Jefferson and Jackson middle schools compete in boys volleyball at Willowbrook High School
The seventh- and eighth-grade boys volleyball teams from Jefferson and Jackson middle schools competed at Willowbrook High School on Feb. 23, with District 45 families and fans from both schools attending to support the student-athletes.
The event brought together students, families, and staff for a series of matches that highlighted local school sports. The eighth-grade match saw Jackson win 25-19, 25-23, while the Jaguars also took the seventh-grade match with scores of 25-10 and 25-20.
Villa Park School District 45 represents several schools in DuPage County, including Ardmore Elementary School, Jackson Middle School, Jefferson Middle School, North Elementary School, Schafer Elementary School, Stevenson School, Westmore Elementary School, and York Center Elementary School according to the Illinois Report Card. The district enrolled 3,306 students in the 2019-2020 school year and serves grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade according to the Illinois Report Card.
Demographic data shows that Villa Park School District 45 is composed of approximately 43.4 percent White students, 7.8 percent Black students, 35.4 percent Hispanic students, and 8.2 percent Asian students according to the Illinois Report Card. The district employs a total of 224 teachers who earn an average salary of $74,159 before pension contributions; about 82.8 percent are women and no teacher has more than ten absences in a school year according to the Illinois Report Card.
In terms of finances and attendance metrics for the district: Villa Park School District 45 spent $23,216 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $76,753,683 according to the Illinois Report Card. During that same period there were reportedly 119 chronically truant students enrolled—a rate of about 3.6 percent—compared to a statewide average truancy rate of about 9.6 percent according to the Illinois State Board of Education.
The matches concluded with congratulations extended to both Wildcat and Jaguar players as well as their coaches for what was described as entertaining volleyball action.