On January 13, 2025, we at West Cook News sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to J. Sterling Morton High School District 201, seeking information about the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.
As part of our ongoing commitment to provide comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe it is crucial to have access to public records. This not only helps us fulfill our professional responsibilities but also aids in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In the request, we asked for the data preferably in an electronic format and also mentioned our eligibility for a fee waiver as media professionals engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public.
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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
We believe that understanding enrollment trends, including those involving non-U.S. citizens or migrants, can provide valuable insights into how our educational institutions are serving all segments of our community.
We await a response from J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 and will continue to update our readers with any new developments regarding this request.
