M J Cunningham Elem Sch

Set in Joliet, Illinois, M J Cunningham Elem Sch is a mid-tier elementary school, run under Joliet PSD 86. It works with 484 students across grades K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 381 students per school, that is 27% bigger than typical.

Within Joliet PSD 86, which oversees 20 schools and 9,333 students, M J Cunningham Elem Sch is one campus in the system.

Looking at the student body, M J Cunningham Elem Sch reports that 85% of students identify as Hispanic, making the school strongly Hispanic-majority. The remainder consists of 6% Black, 5% White, 4% multiracial. By comparison, Will County as a whole is about 20% Hispanic, so the school skews visibly more Hispanic than its surroundings.

Looking at school resources, The school reports having 33 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 14.5:1. The state averages about 13.9:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. About 94% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Will County (around 44%), the school's rate is noticeably above typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, M J Cunningham Elem Sch tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 17.2% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 20.2%.

In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for Will County put median household earnings sit near $109,984, 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 6%. M J Cunningham Elem Sch is one of 209 public schools in Will County (combined enrollment of about 113,008 students).

Farragut Elem School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.7 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), M J Cunningham Elem Sch ranks 6th on composite proficiency, behind the local average of 22.1%.

M J Cunningham Elem Sch operates from a suburban location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at M J Cunningham Elem Sch has edged down 15%, going from 572 students in 2018 to 484 in 2025. Over the same period, the Hispanic share ticked up from 77% to 85%. Class-load math has narrowed: from 17.8:1 in 2018 to 14.5:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.