At a Glance | District 401

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

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

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

► Mr. Frank J. Parisi | President
► Mr. Michael V. Scheidt | Vice President
► Mrs. Sue Capraro | Secretary
► Mrs. Mary Bruscato
► Mr. Timothy P. Loughnane
► Mr. Jonathan M. Rivera
► 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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

PLEASE NOTE: The Early Childhood Center closed permanently after the 2019-20 school year. Effective July 1, 2020, pre-kindergarten (PK) students attend John Mills Elementary School, and kindergarten students attend either John Mills Elementary or Elmwood Elementary. 

► John Mills Elementary School | PK-5

• Address: 2824 N. 76th Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707
• Navigation: Map | Directions
• Phone: 708-452-3560
• Fax: 708-452-0349
• Email: millsinfo@epcusd401.org
• Grades: PK-5
• Enrollment: 2020-21 figures to be announced
• Principal: Mr. Frank Kuzniewski
• Assistant Principal: Ms. Alexandra Oreluk
• About: John Mills at a Glance

► Elmwood Elementary School | K-5

• Address: 2319 N. 76th Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707
• Navigation: Map | Directions
• Phone: 708-452-3558
• Fax: 708-452-5567
• Email: ewinfo@epcusd401.org
• Grades: K-5
• Enrollment: 2020-21 figures to be announced
• Principal: Mr. Matthew Lerner
• Assistant Principal: Ms. Stephanie Hagins
• About: Elmwood at a Glance

► Elm Middle School | 6-8

• Address: 7607 W. Cortland St., Elmwood Park, IL 60707
• Navigation: Map | Directions
• Phone: 708-452-3550
• Fax: 708-452-0662
• Email: elminfo@epcusd401.org
• Grades: 6-8
• Enrollment: 2020-21 figures to be announced
• Principal: Ms. Ashley Groeneveld
• Assistant Principal: Ms. Morgan Freeck
• About: Elm at a Glance

► Elmwood Park High School

• Address: 8201 W. Fullerton Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707
• Navigation: Map | Directions
• Phone: 708-452-7272
• Fax: 708-452-0732
• Email: ephsinfo@epcusd401.org
• Grades: 9-12
• Enrollment: 2020-21 figures to be announced
• Principal: Mr. Douglas Wildes
• Assistant Principal: Mr. Bernhard Walke
• Dean of Students: Ms. Leanne Hightower
• Dean of Students: Mr. David Parolin
• Athletic Director: Mr. Doug Noyes
• About: EPHS at a Glance

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.

The information below is based primarily on District 401's most recent Illinois School Report Card (2018-19).

► Grades: PK-12 

► Schools: Four

• Elmwood Elementary | Grades K-5
• John Mills Elementary | Grades PK-5
• Elm Middle | Grades 6-8
• Elmwood Park High | Grades 9-12

► Summative Designations for Each District School

• Elmwood Elementary | Commendable School
• John Mills Elementary | Commendable School
• Elm Middle | Commendable School
• Elmwood Park High | Commendable School

► Students: 2,824

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

► Teachers: 193 (full-time equivalence)

► Expenditure Amounts: $44 million

► Instructional Spending Per Student

• District: $8,782
• State: $8,172

► Operational Spending Per Student

• District: $14,489
• State: $13,764

► Average Teacher Salary

• District: $82,301
• State: $67,049

► Average Administrator Salary

• District: $111,982
• State: $109,592

► Curriculum Standards

• Common Core State Standards
• Illinois Learning Standards 

► Graduation Rate (four year)

• District: 91 percent
• State: 86 percent

► Graduation Rate (five year)

• District: 89 percent
• State: 88 percent 

► Pupil/Teacher Ratio

• District (Elementary Students per Teacher): 17 to 1
• State: 18 to 1
• District (High School Students per Teacher): 21 to 1
• State: 19 to 1

► Pupil/Certified Staff Ratio

• District: 11 to 1
• State: 10 to 1

► Pupil/Administrator Ratio

• District: 149 to 1
• State: 173 to 1

► Average Class Size

• District: 24
• State: 22

► Teacher Retention

• District: 89.6 percent
• State: 85.2 percent

► Teachers with Master's Degree or Higher

• District: 85.6 percent
• State: 85.7 percent

► Teacher Demographics by Gender

• Female: 77 percent
• Male: 23 percent

► Teacher Demographics by Ethnicity

• White: 89.8 percent
• Hispanic: 6.9 percent
• Asian: 1 percent
• Black: 1 percent
• Pacific Islander: 0.2 percent
• Not Reported: 1 percent

► Student Attendence

NOTE: This measures average daily attendance.

• District: 93.6 percent
• State: 94 percent

► Achievement Gap in SAT Scores

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.

• District Non-Low Income | SAT ELA: 34 percent 
• District Low Income | SAT ELA: 19 percent
• District Achievement Gap | SAT ELA: –16 percent
• State Non-Low Income | SAT ELA: 50 percent
• State Low Income | SAT ELA: 19 percent
• State Achievement Gap | SAT ELA: –31 percent

• District Non-Low Income | SAT Math: 36 percent 
• District Low Income | SAT Math: 28 percent
• District Achievement Gap | SAT Math: –8 percent
• State Non-Low Income | SAT Math: 48 percent
• State Low Income | SAT Math: 17 percent
• State Achievement Gap | SAT Math: –31 percent

► 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.

• District: 8 percent
• State: 7 percent

► 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.

• District: 18 percent
• State: 18 percent

► Dropout Rate

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

• District: 3 percent
• State: 4 percent

► Chronically Truant Students

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

• District: 6.4 percent
• State: 13.4 percent

► 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.

• District: 89.6 percent
• State: 86.6 percent

► Early College Coursework

NOTE: This measures the percentage of students taking early college coursework in grades 9-12.

• District: 40.5 percent

► Postsecondary Enrollment Within 12 Months

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

• District: 77 percent
• State: 73 percent

► Postsecondary Enrollment Within 16 Months

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

• District: 79 percent
• State: 74 percent

► Community College Remediation 

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

• District: 74 percent
• State: 44 percent

► Student Demographics

• Hispanic: 53.8 percent
• White: 40 percent
• Asian: 2.2 percent
• Black: 2.1 percent
• Two or More Races: 1.5 percent
• American Indian: 0.3 percent
• Pacific Islander: 0.1 percent

► 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.

• District: 48.2 percent
• State: 48.8 percent

► Homeless Students

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

• District: 0.5 percent
• State: 2 percent

► English Learners

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

• District: 19.2 percent
• State: 12.1 percent

► 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.

• District: 17 percent
• State: 16 percent

► Students (Grades 3-8) Meeting or Exceeding Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) Expectations in ELA & Math

NOTE: This means a student is proficient — that is, on track for the next grade level.

• District | ELA: 43 percent (36 percent met, 7 percent exceeded)
• State | ELA: 38 percent (32 percent met, 6 percent exceeded)
• District | Math: 28 percent (26 percent met, 2 percent exceeded)
• State | Math: 32 percent (27 percent met, 5 percent exceeded)

► Students (Grades 3-8) Approaching IAR Expectations in ELA & Math 

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

• District | ELA: 29 percent
• State | ELA: 26 percent
• District | Math: 28 percent 
• State | Math: 27 percent

► Students (Grades 3-8) Partially Meeting IAR Expectations in ELA & Math

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

• District | ELA: 16 percent
• State | ELA: 19 percent
• District | Math: 30 percent
• State | Math: 25 percent

► Students (Grades 3-8) Not Meeting IAR Expectations in ELA & Math

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

• District | ELA: 12 percent
• State | ELA: 16 percent
• District | Math: 14 percent
• State | Math: 16 percent

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

NOTE: This means meeting or exceeding standards in the relevant subject matter.

• District | ELA: 28 percent (21 percent met, 7 percent exceeded)
• State | ELA: 37 percent (26 percent met, 11 percent exceeded)
• District | Math: 33 percent (29 percent met, 4 percent exceeded)
• State | Math: 35 percent (26 percent met, 9 percent exceeded)

► Students (Grade 11) Exceeding Standards on the SAT in ELA & Math

NOTE: This 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.

• District | ELA: 7 percent
• State | ELA: 11 percent
• District | Math: 4 percent
• State | Math: 9 percent

► Students (Grade 11) Meeting Standards on the SAT in ELA & Math

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

• District | ELA: 21 percent
• State | ELA: 26 percent
• District | Math: 29 percent
• State | Math: 26 percent

► Students (Grade 11) Approaching Standards on the SAT in ELA & Math

NOTE: This 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.

• District | ELA: 52 percent
• State | ELA: 36 percent
• District | Math: 35 percent
• State | Math: 32 percent

► Students (Grade 11) Partially Meeting Standards on the SAT in ELA & Math

NOTE: This 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.

• District | ELA:  21 percent
• State | ELA:  28 percent
• District | Math: 33 percent
• State | Math: 34 percent

► 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.