Prairie State Wire

Ted Dabrowski, a gubernatorial candidate for Illinois, addressed the issue of student proficiency among Hispanic learners in West Chicago, pledging to prioritize basic skills across the state. This statement was made during a meeting at Wayne Township GOP Meeting North Avenue Pub & Grill.

"I understand the concern West Chicago parents have about the quality of education in their schools, particularly for minority students," said Dabrowski. "Just 10% of Hispanic students in West Chicago read at grade level and just 9% can do math. Yet officials allow 87% of students to graduate while spending nearly $21,000 per student. One of my top priorities as governor will be to restore literacy and numeracy to Illinois schools."

West Chicago is served by two school districts: West Chicago Elementary School District 33, which caters to kindergarten through eighth grade and has a significant number of Hispanic and bilingual students, and Community High School District 94, which serves ninth through twelfth grades. The Illinois Report Card provides detailed information on district demographics and proficiency indicators, offering context for local discussions on educational performance and resource allocation. These state dashboards are updated annually to ensure transparency and facilitate comparisons.

According to reports citing the Illinois Report Card, graduation rates in West Chicago's high school system remain relatively high despite concerns about proficiency. Community High School District 94 achieved an 86.7% four-year graduation rate in the 2023–24 school year, up from 86.1% the previous year. This rate surpasses the state's minimum benchmark and indicates steady cohort completion even as achievement gaps persist among different subgroups.

Spending levels vary between West Chicago's two districts. Finance data from the Illinois Report Card show that West Chicago Elementary District 33 spends approximately $26,079 per student due to operational and instructional costs associated with its high-needs, multilingual student body. In contrast, Community High School District 94 spends about $19,000 per student. These financial details inform discussions on local budgets and educational outcomes.

Dabrowski is also the president of Wirepoints, a research group focused on Illinois' economy, pensions, taxes, and education. He previously served as vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute and spent 16 years with Citibank in international roles. In September 2025, he entered the Republican gubernatorial primary for 2026 with an emphasis on data-driven reforms aimed at improving competitiveness, safety, and schools.

Illinois is the sixth-most populous state in the United States with a diverse economy that includes manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, technology, and services sectors. The state government is based in Springfield and manages K–12 education policy through the Illinois State Board of Education while funding districts via the Evidence-Based Funding model. Additionally, Illinois oversees public universities and community colleges along with statewide infrastructure and public safety networks.