Lake County Gazette

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 in Illinois on January 13, 2025. The request, issued by the Lake County Gazette, sought to ascertain the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.

The Lake County Gazette is a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of our ongoing efforts to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public, we have sought this information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.

The FOIA request specifically asked for data on how many "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) are currently enrolled in the school district. We believe that access to such public records is essential for us at the Lake County Gazette to fulfill our professional responsibilities.

In addition to this specific request, it's worth noting some key statistics about education in Illinois. 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 at Lake County Gazette continue our commitment towards ensuring transparency and accountability within our local government institutions through diligent reporting and information dissemination.