The Early Years

The Early Years is a modestly sized elementary school in Jacksonville, Illinois, operated by Jacksonville SD 117. The school educates 247 students in grade pre-K. Compared to the state average of about 381 students per school, that is 35% smaller than typical.

Within Jacksonville SD 117, which oversees 9 schools and 3,231 students, The Early Years is one campus in the system.

Looking at the student body, The Early Years reports that the largest single group is White, at 64% of enrollment. Other groups include 16% multiracial, 9% Hispanic, 9% Black. That is visibly less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 88%.

On the resource side, The school employs 9 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 27.4:1. That figure is higher than the state norm's 13.9:1 average. About 74% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Morgan County runs at roughly 57%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

Around the school, ACS estimates for Morgan County put median household income runs about $66,306, 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 8%. Across Morgan County's 28 public schools (combined enrollment of about 4,446 students), The Early Years is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Washington Elem School, roughly 0.4 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 7 other public schools cluster around The Early Years.

The Early Years operates from a small-town location.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count climbed 34%: 184 students in 2018 compared to 247 in 2025. Over the same period, the Black share decreased from 17% to 9%. The student-to-teacher ratio pulled in from 30.7:1 in 2018 to 27.4:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, members of the The Early Years community share and discuss pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Members of the school community can share what they know.