Enrollment
646
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Joliet, IL
Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 173174005968
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #1 of 20
- elementary schools in Joliet · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 646
- students enrolled
Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch ranks #1 of 20 elementary schools in Joliet, IL.
School address
District: Plainfield Sd 202 · Illinois
NCES ID 173174005968 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
41.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.1:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
+1% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch
Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch is a mid-sized elementary school in Joliet, Illinois, enrolling 646 students.
At 14.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Illinois median, within a few percentage points of the 14:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Enrollment of 646 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 92% of the 3,845 Illinois schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Its student body is led by White (40%) and Hispanic or Latino (29%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
15.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Joliet's elementary schools, it stands alongside Sator Sanchez Elem School (635 students): Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.1:1 vs 14:1).
Plainfield Sd 202 also operates Plainfield North High School (2,399 students) and Plainfield South High School (2,323 students) alongside Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch compares
Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.1:1 | ▲ 1% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 646 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
646
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 58% in Illinois - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
15.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,235
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $17,042
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 646 Top 17% in Illinois - larger than 83% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 41.0
Students per teacher 14.1:1 +1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 173174005968
Student demographics
White 39.5%
Hispanic or Latino 28.5%
African American 19.3%
Asian 6.8%
Two or More 5.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 39.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.8, Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Gifted & talented Yes
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 15.5%
In-school suspensions 19
Out-of-school suspensions 6
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Plainfield Sd 202, which includes Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch.
$15,235
Per student
-11%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 50.4%
State 43.1%
Federal 6.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield North High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plainfield South High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plainfield East High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plainfield High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| John F Kennedy Middle Sch | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,399
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 2,323
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,825
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,800
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 912
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Joliet
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Sator Sanchez Elem School
Standard public school
635 students 14:1 students per teacher
Pershing Elem School
Standard public school
621 students 18:1 students per teacher
Lynne Thigpen Elem School
Standard public school
620 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Farragut Elem School
Standard public school
568 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Jones Elementary School
Standard public school
553 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Grand Prairie Elem School
Standard public school
494 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch's federal record.
- Compare Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Plainfield Sd 202's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch
How many students attend Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch?
Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch has 646 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Joliet, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch is 14.1:1, which is 1% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch is White at 39.5% of enrollment, in Joliet, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch?
Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch rank among elementary schools in Joliet?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch ranks #1 of 20 elementary schools in Joliet, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Joliet on the city page.
Is Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch a good school?
Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Plainfield Sd 202?
Besides Thomas Jefferson Elem Sch, Plainfield Sd 202 also operates Plainfield North High School (2,399 students), Plainfield South High School (2,323 students), and Plainfield East High School (1,825 students). See the Plainfield Sd 202 district page for the complete list.