- Enrollment
- 626
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Downers Grove, IL
Lester Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Lester Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 63/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 171254001513
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lester Elem School earns 63/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Illinois schools.
- #5 of 11
- schools in Downers Grove · Resource Index
- 63
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.3:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 531
- students enrolled
Lester Elem School has class sizes larger than 92% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lester Elem School ranks #5 of 11 schools in Downers Grove, IL.
School address
District: Downers Grove Gsd 58 · Illinois
NCES ID 171254001513 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Lester Elem School held near 546 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 29.8 → 29.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 171254001513 · Downers Grove, IL Other · MID · TRAD
531 enr · 18.3:1 · RII 63
Nearest enrollment peer: Herrick Middle School (626 students)
Lester Elem School held near 546 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 29.8 → 29.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Lester Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Herrick Middle
Herrick Middle School
626 students
- This school
Lester Elem School
531 students
- O Neill Middle
O Neill Middle School
403 students
- Hillcrest Elem
Hillcrest Elem School
382 students
- Kingsley Elem
Kingsley Elem School
359 students
- Highland Elem
Highland Elem School
352 students
What this shows Lester Elem School reports 531 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lester Elem School compares
Lester Elem School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.3:1 | ▲ 31% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 531 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
531
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 31% above state mean
Top 92% in Illinois - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
3.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$20,037
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 77.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.9%
Two or More 6.0%
Asian 3.6%
African American 1.7%
Largest group: White at 77.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.9, Lester Elem School is about as mixed as the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Downers Grove Gsd 58 reports $20,037 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lester Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herrick Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| O Neill Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hillcrest Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kingsley Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Highland Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lester Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 403
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 382
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 70/100
- Enrollment
- 352
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar other schools in Downers Grove
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Hillcrest Elem School
Standard public school
382 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Kingsley Elem School
Standard public school
359 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Highland Elem School
Standard public school
352 students 16:1 students per teacher
Fairmount Elem School
Standard public school
342 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Pierce Downer Elem School
Standard public school
337 students 16:1 students per teacher
Indian Trail Elem School
Standard public school
325 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~531 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lester Elem School
How many students attend Lester Elem School?
Lester Elem School has 531 students enrolled. It is a public school in Downers Grove, IL. CCD year-over-year: 554 (2022-23) → 546 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lester Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lester Elem School is 18.3:1, which is 31% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lester Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Lester Elem School is White at 77.7% of enrollment, in Downers Grove, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lester Elem School?
Lester Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 63/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Lester Elem School rank among schools in Downers Grove?
By Resource Investment Index, Lester Elem School ranks #5 of 11 schools in Downers Grove, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Downers Grove on the city page.
What other schools are in Downers Grove Gsd 58?
Besides Lester Elem School, Downers Grove Gsd 58 also operates Herrick Middle School (626 students), O Neill Middle School (403 students), and Hillcrest Elem School (382 students). See the Downers Grove Gsd 58 district page for the complete list.