On February 12, Youth Leadership Teams from Zion Central Middle School (ZCMS) and Shiloh visited the Zion Fire Department. During their visit, Fire Chief Justin Stried gave the students a ride in fire trucks. The students also brought handmade Valentine cards and treats to share with the fire department crew.
The event provided an opportunity for students to interact with local first responders and learn more about their community.
Zion Elementary School District 6, which includes ZCMS and Shiloh Park Elementary among its schools, serves Lake County and covers grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Other schools in the district are Beulah Park Elementary School, East Elementary School, Elmwood Elementary School, Lakeview School, and West Elementary School. More information on these schools can be found at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
According to the Illinois State Board of Education, Zion Elementary School District 6 had an enrollment of 2,483 students during the 2019-2020 school year. The district spent $27,927 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $69,342,294. Additional details are available at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
The district employs 164 teachers with an average salary of $58,629 before pension contributions; most teachers are women (83.3 percent), while men make up 16.7 percent of the teaching staff. No teacher in the district had more than ten absences during a school year as reported by state data: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
Demographically, Zion Elementary School District 6 is made up of approximately 4.9 percent White students, 36.6 percent Black students, 50.9 percent Hispanic students, and 0.2 percent Asian students (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
In terms of attendance issues, there were 179 chronically truant students in the district during the 2020 school year—a rate of about 7.2 percent—compared to a statewide average truancy rate of 9.6 percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
“Fire Chief Justin Stried surprised the team with a ride in the fire trucks, and students were thrilled for the unforgettable experience,” said organizers of the event.
“Students shared handmade Valentine cards and treats with the crew, creating a fun and meaningful experience for everyone,” they added.
