John Gates Elementary School

Summary:

John Gates Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Aurora, Illinois, serving 417 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Aurora East Unified School District 131, which is ranked 785 out of 813 districts in Illinois and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending of $19,370 in the 2022-2023 school year, John Gates Elementary School has consistently underperformed compared to the state and district averages in standardized test scores. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 11.6% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and a mere 4.2% of 3rd graders, 5.4% of 4th graders, and 0% of 5th graders met or exceeded standards in mathematics. The school's performance is particularly concerning for certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic students, English Language Learners, Special Education students, and Low Socioeconomic Status students, all of which ranked in the bottom 10% of Illinois elementary schools.

When compared to nearby schools within the same district, the performance gap is significant. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics at Oak Park Elementary School and W.S. Beaupre Elementary School were significantly higher than those at John Gates Elementary School. Despite the school's high rates of poverty, as indicated by the school's free and reduced-price lunch eligibility (over 70%), and the large proportion of English Language Learners and Special Education students, these challenges are not unique to John Gates Elementary School, and nearby schools with similar demographics have shown better academic outcomes.


Detail:

Public K-5

 800 7th Ave
       Aurora, IL  60505-5372


(630) 299-5600

District: Aurora East Unified School District 131

SchoolDigger Rank:
1909th of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $21,102 Help


Students who attend John Gates Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
High:    East High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.7 Help
Number of students:  417

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
94.5%
African American:
2.6%
White:
2.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  72.9% Help


 See top rated Illinois elementary schools

 Compare John Gates Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details John Gates Elementary School ranks worse than 92.4% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks 7th among 12 ranked elementary schools in the Aurora East Unified School District 131. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.67. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details John Gates Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Aurora East Unified School District 131.  (See more...)
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at John Gates Elementary School is $21,102, which is the 3rd highest among 12 elementary schools in the Aurora East Unified School District 131.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

John Gates Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks John Gates Elementary School 1909th of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See John Gates Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Disabled students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:


Aurora East Unified School District 131:

SchoolDigger ranks Aurora East Unified School District 131 785th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for John Gates Elementary School?

Rank History for John Gates Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at John Gates Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 30.04 1535th 2020 24.0%
2004 45.78 1293rd 2030 36.3%
2005 34.39 1503rd 2022 25.7%
2006 44.60 1408th 2086 32.5%
2007 31.47 1661st 2095 20.7%
2008 18.22 1808th 2092 13.6%
2009 12.17 1919th 2120 9.5%
2010 20.92 1806th 2139 15.6%
2011 15.55 1900th 2147 11.5%
2012 14.18 1955th 2166 9.7%
2013 13.56 1947th 2167 10.2%
2014 9.89 1951st 2093 6.8%
2015 12.04 1948th 2052 5.1%
2016 11.80 1926th 2046 5.9%
2017 12.54 1884th 2044 7.8%
2018 15.48 1802nd 2037 11.5%
2019 16.87 1817th 2086 12.9%
2021 15.13 1751st 1948 10.1%
2022 15.75 1831st 2082 12.1%
2023 18.02 1757th 2077 15.4%
2024 13.67 1909th 2067 7.6%
See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at John Gates Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.02 483rd 718 32.7%
2019 44.56 383rd 743 48.5%
2021 38.85 318th 537 40.8%
2022 29.95 626th 768 18.5%
2023 37.41 493rd 788 37.4%
2024 31.58 626th 826 24.2%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at John Gates Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 20.57 1120th 1194 6.2%
2022 20.91 1071st 1113 3.8%
2024 15.63 1182nd 1195 1.1%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at John Gates Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.97 1448th 1765 18.0%
2019 26.04 1484th 1816 18.3%
2022 22.28 1506th 1763 14.6%
2023 24.94 1479th 1808 18.2%
2024 21.39 1549th 1793 13.6%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at John Gates Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.30 1724th 1964 12.2%
2019 17.51 1756th 2019 13.0%
2021 12.82 1588th 1680 5.5%
2022 18.27 1656th 1970 15.9%
2023 18.08 1671st 1957 14.6%
2024 10.57 1900th 1942 2.2%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at John Gates Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 19.82 841st 886 5.1%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at John Gates Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.52 1741st 1972 11.7%
2019 17.89 1736th 2019 14.0%
2022 14.86 1807th 1977 8.6%
2023 19.32 1626th 1984 18.0%
2024 18.20 1639th 1959 16.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at John Gates Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.21 804th 938 14.3%
2019 24.26 811th 955 15.1%
2021 23.41 650th 742 12.4%
2022 20.72 863rd 954 9.5%
2023 25.87 791st 970 18.5%
2024 18.93 876th 959 8.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Illinois State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

John Gates Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)
50%

0%

0%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Monday, April 29, 2013

Open Quote This is a terrible school. Bullying is tolerated and the victim is accused of provoking bullies. Academically well you can see their rating for yourself! They are always looking for someone else to blame other than the way they run things. Close Quote


by a teacher
Friday, May 25, 2012

Open Quote The school has teachers that care very much for the children, and have many activities during the year after school to give them a balanced education in sports, family time and homework help. There are also parent education classes offered for free in ESL, computer technology, book studies on parenting and leadership within the school to help develop the PTO. Close Quote



Enrollment information for John Gates Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 306 78 2 221 n/a n/a n/a 0 607
1989 320 85 1 256 n/a n/a n/a 0 662
1990 312 79 n/a 290 1 n/a n/a 0 682
1991 317 68 1 182 4 n/a n/a 0 572
1992 300 66 1 195 4 n/a n/a 0 566
1993 245 56 2 180 2 n/a n/a 0 485
1994 221 57 2 223 3 n/a n/a 0 506
1995 161 53 0 321 3 n/a n/a 0 538
1996 161 53 0 321 3 n/a n/a 0 538
1997 142 62 0 390 3 n/a n/a 0 597
1998 139 66 0 414 0 n/a n/a 0 619
1999 115 60 0 516 0 n/a n/a 0 691
2000 95 64 2 609 4 n/a n/a 0 774
2001 82 56 3 635 3 n/a n/a 0 779
2002 40 54 2 610 3 n/a n/a 0 709
2003 40 54 2 610 3 n/a n/a 0 709
2004 40 51 1 635 3 n/a n/a 0 730
2005 42 45 1 683 4 n/a n/a 2 777
2006 43 26 0 739 3 n/a n/a 8 819
2007 31 21 0 679 1 n/a n/a 5 737
2008 31 30 1 679 1 n/a n/a 14 756
2009 31 17 2 661 3 n/a n/a 14 728
2010 21 14 1 704 3 n/a n/a 12 755
2011 15 17 0 675 1 0 14 0 722
2012 12 11 0 699 6 0 6 0 734
2013 23 27 1 657 9 0 7 0 724
2014 18 23 0 683 6 0 13 0 743
2015 13 21 1 607 4 0 10 0 656
2016 14 32 0 594 4 0 6 0 650
2017 13 25 0 598 2 0 5 0 643
2018 7 28 1 513 1 0 2 0 552
2019 5 22 0 472 0 0 4 0 503
2020 7 29 2 447 0 0 1 0 486
2021 8 9 1 438 0 1 1 0 458
2022 7 8 0 425 2 0 2 0 444
2023 9 11 0 394 2 0 1 0 417

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at John Gates Elementary School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 607 30.0 20.2 n/a
1989 662 31.1 21.2 n/a
1990 682 32.7 20.8 n/a
1991 572 28.6 20.0 n/a
1992 566 31.6 17.9 n/a
1993 485 28.0 17.3 n/a
1994 506 27.0 18.7 n/a
1995 538 24.5 22.0 n/a
1996 538 24.5 22.0 n/a
1997 597 25.5 23.4 n/a
1998 619 26.5 23.4 n/a
1999 691 27.0 25.6 n/a
2000 774 33.5 23.1 n/a
2001 779 39.0 20.0 n/a
2002 709 28.0 25.3 68.8
2003 709 28.0 25.3 68.8
2004 730 37.0 19.7 71.1
2005 777 39.0 19.9 75
2006 819 37.1 22.1 67.6
2007 737 38.0 19.4 66.4
2008 756 29.0 26.1 58
2009 728 37.0 19.7 74.6
2010 755 37.0 20.4 87.6
2011 722 37.5 19.2 75.1
2012 734 37.5 19.5 78.7
2013 724 n/a n/a 91.3
2014 743 38.5 19.2 82.5
2015 656 37.0 17.7 86.7
2016 650 38.0 17.1 66.2
2017 643 40.7 15.7 75
2018 552 34.9 15.8 75.2
2019 503 33.0 15.2 70
2020 486 31.5 15.4 70.4
2021 458 n/a n/a n/a
2022 444 24.0 18.4 71.4
2023 417 30.3 13.7 72.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio John Gates Elementary School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 607 30.0 20.2 n/a
1989 662 31.1 21.2 n/a
1990 682 32.7 20.8 n/a
1991 572 28.6 20.0 n/a
1992 566 31.6 17.9 n/a
1993 485 28.0 17.3 n/a
1994 506 27.0 18.7 n/a
1995 538 24.5 22.0 n/a
1996 538 24.5 22.0 n/a
1997 597 25.5 23.4 n/a
1998 619 26.5 23.4 n/a
1999 691 27.0 25.6 n/a
2000 774 33.5 23.1 n/a
2001 779 39.0 20.0 n/a
2002 709 28.0 25.3 68.8
2003 709 28.0 25.3 68.8
2004 730 37.0 19.7 71.1
2005 777 39.0 19.9 75
2006 819 37.1 22.1 67.6
2007 737 38.0 19.4 66.4
2008 756 29.0 26.1 58
2009 728 37.0 19.7 74.6
2010 755 37.0 20.4 87.6
2011 722 37.5 19.2 75.1
2012 734 37.5 19.5 78.7
2013 724 n/a n/a 91.3
2014 743 38.5 19.2 82.5
2015 656 37.0 17.7 86.7
2016 650 38.0 17.1 66.2
2017 643 40.7 15.7 75
2018 552 34.9 15.8 75.2
2019 503 33.0 15.2 70
2020 486 31.5 15.4 70.4
2021 458 n/a n/a n/a
2022 444 24.0 18.4 71.4
2023 417 30.3 13.7 72.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Immunization Rates

John Gates Elementary School

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Compare
YearPolioMeaslesMumpsRubellaHepatitis BVaricellaDTPPneumococcal
201599.4%99.4%99.4%99.4%13.2%99.4%99.3%13.2%
201698.2%98.3%98.3%98.3%9.3%98.5%98.3%9.3%
201799.4%99.9%99.9%99.9%10.5%99.5%99.4%10.5%
201899.8%99.6%99.6%99.6%99.8%99.8%
201999.0%98.4%98.4%98.4%97.8%98.6%
202197.6%98.3%98.3%98.3%100.0%97.9%97.6%
202297.2%97.0%97.0%97.0%100.0%96.7%97.5%
202397.5%98.3%98.3%98.3%100.0%97.0%97.5%
202497.3%98.5%98.5%98.5%100.0%97.1%97.8%

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for John Gates Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,758 (13.1%) $11,642 (86.9%) $13,401
2020 $1,952 (11.7%) $14,734 (88.3%) $16,686
2021 $1,896 (12.4%) $13,356 (87.6%) $15,252
2022 $1,896 (12.4%) $13,356 (87.6%) $15,252
2023 $3,388 (17.5%) $15,982 (82.5%) $19,370
2024 $3,428 (16.2%) $17,674 (83.8%) $21,102

Data source: Illinois Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on John Gates Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1817th of 2086 Elementary schoolsRanks 1757th of 2077 Elementary schools
 2.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (John Gates Elementary School)7.812.5
 4.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Aurora East Unified School District 131)13.58
 5.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.428.8
 7.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (John Gates Elementary School)16.90
 16.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Aurora East Unified School District 131)17.19.3
 7.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Illinois)40.633
 7.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (John Gates Elementary School)10.111.3
 1.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Aurora East Unified School District 131)21.213
 8.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.735.4
 1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (John Gates Elementary School)10.14.3
 5.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Aurora East Unified School District 131)14.55.3
 9.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)33.527.7
 5.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (John Gates Elementary School)19.310
 9.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Aurora East Unified School District 131)22.415.2
 7.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)37.935.2
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (John Gates Elementary School)9.34.3
 5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Aurora East Unified School District 131)12.48.3
 4.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)29.825.6
 4.2%
5th Grade Science (John Gates Elementary School)41.140.8
 0.3%
   5th Grade Science (Aurora East Unified School District 131)35.737.5
 1.8%
   5th Grade Science (Illinois)54.452.4
 2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students503417
 17.1%
African American2211
 50%
American Indian02
Asian00
Hispanic472394
 16.5%
Pacific Islander00
White59
 80%
Two or More Races41
 75%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients70%72.9%
 2.9%


Schools Near John Gates Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about John Gates Elementary School

In the 2022-23 school year, 417 students attended John Gates Elementary School.

Students at John Gates Elementary School are 94% Hispanic, 3% African American, 2% White.

John Gates Elementary School ranks in the bottom 7.6% of Illinois elementary schools.

Students who attend John Gates Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
High : East High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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