District 203 Facts

DISTRICT GEOGRAPHY	District 203 encompasses about 32 square miles of land 28 miles west of Chicago. Its boundaries take in much of the City of Naperville, parts of the Village of Lisle, and single subdivisions in the communities of Bolingbrook and Woodridge.
DISTRICT REPUTATION	Recognized around the nation as an outstanding education system, District 203 has received awards for being "What Parents Want" from an independent Ohio-based consulting service known as SchoolMatch. The editors of Expansion Management, a national magazine aimed at corporations with large numbers of transferees, consistently give District 203 top ratings in their annual evaluation of more than 1,000 public education systems. The Illinois State Board of Education recognizes our students’ consistently high levels of achievement. The Center for Leadership in School Reform has selected District 203 as a "Standard-Bearer School District."
STUDENTS	18,870 enrolled as of September 29, 2000
Graduation Rate	94.4%
College-Bound	Over 90% of high school seniors surveyed plan to attend two- or four-year colleges.
Achievement Levels District Report Card	The American College Test (ACT) is used by many colleges and universities to evaluate students' preparation for higher education. ACT scores range from 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest). The composite score for the 81% of District 203 students who take this test is 24.9 compared to the State of Illinois average of 21.5. Please refer to the District 203 Report Card for further details.
FACULTY	1,259 teachers (51 of whom are part time) on staff as of September 2000.
Degrees	Over 71% of District 203 faculty have master’s degrees or higher.
Experience	15.7 years is the average length of teaching experience.
FACILITIES	21 schools
Elementary	14 with grades K-5
Middle	5 with grades 6-8
High School	2 with grades 9-12

TECHNOLOGY	Technology tools are integrated into curriculum and instruction.
Computer Usage	Classes use computers regularly, as well as for special projects.
Internet Access	Access is available in all buildings and all classrooms.
Digital Drafting	Computer Assisted Design (CAD) labs are available in both high schools.
Digital Art	Digital Art is available at both high schools.
Distance Learning	Distance Learning classrooms are in use at both high schools.
Digital Music	Digital music is available in all 21 schools.
FINE ARTS	Art and general music instruction begin in kindergarten.
Band, Orchestra	Instruction begins at fourth grade.
Chorus	Elective choral programs are offered at junior and senior high schools.
Drama/Musicals	High schools have drama clubs and regular schedules of stage productions. Junior highs schedule musicals annually.
Fine Arts Electives	Thirty-four high school courses are available in art, drama, music
GIFTED PROGRAMS	Students in grades 4-8 who meet district criteria on the Cognitive Abilities Test, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and teacher observational data qualify for "Project IDEA" programs.
Project IDEA	Special literacy-based classes for high-achieving students (10% of the student body) stress creative and critical problem solving skills, and the higher level thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Project IDEA Plus	The academic top 2% of students in grades 4-8 may participate in all-day elementary and junior high magnet programs consisting of enriched and accelerated classes in all academic subjects.
ACCELERATED MATH	Students in grades 3-5 who demonstrate specified skills levels in mathematical understanding, problem-solving and reasoning may participate in a program that enables them to progress through sixth grade mathematics while in fifth grade. At the junior high school level, accelerated mathematics students can progress through freshman algebra during eighth grade.
ENRICHMENT	Teachers may provide enrichment activities in all fundamental learning areas for academically talented students in the elementary grades. The gifted program teacher in each building acts as a facilitator and resource specialist for classroom teachers. High school students may take accelerated and Advanced Placement courses.

INTERVENTION/ TUTORING	Reading and speech/language specialists provide services in all buildings. Project LEAP assistants work one-on-one with kindergarten and first grade students who are having difficulty learning to read.
SPECIAL NEEDS	A full continuum of special education programs and related services are provided for students with identified needs who range in age from 3-21.
EARLY CHILDHOOD	Pre-school programs for children with special needs are offered. A free screening program determines eligibility.
DAY CARE	The Naperville YMCA conducts a before- and after-school Safe-n-Sound Program for elementary school age students in the schools.
ACTIVITIES	After-school activities at the elementary and junior high schools are offered as students exhibit interest and staff (or community) members indicate a willingness to supervise. Activities at the high school level include Scholastic Bowl, Math Team, Junior Engineering Technological Society, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering, speech and forensics, chess, foreign language clubs, newspapers, yearbooks, literary annuals, drama, marching band, honor societies, ecology and service clubs, multi-cultural awareness clubs, substance abuse prevention organizations, student government, etc.
ATHLETICS	Seventh and eighth grade interscholastic athletics include basketball, track, volleyball, football, and wrestling. High School Interscholastic Athletics include girls badminton, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, dance/drill, flag/color guard, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming/diving, tennis, track, and volleyball. Boys athletics include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming/diving, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling.