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Ralston Elementary School

Summary:

Ralston Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Machesney Park, Illinois, serving grades 1-6 with a total enrollment of 284 students. The school is part of the Harlem UD 122 school district, which is ranked 627 out of 813 districts in Illinois and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ralston Elementary School has consistently ranked in the middle range of Illinois elementary schools, with a statewide ranking between 633 and 1,060 over the past several years. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school's performance on the IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) exams was mixed compared to the district and state averages, with 33% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 25.5% proficient or better in Mathematics. However, the school performed better in Science, with 54% of students proficient or better. Ralston Elementary School has also seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 4.1% in 2019-2020 to 16.6% in 2021-2022, which is higher than the state average.

When compared to nearby schools, Ralston Elementary School's academic performance is generally on par with or slightly better than other schools in the Harlem UD 122 district, such as Loves Park Elementary, Rock Cut Elementary, and Windsor Elementary. However, the school lags behind the higher-performing Olson Park Elementary School, also in the Harlem UD 122 district. Additionally, Kinnikinnick School, which is in a different district (Kinnikinnick CCSD 131), significantly outperforms Ralston Elementary School on academic measures.


Detail:

Public 1-6

 710 Ralston Rd
       Machesney Park, IL  61115-1569

(815) 654-4505

District: Harlem UD 122

SchoolDigger Rank:
996th of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,876 Help


Students who attend Ralston Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Harlem Middle School
High:    Harlem High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.8 Help
Number of students:  284

Racial breakdown:

White:
83.1%
Hispanic:
8.5%
Two or more races:
6.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  45.4% Help


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 Compare Ralston Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Ralston Elementary School ranks better than 51.8% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks 2nd among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Harlem UD 122 School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.29. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 Ralston Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Harlem UD 122 School District.  (See more...)
Teachers
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ralston Elementary School is $14,876. 6 elementary schools in the Harlem UD 122 School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ralston Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Ralston Elementary School 996th of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See Ralston Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


Harlem UD 122:

SchoolDigger ranks Harlem UD 122 627th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Ralston Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Ralston Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 79.15 374th 2020 81.5%
2004 72.48 612th 2030 69.9%
2005 73.78 532nd 2022 73.7%
2006 69.28 730th 2086 65.0%
2007 72.91 597th 2095 71.5%
2008 71.96 655th 2092 68.7%
2009 66.00 871st 2120 58.9%
2010 68.27 803rd 2139 62.5%
2011 57.38 1121st 2147 47.8%
2012 55.26 1161st 2166 46.4%
2013 49.30 1167th 2167 46.1%
2014 50.90 1073rd 2093 48.7%
2015 40.11 1124th 2052 45.2%
2016 35.07 1285th 2046 37.2%
2017 46.89 1021st 2044 50.0%
2018 49.81 950th 2037 53.4%
2019 60.12 776th 2086 62.8%
2021 60.97 633rd 1948 67.5%
2022 45.02 1060th 2082 49.1%
2023 50.66 935th 2077 55.0%
2024 47.29 996th 2067 51.8%
See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ralston Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 54.34 407th 1194 65.9%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ralston Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.53 640th 1765 63.7%
2019 63.29 500th 1816 72.5%
2021 73.51 201st 1514 86.7%
2022 45.91 874th 1763 50.4%
2023 50.82 796th 1808 56.0%
2024 49.49 813th 1793 54.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ralston Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.43 842nd 1964 57.1%
2019 68.32 569th 2019 71.8%
2021 52.46 701st 1680 58.3%
2022 45.82 949th 1970 51.8%
2023 48.11 928th 1957 52.6%
2024 50.18 869th 1942 55.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ralston Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.55 960th 1972 51.3%
2019 54.13 838th 2019 58.5%
2021 63.88 504th 1707 70.5%
2022 44.53 997th 1977 49.6%
2023 53.27 827th 1984 58.3%
2024 45.16 986th 1959 49.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Ralston Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.32 1030th 1463 29.6%
2019 42.41 876th 1462 40.1%
2021 42.73 729th 1308 44.3%
2022 26.98 1111th 1425 22.0%
2023 28.20 1080th 1419 23.9%
2024 31.27 1003rd 1392 27.9%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for White 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.

Ralston Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  


No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Ralston Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 531 5 5 5 n/a n/a n/a 0 546
1989 514 4 4 3 n/a n/a n/a 0 525
1990 508 5 5 5 n/a n/a n/a 0 523
1991 508 9 2 5 0 n/a n/a 0 524
1992 469 8 2 10 0 n/a n/a 0 489
1993 486 6 1 12 0 n/a n/a 0 505
1994 519 5 4 10 2 n/a n/a 0 540
1995 427 8 3 9 0 n/a n/a 0 447
1996 427 8 3 9 0 n/a n/a 0 447
1997 441 10 3 13 0 n/a n/a 0 467
1998 361 6 2 11 0 n/a n/a 0 380
1999 366 7 6 9 1 n/a n/a 0 389
2000 377 14 2 12 1 n/a n/a 0 406
2001 413 11 3 15 0 n/a n/a 0 442
2002 457 7 6 15 0 n/a n/a 0 485
2003 457 7 6 15 0 n/a n/a 0 485
2004 434 8 6 15 2 n/a n/a 0 465
2005 424 4 5 16 1 n/a n/a 10 460
2006 405 6 9 19 4 n/a n/a 1 444
2007 408 4 9 19 7 n/a n/a 12 459
2008 417 3 14 19 6 n/a n/a 11 470
2009 385 2 13 17 6 n/a n/a 14 437
2010 380 2 10 15 2 n/a n/a 17 426
2011 378 5 12 27 0 0 15 0 437
2012 363 5 10 29 0 0 11 0 418
2013 355 6 9 20 0 0 8 0 398
2014 340 2 7 21 0 0 15 0 385
2015 313 4 5 25 0 0 12 0 359
2016 285 3 5 21 1 0 12 0 327
2017 257 3 10 24 1 0 17 0 312
2018 287 4 6 24 2 0 21 0 344
2019 274 7 4 26 1 0 25 0 337
2020 260 6 4 19 0 0 18 0 307
2021 273 17 3 34 0 0 22 0 349
2022 238 2 2 24 1 0 18 0 285
2023 236 3 1 24 1 0 19 0 284

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 Ralston Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 546 22.5 24.2 n/a
1989 525 21.0 25.0 n/a
1990 523 25.0 20.9 n/a
1991 524 27.0 19.4 n/a
1992 489 25.0 19.5 n/a
1993 505 25.0 20.2 n/a
1994 540 27.5 19.6 n/a
1995 447 25.0 17.9 n/a
1996 447 25.0 17.9 n/a
1997 467 24.5 19.1 n/a
1998 380 22.0 17.3 n/a
1999 389 24.0 16.2 n/a
2000 406 24.4 16.6 n/a
2001 442 26.0 17.0 n/a
2002 485 27.0 18.0 16.1
2003 485 27.0 18.0 16.1
2004 465 26.0 17.9 17.6
2005 460 25.0 18.4 20.2
2006 444 25.0 17.8 21.7
2007 459 24.0 19.1 21.3
2008 470 25.0 18.8 22.4
2009 437 28.9 15.1 25.8
2010 426 24.0 17.7 33
2011 437 25.5 17.1 32.7
2012 418 25.6 16.2 34
2013 398 34.6 11.4 33.9
2014 385 23.0 16.7 41.3
2015 359 23.0 15.6 41.5
2016 327 21.0 15.5 37.6
2017 312 21.2 14.7 41
2018 344 21.1 16.3 44.8
2019 337 20.1 16.7 35.6
2020 307 19.5 15.7 37.1
2021 349 n/a n/a n/a
2022 285 19.1 14.9 39.3
2023 284 19.1 14.8 45.4

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 Ralston Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 546 22.5 24.2 n/a
1989 525 21.0 25.0 n/a
1990 523 25.0 20.9 n/a
1991 524 27.0 19.4 n/a
1992 489 25.0 19.5 n/a
1993 505 25.0 20.2 n/a
1994 540 27.5 19.6 n/a
1995 447 25.0 17.9 n/a
1996 447 25.0 17.9 n/a
1997 467 24.5 19.1 n/a
1998 380 22.0 17.3 n/a
1999 389 24.0 16.2 n/a
2000 406 24.4 16.6 n/a
2001 442 26.0 17.0 n/a
2002 485 27.0 18.0 16.1
2003 485 27.0 18.0 16.1
2004 465 26.0 17.9 17.6
2005 460 25.0 18.4 20.2
2006 444 25.0 17.8 21.7
2007 459 24.0 19.1 21.3
2008 470 25.0 18.8 22.4
2009 437 28.9 15.1 25.8
2010 426 24.0 17.7 33
2011 437 25.5 17.1 32.7
2012 418 25.6 16.2 34
2013 398 34.6 11.4 33.9
2014 385 23.0 16.7 41.3
2015 359 23.0 15.6 41.5
2016 327 21.0 15.5 37.6
2017 312 21.2 14.7 41
2018 344 21.1 16.3 44.8
2019 337 20.1 16.7 35.6
2020 307 19.5 15.7 37.1
2021 349 n/a n/a n/a
2022 285 19.1 14.9 39.3
2023 284 19.1 14.8 45.4

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

Ralston Elementary School

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Compare
YearPolioMeaslesMumpsRubellaHepatitis BVaricellaDTPMeningococcal
201599.5%98.9%98.9%98.9%17.2%99.5%99.5%
201699.7%99.1%99.1%99.1%20.1%99.1%79.6%19.8%
201799.7%99.4%99.4%99.4%13.1%99.4%99.7%13.5%
201895.0%95.0%95.0%95.0%19.2%95.0%95.0%18.1%
201992.2%92.2%92.2%92.2%20.1%91.6%91.9%19.2%
202199.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%20.7%
202296.5%96.5%96.5%96.5%96.5%96.5%96.5%17.8%
202397.9%97.9%97.9%97.9%97.9%97.9%97.9%17.1%
202493.6%96.3%96.3%96.3%17.3%97.0%96.6%17.0%

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ralston Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,124 (10.0%) $10,126 (90.0%) $11,250
2020 $1,002 (8.1%) $11,434 (91.9%) $12,436
2021 $1,465 (11.6%) $11,113 (88.4%) $12,578
2022 $1,465 (11.6%) $11,113 (88.4%) $12,578
2023 $2,428 (15.5%) $13,245 (84.5%) $15,673
2024 $2,119 (14.2%) $12,756 (85.7%) $14,876

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Ralston 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 776th of 2086 Elementary schoolsRanks 935th of 2077 Elementary schools
 7.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ralston Elementary School)2726.8
 0.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Harlem UD 122)27.920.1
 7.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.428.8
 7.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Ralston Elementary School)50.834.1
 16.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Harlem UD 122)35.322.8
 12.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Illinois)40.633
 7.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ralston Elementary School)4930.4
 18.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Harlem UD 122)30.524.1
 6.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.735.4
 1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Ralston Elementary School)41.539.2
 2.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Harlem UD 122)27.318.9
 8.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)33.527.7
 5.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ralston Elementary School)44.925
 19.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Harlem UD 122)28.421.1
 7.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)37.935.2
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Ralston Elementary School)36.725
 11.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Harlem UD 122)18.215.5
 2.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)29.825.6
 4.2%
5th Grade Science (Ralston Elementary School)61.251
 10.2%
   5th Grade Science (Harlem UD 122)52.444.4
 8%
   5th Grade Science (Illinois)54.452.4
 2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Ralston Elementary School)29.123.1
 6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Harlem UD 122)31.721.8
 9.9%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)3534.2
 0.8%
6th Grade Mathematics (Ralston Elementary School)20.821.1
 0.3%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Harlem UD 122)19.317
 2.3%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)25.323.4
 1.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students337284
 15.7%
African American73
 57.1%
American Indian11
Asian41
 75%
Hispanic2624
 7.7%
Pacific Islander00
White274236
 13.9%
Two or More Races2519
 24%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients35.6%45.4%
 9.8%

Schools Near Ralston Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Ralston Elementary School

Students who attend Ralston Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Harlem Middle School
High : Harlem High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 284 students attended Ralston Elementary School.

Students at Ralston Elementary School are 83% White, 8% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 1% African American.

Ralston Elementary School ranks 996th of 2067 Illinois elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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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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