Eligible for

100%

43%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2023	100%	43%	96%
2022	100%	43%	94%
2021	96%	44%	93%
2020	99%	47%	93%
2019	99%	47%	93%
2018	99%	46%	93%
2017	99%	46%	93%
2016	98%	47%	94%
2015	99%	52%	93%
2014	99%	47%	62%
2013	69%	45%	71%
2012	32%	21%	38%
2011	67%	39%	71%
2010	65%	37%	69%
2009	46%	33%	57%
2008	55%	32%	55%
2007	50%	32%	57%
2006	56%	32%	63%
2005	50%	32%	60%
2004	56%	31%	60%
2003	50%	30%	51%

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Eligible for (12-13)

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2013)
Year	Dirksen Junior High School	Illinois	Joliet PSD 86 School District
2013	5%	5%	5%
2012	42%	27%	40%
2011	9%	5%	6%
2010	12%	6%	9%
2009	13%	6%	10%
2008	12%	6%	10%
2007	12%	6%	11%
2006	11%	6%	10%
2005	11%	5%	10%
2004	14%	5%	11%
2003	12%	5%	9%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Joliet PSD 86 School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dirksen Junior High School's ranking?

Dirksen Junior High School is ranked #3301 out of 3,542 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Illinois.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

6% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 27% IL state average), while 7% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 30% IL state average).

How many students attend Dirksen Junior High School?

655 students attend Dirksen Junior High School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

63% of Dirksen Junior High School students are Hispanic, 23% of students are Black, 9% of students are White, and 5% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Dirksen Junior High School?

Dirksen Junior High School has a student ration of 14:1, which is higher than the Illinois state average of 13:1.

What grades does Dirksen Junior High School offer ?

Dirksen Junior High School offers enrollment in grades 6-8

What school district is Dirksen Junior High School part of?

Dirksen Junior High School is part of Joliet PSD 86 School District.

School Reviews

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: 6-8
Enrollment: 655 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 91%
: Bottom 50%
: 6% (Btm 50%)
: 7% (Btm 50%)
: 18% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IL Dept. of Education