John R Lewis Middle School

schools.wps60.org/jefferson

721 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Thomas Jefferson Middle School, located at 600 S. Lewis Avenue in Waukegan, Illinois, serves as a key educational institution within Waukegan Public Schools (District 60). The school provides academic programming for students in the middle school grades, focusing on fostering a supportive environment that prepares young learners for the transition to high school. As part of a diverse urban district, the school works to balance core curriculum requirements with the social and emotional development needs of students during their adolescent years.

The school is deeply integrated into the Waukegan community, reflecting the demographic and cultural diversity of the area. Like many schools in the district, Thomas Jefferson emphasizes the importance of community involvement, student engagement, and the use of educational resources to improve student outcomes. It serves as a focal point for families in the neighborhood, aiming to provide equitable learning opportunities and a structured environment where students are encouraged to grow academically and personally.

721

Total Students

64.0

Full-Time Teachers

11.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for John R Lewis Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	26
Hispanic	569
Black	101
Asian	9
Two or More	8
American Indian	7
Pacific Islander	1

Hispanic
569 (78.9%)
Black
101 (14.0%)
White
26 (3.6%)
Asian
9 (1.2%)
Two or More
8 (1.1%)
American Indian
7 (1.0%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.1%)

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)303-2560
Website:	http://schools.wps60.org/jefferson
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	721
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	64.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.3
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 6 230

Grade 7 234

Grade 8 257