About Us

Our Story

Welcome to Effingham Unit 40. For your convenience, we put together a District Dashboard that provides our stakeholders with the ability to view how the district uses its resources to ensure student growth is occurring. Additional information, including the school report card, is available on the district's academic performance page.

 

On June 6, 1948, the area schools consolidated into a public school district that encompasses 127 square miles. Unit 40 operates one daycare / preschool, four elementary schools, a junior high, and a high school. The Board of Education strives to provide the most robust learning environment throughout the area by providing low class sizes and a wide range of educational opportunities. Effingham Unit 40 students are successful in their educational endeavors and that success is a direct reflection upon the excellent group of employees that make up the District and the working relationship with parents, businesses, and the community.

 

The district currently has 2,200 students enrolled.  There are a total of 107 children enrolled at Little Hearts with 25 being children of Unit 40 employees.  East Side Preschool is home to 130 preschool aged students. ELC is home to 141 kindergarten students.  South Side is home to 274 first and second grade students.   Central Grade School is home to 498 students in 2nd through 5th grades.  Effingham Junior High School has 470 students currently enrolled and Effingham High School has approximately 718 students enrolled in grades 9-12.

 

We have 7 Board members elected by the community to set policy and direction for the district. We have been blessed to have individuals that are willing to give of their time for continual improvements to our education process.  Employees of the district include 16 administrators,190 certified teachers, and 191 classified staff including bus chaperones, bus drivers, cooks, custodians, lunch supervisors, maintenance, nurses, secretaries, and teachers’ aides.  The district covers 127.7 square miles. 

 

The list of state-required assessments follows:

ACCESS: English Language Learner students only in Grades K-12

Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR):  All students in Grades 3-8

Illinois Science Assessment (ISA): All students in Grades 5, 8, 11

PSAT 8/9:  All students in Grade 9 

PSAT 10: All students in Grade 10

SAT:  All students in Grade 11

DLM:  Alternative Assessment given to a very small number of students with disabilities in Grades 3-11

National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP):  

Physical Fitness Assessment:  All students in Grades 3-12

 

Mission Statement: Engage, Educate and Empower the Heartbeat of our community

Slogan: Engage, Educate, Empower; Effingham

Vision: To ignite and nurture passion, to develop talent, and to create successful lifelong learners

 

Core Values and Beliefs: In Effingham…

We value individual contributions, opinions, and beliefs to build trust for a successful team.

We respect individuals: their unique lives, passions, and talents.

We honor responsive and coordinated communication.

We celebrate the achievements and victories of all.

We value the respectful exchange of ideas and celebrate our diversity.

We believe the safety of all is crucial for effective learning.

We foster all to realize their potential and develop through personal growth.

 

Strategic Plan Goals

Facilities

     Plan and centrally locate Pre-K – 5 facilities.

     Make all Pre-K to 12 facilities state of the art learning centers.

Finance

     Ensure that adequate financial resources are in place to achieve the mission, vision, and core values of the district.

     Allocate finances for competitive compensation to attract and retain quality administrators, teachers, and staff.

Safety

     Ensure a safe and secure physical learning environment for all students and staff.

     Implement a process/system that provides social and emotional support available to both students and staff.

Communication

     Implement a Unit 40 strategic marketing plan which includes a cohesive rebrand and highlights self-promotion.

     Build a coordinated digital and print calendar/newsletter.

Achievement/Curriculum

     Provide exploration opportunities from start to finish that allows for student choice and control.

     Ensure challenging curriculum to open doors for all students.

Technology

     To continually integrate the MOST current technology in all aspects of learning while constantly evaluating staffing needs.

     The opportunity to have hands-on specialized technology.