Jack Benny Middle School

schools.wps60.org/benny

475 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Jack Benny Middle School, located at 1401 Montesano Ave in Waukegan, Illinois, serves as a key educational institution within Waukegan Public Schools District 60. Named in honor of the legendary American comedian and Waukegan native, Jack Benny, the school is dedicated to fostering an environment of academic growth and social development for students in the middle school grade levels. The campus reflects the district’s commitment to providing equitable learning opportunities for a diverse student body, focusing on preparing them for the transition to high school through a structured curriculum and supportive faculty.

Beyond its core academic mission, the school functions as a vital hub within the Waukegan community, emphasizing character development and extracurricular engagement. By utilizing the legacy of its namesake—a figure known for his wit and connection to the city—the school encourages students to develop their own unique talents and voices. Through a combination of traditional classroom instruction and various school-sponsored programs, Jack Benny Middle School strives to cultivate a safe, inclusive, and challenging environment that meets the educational needs of the local youth population.

475

Total Students

38.0

Full-Time Teachers

12.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Jack Benny Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	19
Hispanic	357
Black	47
Asian	34
Two or More	11
American Indian	7

Hispanic
357 (75.2%)
Black
47 (9.9%)
Asian
34 (7.2%)
White
19 (4.0%)
Two or More
11 (2.3%)
American Indian
7 (1.5%)

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:	Waukegan CUSD 60
Phone:	(224)303-2470
Website:	http://schools.wps60.org/benny
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	475
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	38.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.5
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 6 139

Grade 7 164

Grade 8 172