Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 released its Dr. D Believes Community Newsletter on April 17, providing families with updates and information about the district.
The newsletter aims to keep parents and guardians informed about important developments, highlights, and news from the school district. The message was sent from Superintendent Dr. Denise Wilcox’s office.
Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 serves Lake County and includes Beach Park Middle School, Howe Elementary School, Kenneth Murphy School, Newport Elementary School, and Oak Crest School according to the Illinois Report Card. The district enrolled 2,093 students in the 2019-2020 school year and provides education for grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade according to the Illinois Report Card.
The student population is diverse: it is made up of approximately 15.9 percent White students, 22 percent Black students, 54.3 percent Hispanic students, and 2.2 percent Asian students according to the Illinois Report Card. In terms of staffing, there are a total of 149 teachers earning an average salary of $63,553 before their taxpayer-funded pension contribution; women make up nearly four-fifths of teachers at the district while men account for just over one-fifth. No teacher had more than ten absences in a school year according to the Illinois State Board of Education.
In financial terms, Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 spent $22,192 per student in fiscal year 2020 for a total expenditure of $46,446,810 as reported by the Illinois Report Card.
Attendance data show that during the same period there were 182 chronically truant students enrolled in Beach Park schools—a rate of about eight point seven percent—compared to a statewide average truancy rate of nine point six percent; chronic truancy is defined as missing five percent or more of mandated school days without valid excuse according to ISBE data.
The release of this newsletter reflects ongoing efforts by Beach Park Community Consolidated School District 3 leadership to keep families engaged with current events within their schools.
