M J Cunningham Elementary School

Summary:

M J Cunningham Elementary School is a public elementary school in Joliet, Illinois, serving 496 students in grades K-5 and part of the Joliet PSD 86 district.

Despite the school's relatively high spending per student, ranging from $11,172 to $14,188 in recent years, M J Cunningham Elementary consistently underperforms the district and state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 13.6% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 23.1% for the district and 41.2% for the state. In Mathematics, the school's proficiency rate was 10.4%, while the district and state had 10.9% and 28.4%, respectively. The school also faces high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 23.6% to 31.9% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

When comparing M J Cunningham Elementary to other nearby schools within the Joliet PSD 86 district, the academic performance is generally lower across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, Taft Elementary School, located about 1.16 miles away, outperforms M J Cunningham Elementary in both ELA and Mathematics proficiency. The school's performance also varies across different student subgroups, with the school ranking lower for Special Education and low socioeconomic status students compared to other subgroups, suggesting underlying challenges in the school's learning environment and support systems.


Detail:

Public K-5

 500 Moran St
       Joliet, IL  60435-4532


(815) 723-0169

District: Joliet PSD 86

SchoolDigger Rank:
1699th of 2,067 Illinois Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,250 Help


Students who attend M J Cunningham Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Hufford Junior High School
High:    Joliet Central High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.7 Help
Number of students:  491

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
81.9%
White:
7.7%
African American:
6.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  95.3% Help


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 Compare M J Cunningham Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details M J Cunningham Elementary School ranks worse than 82.2% of elementary schools in Illinois. It also ranks 7th among 15 ranked elementary schools in the Joliet PSD 86 School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 19.4. (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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (81.9%), White (7.7%), African American (6.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 95.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at M J Cunningham Elementary School is 15.7, which is the 7th best among 15 elementary schools in the Joliet PSD 86 School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare M J Cunningham Elementary School employs 31.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at M J Cunningham Elementary School is $17,250. 13 elementary schools in the Joliet PSD 86 School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

M J Cunningham Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks M J Cunningham Elementary School 1699th of 2067 Illinois public elementary schools. (See M J Cunningham 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:


Joliet PSD 86:

SchoolDigger ranks Joliet PSD 86 739th of 813 Illinois school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for M J Cunningham Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 21.86 1647th 2020 18.5%
2004 28.75 1598th 2030 21.3%
2005 28.14 1623rd 2022 19.7%
2006 52.06 1264th 2086 39.4%
2007 49.96 1326th 2095 36.7%
2008 33.27 1570th 2092 25.0%
2009 30.62 1630th 2120 23.1%
2010 29.87 1650th 2139 22.9%
2011 27.55 1707th 2147 20.5%
2012 24.02 1780th 2166 17.8%
2013 15.96 1891st 2167 12.7%
2014 15.82 1834th 2093 12.4%
2015 19.77 1713th 2052 16.5%
2016 16.40 1799th 2046 12.1%
2017 20.94 1654th 2044 19.1%
2018 17.24 1752nd 2037 14.0%
2019 19.65 1742nd 2086 16.5%
2021 13.87 1817th 1948 6.7%
2022 21.85 1609th 2082 22.7%
2023 24.34 1539th 2077 25.9%
2024 19.40 1699th 2067 17.8%
See the entire list of Illinois Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.82 613th 718 14.6%
2019 24.87 677th 743 8.9%
2021 26.16 504th 537 6.1%
2022 42.60 393rd 768 48.8%
2023 43.47 384th 788 51.3%
2024 25.08 735th 826 11.0%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.94 569th 763 25.4%
2019 23.50 1023rd 1194 14.3%
2021 19.33 625th 640 2.3%
2022 22.62 1009th 1113 9.3%
2023 20.51 1043rd 1156 9.8%
2024 17.51 1130th 1195 5.4%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.43 1321st 1765 25.2%
2019 32.48 1307th 1816 28.0%
2021 22.38 1324th 1514 12.5%
2022 37.76 1078th 1763 38.9%
2023 41.00 1024th 1808 43.4%
2024 31.27 1279th 1793 28.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.90 1880th 1964 4.3%
2019 17.49 1757th 2019 13.0%
2021 12.33 1603rd 1680 4.6%
2022 20.36 1588th 1970 19.4%
2023 25.38 1439th 1957 26.5%
2024 19.83 1599th 1942 17.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 26.51 707th 907 22.1%
2024 22.70 780th 886 12.0%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.72 1435th 1972 27.2%
2019 23.34 1584th 2019 21.5%
2021 14.03 1605th 1707 6.0%
2022 25.04 1434th 1977 27.5%
2023 25.07 1456th 1984 26.6%
2024 20.00 1580th 1959 19.3%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.69 617th 698 11.6%
2023 40.11 374th 692 46.0%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.18 789th 938 15.9%
2019 25.09 795th 955 16.8%
2021 20.69 706th 742 4.9%
2022 30.64 683rd 954 28.4%
2023 38.99 571st 970 41.1%
2024 28.92 713th 959 25.7%
See the entire list of Best Illinois Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at M J Cunningham Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.57 983rd 1463 32.8%
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.

M J Cunningham Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Illinois State Board of Education

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Enrollment information for M J Cunningham Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 200 69 9 26 n/a n/a n/a 0 304
1989 219 69 7 24 n/a n/a n/a 0 319
1990 217 64 9 35 n/a n/a n/a 0 325
1991 214 56 12 36 0 n/a n/a 0 318
1992 204 60 8 34 0 n/a n/a 0 306
1993 198 68 10 36 0 n/a n/a 0 312
1994 196 67 11 47 0 n/a n/a 0 321
1995 161 70 15 84 0 n/a n/a 0 330
1996 161 70 15 84 0 n/a n/a 0 330
1997 169 85 14 97 0 n/a n/a 0 365
1998 161 96 7 90 0 n/a n/a 0 354
1999 150 86 10 107 0 n/a n/a 0 353
2000 140 96 8 123 0 n/a n/a 0 367
2001 142 107 6 148 1 n/a n/a 0 404
2002 140 81 6 200 0 n/a n/a 0 427
2003 140 81 6 200 0 n/a n/a 0 427
2004 144 98 5 248 0 n/a n/a 0 495
2005 147 118 3 315 0 n/a n/a 0 583
2006 119 118 5 358 0 n/a n/a 8 608
2007 95 88 3 394 1 n/a n/a 18 599
2008 95 94 2 412 0 n/a n/a 18 621
2009 83 95 2 419 0 n/a n/a 28 627
2010 87 69 6 384 0 n/a n/a 38 584
2011 80 82 3 463 1 0 34 0 663
2012 83 84 2 482 1 0 33 0 685
2013 69 80 3 520 1 0 34 0 707
2014 57 70 5 503 1 0 19 0 655
2015 55 63 4 479 1 0 12 0 614
2016 55 57 4 445 1 0 4 0 566
2017 53 55 5 380 0 0 65 0 558
2018 68 42 5 440 0 0 17 0 572
2019 59 42 3 426 0 0 17 0 547
2020 53 54 3 435 0 0 14 0 559
2021 47 56 4 448 0 0 18 0 573
2022 45 56 0 463 0 0 24 0 588
2023 43 38 1 398 0 0 16 0 496
2024 38 32 1 402 0 0 18 0 491

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 M J Cunningham Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 304 13.6 22.3 n/a
1989 319 15.4 20.7 n/a
1990 325 16.0 20.3 n/a
1991 318 16.0 19.8 n/a
1992 306 16.0 19.1 n/a
1993 312 14.0 22.3 n/a
1994 321 13.1 24.5 n/a
1995 330 14.0 23.6 n/a
1996 330 14.0 23.6 n/a
1997 365 15.0 24.3 n/a
1998 354 15.5 22.8 n/a
1999 353 16.4 21.5 n/a
2000 367 15.5 23.7 n/a
2001 404 17.5 23.1 n/a
2002 427 18.5 23.1 56.9
2003 427 18.5 23.1 56.9
2004 495 24.4 20.3 58.2
2005 583 26.9 21.7 77
2006 608 27.5 22.1 89.7
2007 599 28.0 21.4 74.4
2008 621 25.0 24.8 77.4
2009 627 30.3 20.7 78.8
2010 584 30.2 19.2 93.4
2011 663 30.3 21.8 87
2012 685 31.5 21.7 83.8
2013 707 36.4 19.3 82.6
2014 655 31.0 21.1 99.5
2015 614 33.0 18.6 99.5
2016 566 31.0 18.2 99.5
2017 558 31.0 18.0 99.3
2018 572 32.2 17.7 100
2019 547 33.0 16.5 99.8
2020 559 32.7 17.0 99.3
2021 573 n/a n/a n/a
2022 588 32.5 18.0 96.8
2023 496 31.3 15.8 96
2024 491 31.2 15.7 95.3

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 M J Cunningham Elementary School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 304 13.6 22.3 n/a
1989 319 15.4 20.7 n/a
1990 325 16.0 20.3 n/a
1991 318 16.0 19.8 n/a
1992 306 16.0 19.1 n/a
1993 312 14.0 22.3 n/a
1994 321 13.1 24.5 n/a
1995 330 14.0 23.6 n/a
1996 330 14.0 23.6 n/a
1997 365 15.0 24.3 n/a
1998 354 15.5 22.8 n/a
1999 353 16.4 21.5 n/a
2000 367 15.5 23.7 n/a
2001 404 17.5 23.1 n/a
2002 427 18.5 23.1 56.9
2003 427 18.5 23.1 56.9
2004 495 24.4 20.3 58.2
2005 583 26.9 21.7 77
2006 608 27.5 22.1 89.7
2007 599 28.0 21.4 74.4
2008 621 25.0 24.8 77.4
2009 627 30.3 20.7 78.8
2010 584 30.2 19.2 93.4
2011 663 30.3 21.8 87
2012 685 31.5 21.7 83.8
2013 707 36.4 19.3 82.6
2014 655 31.0 21.1 99.5
2015 614 33.0 18.6 99.5
2016 566 31.0 18.2 99.5
2017 558 31.0 18.0 99.3
2018 572 32.2 17.7 100
2019 547 33.0 16.5 99.8
2020 559 32.7 17.0 99.3
2021 573 n/a n/a n/a
2022 588 32.5 18.0 96.8
2023 496 31.3 15.8 96
2024 491 31.2 15.7 95.3

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

M J Cunningham Elementary School

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Compare
YearPolioMeaslesMumpsRubellaVaricellaDTPHepatitis B
2015100.0%99.8%99.8%99.8%99.8%99.7%
201699.7%100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%99.8%
201798.8%98.8%98.8%98.8%98.8%98.9%
201899.1%99.1%99.1%99.1%98.9%99.1%
201998.2%98.7%98.7%98.7%98.5%98.4%
202188.6%88.1%88.1%88.1%88.1%88.4%84.5%
202296.4%96.5%96.5%96.5%96.4%96.2%
202396.8%96.8%96.8%96.8%96.8%96.8%96.8%
202497.1%97.1%97.1%97.1%97.1%97.1%97.1%

Data source: Illinois State Board of Education
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for M J Cunningham Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $537 (4.9%) $10,318 (95.1%) $10,854
2020 $696 (6.2%) $10,614 (93.8%) $11,311
2021 $1,032 (9.2%) $10,140 (90.8%) $11,172
2022 $1,032 (9.2%) $10,140 (90.8%) $11,172
2023 $1,383 (9.7%) $12,804 (90.2%) $14,188
2024 $1,802 (10.4%) $15,449 (89.6%) $17,250

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

Impact of COVID-19 on M J Cunningham 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 1742nd of 2086 Elementary schoolsRanks 1539th of 2077 Elementary schools
 9.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (M J Cunningham Elementary School)5.89.1
 3.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Joliet PSD 86)1413.7
 0.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.428.8
 7.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (M J Cunningham Elementary School)8.74.5
 4.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Joliet PSD 86)14.911
 3.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Illinois)40.633
 7.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (M J Cunningham Elementary School)12.424.7
 12.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Joliet PSD 86)18.618.5
 0.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)36.735.4
 1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (M J Cunningham Elementary School)5.611
 5.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Joliet PSD 86)15.88.3
 7.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)33.527.7
 5.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (M J Cunningham Elementary School)25.319
 6.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Joliet PSD 86)21.718.7
 3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Illinois)37.935.2
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (M J Cunningham Elementary School)15.212.7
 2.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Joliet PSD 86)12.26.7
 5.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Illinois)29.825.6
 4.2%
5th Grade Science (M J Cunningham Elementary School)48.136.3
 11.8%
   5th Grade Science (Joliet PSD 86)39.930.2
 9.7%
   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 Students547496
 9.3%
African American4238
 9.5%
American Indian00
Asian31
 66.7%
Hispanic426398
 6.6%
Pacific Islander00
White5943
 27.1%
Two or More Races1716
 5.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.8%96%
 3.8%


Schools Near M J Cunningham Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about M J Cunningham Elementary School

In the 2023-24 school year, 491 students attended M J Cunningham Elementary School.

M J Cunningham Elementary School ranks in the bottom 17.8% of Illinois elementary schools.

Students who attend M J Cunningham Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hufford Junior High School
High : Joliet Central High School

Students at M J Cunningham Elementary School are 82% Hispanic, 8% White, 7% African American, 4% Two or more races.


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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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