At a Glance | District 401

Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 is organized and operates as a unit district serving the educational needs of children in grades PK through 12 and others as required by the Illinois School Code.

What We Do

Opportunity logoDistrict 401 provides a comprehensive public education to some 2,862 students in five schools: 

► Early Childhood Center | PK & K
► Elmwood Elementary School | Grades 1-6
► John Mills Elementary School | Grades 1-6
► Elm Middle School | Grades 7-8
► Elmwood Park High School | Grades 9-12

The District's students are residents of Elmwood Park, Ill., a Near West suburb of Chicago with a population of approximately 24,000. 

Our curriculum is fully aligned with the Illinois State Board of Education's Illinois Learning Standards and with the Common Core State Standards.

All four of our eligible schools received a summative designation of "Commendable School" as part of the most recent edition of the Illinois State Report Cards, issued in the fall of 2018: 

► Elmwood Elementary Commendable School Designation
► John Mills Elementary Commendable School Designation
► Elm Middle Commendable School Designation
► EPHS Commendable School Designation

The District is here to provide the necessary resources and supports for academic success and social learning. Together, these resources and supports make District 401 a place where the phrase "An Invitation to Opportunity" encapsulates everything we do for our students.

Where We're Located

Our address is Elmwood Park CUSD 401, 8201 W. Fullerton Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707.
 

The Rest of Our Story

To read more about District 401, click the sections located immediately below.
 

Mission Statement

Elmwood Park CUSD 401, a unit district in a suburban community with a small town feel, strives to cultivate the following: 

► Individualized social-emotional learning processes
► Rigorous academics fostering inquisitive minds prepared for critical thinking
► Active, engaged partnerships with the community and parents
► Innovative uses of 21st century technologies for teaching and learning

Vision Statement

The vision of Elmwood Park CUSD 401 is to inspire minds in the pursuit of excellence.

Board of Education

District 401 is governed by a Board of Education consisting of seven elected members. The Board's current members are:

► Mrs. Mary Bruscato (President) 
► Mrs. Susan Capraro (Secretary) 
► Mr. Frank J. Parisi (Vice President)
► Mrs. Lauren M. Platt 
► Mr. Jonathan M. Rivera 
► Mr. Michael V. Scheidt
► Mr. Peter A. Volpe 

To communicate with the entire Board, please use this email link. Individuals may also submit questions or communications for the Board's consideration to District 401 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nicolas Wade. 

District Administration

The District 401 administrative organizational chart is available here.

To email any of the individuals listed below, please click the name of the person you want to reach. In general, all District 401 email addresses for individual employees follow the same pattern: lastnamefirstinitial@epcusd401.org. The main office phone number is 708-452-7292.

Please note that the list below is organized by job title. "Superintendent" and "Assistant Superintendent" are listed first, followed by the remaining job titles in alphabetical order.

Title

Name

Phone Number

Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Nicolas Wade

708-583-5831

Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations / CSBO

Mr. James Jennings

708-583-5840

Director for Buildings & Grounds

Mr. Joseph Sierra

708-583-5859

Director for Curriculum & Instruction

Dr. Leah Gauthier

708-583-5835

Director for Instructional Technology 

 Ms. Jessica Iovinelli

708-583-5710

Director for Student Services

Dr. Kari Smith

708-583-5836

Director for Technology

Mr. Tom Kinane

708-583-5707

Special Education Coordinator

Ms. Sara Barrick

708-583-5851
Special Education Coordinator Ms. Pamela Stutzman 708-583-5852
District Office Staff

To email any of the individuals listed below, please click the name of the person you want to reach. In general, all District 401 email addresses for individual employees follow the same pattern: lastnamefirstinitial@epcusd401.org. The main office phone number is 708-452-7292.

Please note that the list below is organized by job title. The titles are ordered alphabetically.

Title

Name

Phone Number

Accountant

Mr. Imaad Dada

708-583-5844

Accounts Payable Specialist

 Ms. Marsha Bogan

708-583-5842

Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
of Schools & Board Recording Secretary

 Ms. Nancy Lasselle

708-583-5831

Human Resources Generalist 

 Ms. Barbara Boydston

708-583-5838
Instructional Coach Ms. Morgan Freeck 708-583-5821

Instructional Coach

 Ms. Jamie Kanas

708-583-5822

Network Administrator

 Mr. Quirino Carlin

708-583-6280

Network Administrator

 Mr. Douglas Selix

708-583-5703

Payroll Specialist

 Ms. Tanya Campbell

708-583-5843

Psychologist

 Dr. Kristen Green

708-583-5853
Psychologist Ms. Jessica Zielinski

708-583-5853

Technology Specialist

 Mr. Anthony Ginczycki

708-670-0815

Web/Media Specialist

 Mr. Dave Porreca

708-583-5704
District Office Contact Information

If you want to reach the District Office by email, please use the general information email address listed below, or send your message to the appropriate individual listed elsewhere on this page. 

The District Office is located inside the Elmwood Park High School building, 8201 W. Fullerton Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707.

Phone

Fax

General Email

Office Hours

708-452-7292

708-452-9504

d401info@epcusd401.org

7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday
(District Office is open year round)
District 401 Schools

Our District provides a comprehensive public education to more than 2,800 students in five schools. Elmwood Park residency is required for enrollment.

► Early Childhood Center

► Elmwood Elementary School

► John Mills Elementary School

► Elm Middle School

► Elmwood Park High School

 

If You Visit District 401

All visitors to the District Office and to District 401 schools during hours when students are present must sign in and out at the appropriate security desk and obtain a visitor’s badge.

Visitors must observe the District's policy concerning visitor conduct on school grounds.

Fast Facts About District 401

The information below is based primarily on District 401's most recent Illinois School Report Card (2017-18).

► Grades: Preschool through 12th 

► Schools: Five

  • Early Childhood Center | Grades PK-K
  • Elmwood Elementary | Grades 1-6
  • John Mills Elementary | Grades 1-6
  • Elm Middle | Grades 7-8
  • Elmwood Park High | Grades 9-12

► Summative Designations for Each District School

► Students: 2,862

► Employees, Full & Part Time: 320 (approximate)

► Teachers: 194 (full-time equivalence)

► Expenditure Amounts: $45 million

► Instructional Spending Per Student

► Operational Spending Per Student

► Average Teacher Salary

► Average Administrator Salary

► Curriculum Standards

► Graduation Rate (four year)

► Graduation Rate (five year)

► Pupil/Teacher Ratio

► Pupil/Certified Staff Ratio

► Pupil/Administrator Ratio

► Average Class Size

  • District: 23
  • State: 20

► Teacher Retention

► Teachers with Master's Degree or Higher

► Teacher Demographics by Gender

► Teacher Demographics by Ethnicity

► Student Attendence

NOTE: This measures average daily attendance.

► Achievement Gap

NOTE: Achievement gaps display the differences in academic performance between different student groups. The data below displays the gap in readiness for the next level between low income students and non-low income students on the SAT for both English language arts (ELA) and math.

► Student Mobility

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students who experienced at least one transfer in or out of the school between the first school day of October and the last school day of the year, not including graduates.

► Chronic Absenteeism

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students who miss 10 percent or more of school days per year either with or without a valid excuse.

► Dropout Rate

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students removed from a local roster before the end of a school term.

► Chronically Truant Students

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students who miss 5 percent of school days without a valid excuse.

► High School Freshmen on Track to Graduate

NOTE: Students identified as "on track" have earned at least five full-year course credits (10 semester credits) and have earned no more than one semester "F" in a core course (English, math, science or social science). Course credits from summer sessions are not included in this calculation. Freshmen on track is a key predictor of high school success.

► Early College Coursework

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students taking early college coursework in grades 10, 11 and 12.

► Postsecondary Enrollment Within 12 Months

NOTE: This measures the percentage of graduating seniors enrolling in a two- or four-year college within 12 months.

► Postsecondary Enrollment Within 16 Months

NOTE: This measures the percentage of graduating seniors enrolling in a two- or four-year college within 16 months.

► Postsecondary Remediation 

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students at Illinois community colleges taking remedial courses.

► Student Demographics

► Low-Income Students

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches, live in substitute care or whose families receive public aid.

► Homeless Students

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students who do not have permanent or adequate homes.

► English Learners

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students whose primary language is not English.

► Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students who receive special education and related services in accordance with their IEPs.

► Students (Grades 3-8) Meeting or Exceeding PARCC Expectations in ELA and Math

NOTE: Meeting or exceeding PARCC expectations means a student is proficient — that is, on track for the next grade level.

  • District | ELA: 34 percent (29 percent met, 5 percent exceeded)
  • State | ELA: 37 percent (31 percent met, 6 percent exceeded)
  • District | Math: 25 percent (23 percent met, 2 percent exceeded)
  • State | Math: 32 percent (27 percent met, 5 percent exceeded)

► Students (Grades 3-8) Approaching PARCC Expectations

NOTE: Approaching PARCC expectations means a student may need additional support to meet expectations at the next grade level.

► Students (Grades 3-8) Partially Meeting PARCC Expectations

NOTE: Partially meeting PARCC expectations means a student may need additional support to meet expectations at the next grade level.

► Students (Grades 3-8) Not Meeting PARCC Expectations

NOTE: Not meeting PARCC expectations means a student may need additional support to meet expectations at the next grade level.

► Information About PARCC

  • PARCC stands for "Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers." 
  • In 2017-18 — the period measured in this edition of the State Report Cards — PARCC exams were the assessment and accountability measure for Illinois students enrolled in public school districts in grades 3-8.
  • In 2018-19 PARCC was replaced by the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). Data from IAR will be available in next year's State Report Cards.
  • PARCC assessed the Common Core-based Illinois Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics. 
  • For more information about understanding Illinois PARCC scores, please visit this site.

► Students (Grade 11) Attaining SAT Proficiency in ELA and Math

NOTE: Proficiency on the SAT means meeting or exceeding standards in the relevant subject matter.

  • District | ELA: 23 percent (20 percent met, 3 percent exceeded)
  • State | ELA: 37 percent (24 percent met, 13 percent exceeded)
  • District | Math: 25 percent (20 percent met, 5 percent exceeded)
  • State | Math: 34 percent (25 percent met, 9 percent exceeded)

► Students (Grade 11) Exceeding Standards on the SAT

NOTE: "Exceeding standards" means the student has exceeded the proficiency level and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the knowledge and skills needed relative to the Illinois Learning Standards.

► Students (Grade 11) Meeting Standards on the SAT

NOTE: "Meeting standards" means the student has met the proficiency level and demonstrates adequate understanding of the knowledge and skills needed relative to the Illinois Learning Standards.

► Students (Grade 11) Approaching Standards on the SAT

NOTE: "Approaching standards" means the student is approaching the proficiency level and demonstrates an incomplete understanding of the knowledge and skills needed relative to the Illinois Learning Standards.

► Students (Grade 11) Partially Meeting Standards on the SAT

NOTE: "Partially meeting standards" means the student has only partially met the standards and demonstrates a minimal understanding of the knowledge and skills needed relative to the Illinois Learning Standards.

► Information About the SAT

  • The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has made the SAT with Essay the Illinois state accountability exam.
  • As of spring 2017, all 11th-grade students attending public high schools, including public charter schools, take the SAT as part of a school day at no charge.
  • The SAT is an admission test accepted by all U.S. colleges and is intended to determine a student's level of college readiness in the academic subjects of math and English language arts.
  • As the required Illinois high school state assessment, the SAT fulfills the requirement that students take an assessment for college and career readiness in order to receive a regular high school diploma, unless eligible to take the alternative assessment or otherwise exempt from testing. The SAT also fulfills the requirement that high school students must take an assessment accepted for student admission to institutions of higher education.
  • The SAT is used for school and District accountability requirements.