Union Elementary School

Located at 1661 Cherry Hill Rd, in Joliet, Illinois, Union Elementary School is a very small elementary-level community that serves 143 students (grades K through 8), operated by Union SD 81. Compared to the state average of about 381 students per school, that is 62% smaller than typical.

Operationally, Union Elementary School answers to Union SD 81, which sets policy, hires staff, and reports enrollment to the state.

Demographically, Union Elementary School logs that 46% of students identify as Hispanic, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups; the rest breaks down as 36% White, 9% Black, 9% multiracial. That is meaningfully more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 20%.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, Union Elementary School has 12 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 11.5:1. The state averages around 13.9:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 37% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

After controlling for student poverty, Union Elementary School is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 50.1%; this one delivers 64.1%, a residual of +13.9 points.

In the area at large, community-level numbers for Will County indicate median household earnings sit near $109,984, 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 6%. In all, Will County runs 209 public schools (combined enrollment of about 113,008 students), of which Union Elementary School is one.

The closest other public school is Lincoln Way West, roughly 1.2 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. On composite proficiency, Union Elementary School comes 3rd of 7 in the immediate cluster, higher than the nearby-schools average of 41.8%.

Geographically, the school is in a suburban area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Union Elementary School has grew 57%, going from 91 students in 2018 to 143 in 2025. Hispanic enrollment moved from 23% to 46% across the same window. Class-load math has widened: from 8.0:1 in 2018 to 11.5:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, members of the Union Elementary School community share and discuss enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.