Washington Junior High

Washington Junior High is one of the one-room-style middle schools in Riverdale, Illinois, operated by Dolton SD 148, with 118 students on its rolls from grades 7 through 8. Compared to the state average of about 462 students per school, that is 74% smaller than typical.

Within Dolton SD 148, which oversees 10 schools and 2,077 students, Washington Junior High is one campus in the system.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Washington Junior High shows that the student body is overwhelmingly Black (97%). That is meaningfully more Black than the county at large, where the share is closer to 22%.

Looking at school resources, Washington Junior High records 10 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 11.4:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.0:1, putting Washington Junior High tighter than the state norm the norm. About 100% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Cook County (around 66%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Washington Junior High performs roughly as the BeatsExpectations model predicts for a school with this FRL share. The predicted value is around 13.8%, the actual is 16.9%, a residual of +3.2 points.

In the broader community, Cook County reports that the typical household earns roughly $83,498 per year, 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 10%. Washington Junior High is one of 1406 public schools in Cook County (combined enrollment of about 697,934 students).

The closest other public school is Washington Elem School, roughly 0.0 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Washington Junior High at 5th of 8; the average score across the group is 21.0%.

Washington Junior High operates from a commuter-belt location.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Washington Junior High has increased 16%, going from 102 students in 2018 to 118 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio loosened from 9.8:1 in 2018 to 11.4:1 today.

On this page, the feed for Washington Junior High typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.