Lake County Gazette

On January 13, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to North Chicago School District 187 inquiring about the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in their school district.

The FOIA request was made as part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. We believe that access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In our request, we specifically asked for the number of "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) currently enrolled in the school district. As a media organization, we requested this information preferably in an electronic format and also asked for a fee waiver given our role in disseminating information to the public.

According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, and the state average Administrative Salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We are awaiting a response from North Chicago School District 187 and will continue our efforts to provide transparent and accurate reporting on issues that matter most to our community.