Lake County Gazette

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Lake Forest School District 67 on January 13, 2025, by the Lake County Gazette. The request sought to uncover the number of non-U.S. citizens, referred to as "migrants," currently enrolled in the school district.

As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at the Lake County Gazette believe that access to public records is crucial for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, under which this request was made, is a state statute that provides the public with access to government documents and records. In this case, we are seeking information about the demographic makeup of students in the Lake Forest School District 67.

In addition to our request for enrollment data, it's important to consider other factors that impact 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 enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

This data paints a broader picture of education in Illinois and underscores why it's essential for us at Lake County Gazette to understand more about who makes up our classrooms. As we continue our reporting on local governmental affairs, we remain committed to shedding light on these issues and keeping our community informed.