Dirksen Junior High School

www.joliet86.org

653 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Dirksen Junior High School, located at 203 S. Midland Ave in Joliet, Illinois, serves as a key educational institution within Joliet Public Schools District 86. The school is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment for students in the middle-school grades, focusing on academic rigor, social-emotional development, and preparing students for the transition to high school. By offering a diverse curriculum that emphasizes core subjects alongside extracurricular opportunities, the school aims to engage students both in and out of the classroom to ensure a well-rounded educational experience.

The school community places a strong emphasis on inclusivity and the success of its student body, which reflects the broader demographics of the Joliet area. Through collaborative efforts between staff, parents, and the community, Dirksen Junior High strives to cultivate a safe and innovative atmosphere where students are encouraged to reach their full potential. With its focus on character building and scholastic achievement, the school serves as a foundational pillar in the academic development of the local youth.

653

Total Students

46.2

Full-Time Teachers

14.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Dirksen Junior High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	55
Hispanic	426
Black	145
Asian	2
Two or More	25

Hispanic
426 (65.2%)
Black
145 (22.2%)
White
55 (8.4%)
Two or More
25 (3.8%)
Asian
2 (0.3%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Joliet PSD 86
Phone:	(815)729-1566
Website:	http://www.joliet86.org
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	653
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	46.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 232

Grade 7 215

Grade 8 206