Lake County Gazette

The Westminster Public Schools Board of Education recognized Sunset Ridge PK-8 for being named one of the Top 30 Elementary Schools in Colorado by Money Inc. Sunset Ridge was ranked 24th on the list.

Money Inc., a national website that covers topics such as education, travel, business, and investment, highlighted Sunset Ridge’s use of a Competency Based System. The publication stated: “The school values kindness, safety, respect, and responsibility, and fosters a positive, supportive environment for both academic and personal growth.” It also noted that the school “offers strong teacher support and community partnerships to help all learners succeed.”

Superintendent Jeni Gotto, former principal Roger Vadeen (now Director of Schools), and current principal Lupita Arce celebrated the achievement with students and staff earlier in the week. During the Board meeting, Arce, Vadeen, and longtime teacher Molly Brown spoke about what makes Sunset Ridge unique. Brown has taught in the district for 27 years.

Many members of the Sunset Ridge staff attended the meeting.

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 represents schools across Lake County including Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School and Waukegan High School among others. The district is composed of 3.2 percent White students, 13.2 percent Black students, 79.5 percent Hispanic students, and 1.3 percent Asian students according to state data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). There are 1,014 teachers in the district with an average salary of $63,524; most are women. In 2020, Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 spent $23,429 per student (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).