Fourth-grade students at West Elementary School recently participated in a group activity focused on the Midwest’s glacial history. Mrs. Wiltse led her class through a Write Around analysis, where students discussed how glaciers shaped the region’s landscape. The exercise emphasized collaboration and critical thinking as students exchanged ideas and worked together.
The activity is part of ongoing efforts to encourage student engagement and shared responsibility for learning within the classroom.
West Elementary School is one of several schools within Zion Elementary School District 6, which serves Lake County. Other schools in the district include Beulah Park Elementary, East Elementary, Elmwood Elementary, Lakeview School, Shiloh Park Elementary, and Zion Central Middle School. More information about these schools can be found at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
Zion Elementary School District 6 employs 164 teachers with an average salary of $58,629 before pension contributions. The majority of teachers are women (83.3 percent), while men make up 16.7 percent of the teaching staff. The district reports that no teacher has more than ten absences in a school year according to data from the Illinois State Board of Education at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
The student population in Zion Elementary School District 6 is diverse: 4.9 percent White, 36.6 percent Black, 50.9 percent Hispanic, and 0.2 percent Asian as reported by the ISBE at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. In terms of financial investment, the district spent $27,927 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $69,342,294 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
According to Mrs. Wiltse: “Through evidence-based discussion, students built on one another’s ideas while demonstrating critical thinking, collaboration, and strong student voice, highlighting shared ownership of their learning.”
