District Description
by Dr. Gary Kelly
January 05, 2010
District Description
The DuQuoin Community Unit School District #300 is a rural unit school district with an enrollment of approximately 1,500 students. The district encompasses 105.14 square miles and includes the communities of DuQuoin, St. Johns, and Sunfield. The district was organized in 1968 through a referendum that consolidated DuQuoin Township High School, DuQuoin City Elementary Schools, and the surrounding elementary school districts. Students currently attend school at 3 attendance centers. The DuQuoin Elementary School houses students in grades K-4, with the DuQuoin Middle School housing students in grades 5-8, and the DuQuoin High School housing grade 9-12. The DuQuoin Elementary and Middle School are housed in a modern 120,000 square foot facility that was completed in 1999. The high school facility has undergone some renovations but has been scheduled for the construction of new academic facilities, new media and administrative centers, a new vocational facility, and the extensive renovation of the west end of the facility that includes the band room, gym/dressing areas, and auditorium. The district has been on the state school construction list since FY 2002 and awaits state funding to address the high school facility needs.
The district is a member of the Tri-County Special Education Cooperative that serves special needs students in the counties of Perry, Jackson, and Union. Within the school district, Tri-County leases the J.B. Ward School to provide enhanced services to the students located in the northern part of the Special Education cooperative. The school district is also a member of the Southern Region Early Childhood Consortium that provides pre-school services to eligible children in the community. This program is housed at the Sacred Heart School which also includes the pre-school program for Tri-County.
The school district offers a well-rounded curriculum for all students in grades K-12. At the elementary level, the school utilizes a balanced language development program that has been recognized by the State Board of Education and has been mentioned in the International Reading Journal. The reading program of the school provides instruction based on the learning needs of each individual student. The school also provides exploratory classes in the fine arts, computers, and physical education. At the middle school level, students continue to score at a high level overall on the yearly ISAT exam. Students at this school are exposed to a language arts program that seeks provide instructional support for those who may need additional assistance on a continual basis. Within the school’s math curriculum students are placed in courses to meet their individual learning needs. Likewise, the school provides several exploratory offerings in art, music, computers, physical education, careers, and horticulture. At the high school level, students are engaged in a curriculum that is geared toward college and career readiness. A recent collaboration project with the local community college is allowing students to take advantage of college readiness experiences to assist them as they move toward post-secondary education opportunities. The community college also works with the district to offer an entry level health care/certified nursing assistant program to students at the high school level. The school has upper-level courses in all subject areas, internship and job opportunities outside the school setting, and a vocational program to address the career preparation needs of students.
The district also seeks to meet the special learning and social/emotional/health needs of students in all grades. The district social workers, speech therapists, and nursing staff are devoted to providing the best services possible to meet the individual needs of all students. Students have great opportunities to be involved in several clubs and organizations at the middle school and high school levels. As well, the district provides a well-rounded athletic program for boys and girls at the middle school and high school levels.
District Contact Information
Phone Number: (618) 542-3856
Fax Number: (618) 542-6614
Administrative Secretary E-mail: mfred@dqud300.perry.k12.il.us
