Lake County Gazette

On January 13, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Mundelein Elementary School District 75. The purpose of this request was to obtain data regarding the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.

As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, it is our responsibility to ensure transparency and hold public institutions accountable. This information is crucial for us to continue delivering insightful and timely reports to our readers.

The request specifically asked for the number of "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) currently enrolled in the school district. We believe that as a media professional, we are eligible for a fee waiver for this request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.

To provide some context around 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. Additionally, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We await a response from Mundelein Elementary School District 75 and will continue our commitment to deliver accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.