Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 22 schools in district

Carl Sandburg Elementary

1100 Lilac Ln, Joliet, IL 60435Joliet PSD 86 →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–05Non-Charter
372
Students
Total enrolled
$19,736
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 38% vs nat'l
17.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 16% vs nat'l
47/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 372 students in grades KG–05 in Joliet, Illinois.
38% above average funding
District spends $19,736 per pupil, 38% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 47th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Carl Sandburg Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Joliet, Illinois, serving grades KG–05 with 372 students. The district invests $19,736 per student — 38% above the national average of $14,347, with a 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 94% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Carl Sandburg Elementary

372
Total Students
17.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
94%
Free Lunch
21
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution196 male · 176 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility94%
National avg 52% · 349 students
Student Composition
37%
52%
Asian1%
White6%
Hispanic / Latino37%
Black52%
Multiracial5%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 172058004928

Academic Outcomes at Carl Sandburg Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
47
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 47th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 68th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 60435

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$19,736Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$19,736
State avg
$20,102
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,684
Student Support$3,750
Administration$2,368
Operations$2,960
Other$1,974
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $19,736 spent per student, an estimated $8,743 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
63%
24%
State government
63.0%
Local (property tax)
24.4%
Federal programs
12.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $19,736/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 94% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Sator Sanchez Elem SchoolLynne Thigpen Elem SchoolPershing Elem SchoolFarragut Elem School
+11 more
↓
Middle
Hufford Junior High SchoolWashington Jr High & Academy PrgmGompers Junior High SchoolDirksen Junior High School
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 05
Location—
CountyWill County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictJoliet PSD 86 →
Phone: (815)725-0281
NCES ID: 172058004928
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Joliet seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Joliet PSD 86
Mid
Hufford Junior High School
1,151 students · 06–08
● 47 opp97% FRL
Mid
Washington Jr High & Academy Prgm
774 students · 06–08
● 34 opp97% FRL
Mid
Gompers Junior High School
649 students · 06–08
● 51 opp99% FRL
Elem
Sator Sanchez Elem School
616 students · KG–05
● 51 opp98% FRL
Elem
Lynne Thigpen Elem School
607 students · KG–05
● 34 opp95% FRL
Mid
Dirksen Junior High School
573 students · 06–08
● 34 opp97% FRL
Elem
Pershing Elem School
559 students · KG–05
● 47 opp94% FRL
Elem
Farragut Elem School
554 students · KG–05
● 47 opp95% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
1100 Lilac Ln, Joliet, IL 60435
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.