Lake County Gazette

On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 in Illinois. The request was made by the Lake County Gazette, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The request specifically asked for the number of "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) currently enrolled in the school district. As a news organization, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. 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 light of this request, it's important to consider 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 enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As we continue our investigation into local governmental affairs and educational trends, we believe that these figures will provide valuable context for understanding how non-U.S. citizen enrollment might impact school districts across Illinois.

We at Lake County Gazette are committed to keeping you informed about these developments as we await further information from Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 regarding our FOIA request.