St. Charles Community Unit School District 303

Community Unit School District 303 is a comprehensive K-12 public education system covering 57 square miles (150 km²) in the Fox Valley, 40 miles (64 km) west of Chicago.

District 303 serves about 13,590 students from the City of St. Charles and portions of West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne, Campton Hills, Elburn, a very small portion of Elgin and unincorporated Kane County.

When formal school districts were originally created in the late 19th century and early 20th century, they were usually drawn along township boundaries. However, legislation was passed in 1946-47 that encouraged school districts to consolidate. Community Unit School District 303 was born in 1949 when, through a referendum, voters approved consolidating High School District 150, Elementary District 87 and Little Woods District 79.

People served by the Wasco two-year high school program voted in 1950 to consolidate with District 303 after another change in state law eliminated two-year high schools.

The district operates 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, one early childhood center, and two high schools, serving about 13,590 students. Athletes from both high schools belong to the DuKane Conference

• Elementary and Other (K-5)
  • Anderson Elementary School - Foxes
  • Bell-Graham Elementary School - Bobcats
  • Corron Elementary School - Coyotes
  • Davis Elementary School - Dragons
  • Richmond Elementary School - Tigers
  • Ferson Creek Elementary School - Foxes
  • Fox Ridge Elementary School - Foxes
  • Munhall Elementary School - Mustangs
  • Norton Creek Elementary School - Eagles
  • Wasco Elementary School - Wolves
  • Wild Rose Elementary School - Panthers
  • Early Childhood Center - Fireflies
  • In 2005, District 303 purchased 43 acres (170,000 m²) at the corner of Crane and Silver Glen roads with the intention of building an additional elementary and middle school (in a single joined facility) at that location. Referendums in 2005 and 2006 intended to finance the construction of the schools failed to pass.^[1]
• Middle Schools (6-8)
  • Thompson Middle School - Thunder
  • Wredling Middle School - Redhawks
• High Schools (9-12)
  • St. Charles East High School- Saints
  • St. Charles North High School - North Stars

In 2010, the school district decided to combine Davis, an overcrowded elementary school, and Richmond, a failing school that was only at 50% capacity, to create Davis Primary (grades K-2) and Richmond Intermediate (grades 3-5). The schools are close together so transportation was easy. The school days at Richmond were made 40 minutes longer. Spanish and French language courses were offered and every student was given their own tablet.

District 303's composite ACT score for 2005 was 21.8 compared to a state average of 20.1.^[2] 81.7 percent of all District 303 students met or exceeded state learning standards in 2005 (85.8 percent ISAT; 70.4 percent Prairie State Achievement Exam.) Statewide, an average of 64.9 percent of all students met or exceeded state learning standards in 2005 (68.9 percent ISAT; 54.9 percent PSAE.)^[2]

District 303 staff is actively involved in curriculum renewal and redesign in partnership with the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy along with Brown University, in the School Year of 2023-2024 District 303 used a new ELA Curriculum from McGraw Hill Education called Wonders. They also have had for a while a Math Curriculum from Great Minds called Eureka Math. Also using the IAR and ISA - (5th grade, 8th) Through 3-5 in Elementary School 6-8 in Middle.

In 2016, the D303 School Board approved a major modernization plan for Thompson Middle School, with construction beginning in the summer of 2017. The renovation added air conditioning, 31 new classrooms, 11 new science labs, a new auxiliary gym, an expanded cafeteria, and a new track and field area, along with a newly constructed bus drop-off and pick-up area designed to improve traffic flow on Indiana and 7th Streets. Upon completion, Thompson grew to approximately 196,000 square feet, nearly double its previous 110,000-square-foot size. The roughly $39 million Thompson renovation was part of a larger $47 million middle school overhaul for D303, which also included additions to Wredling Middle School and the consolidation of the district's three middle schools down to two — resulting in the closure of Haines Middle School. The renovated Thompson Middle School was unveiled to the community at an open house on August 20, 2019.

District 303 parent organizations include school-level and district Parent Teacher Organizations.

District 303 operates on a $118.3 million annual operating budget (FY '06) Total operating revenues are about $120 million. Total expenses including construction and bonded debt are $137 million, versus total revenues (all funds) of $134 million.

As of the 2024–2025 school year, D303 employs approximately 1,325 staff members across the district. The district's workforce includes teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, support staff, nurses, and secretaries. D303 is recognized as one of the most progressive and innovative school districts in Illinois, with its success reflecting its ability to attract and retain highly qualified, committed, and enthusiastic employees. The district also relies on substitutes to support daily operations, with substitute roles available for teachers, nurses, paraprofessionals, and secretaries, coordinated through the district's substitute program. The Human Resources Department oversees employee benefits, compensation, employment, evaluation, labor relations, safety, and substitute procurement for all district staff.

The average teacher salary in 2005 was $52,502. The average teacher had 10.9 years of experience in 2004-2005. About 57 percent of District 303 teachers hold master's degrees or higher.

District 303 grew significantly since the start of the 21st century. About 250 new students enrolled in District 303 for the 2005-06 school year. Growth of 300-500 new students was expected to continue for the next three to five years.

In 2015, D303 closed Haines Middle School on S 9th St in St. Charles, Illinois, due to the repurposing of the nearby Thompson Middle School. Haines is now used for PTO meetings and staff meetings, alongside the two other middle schools, Thompson Middle and Wredling Middle. In the upcoming 2024–2025 school year, Haines will be used as an Early Childhood Center. As of 2025, Haines Center is home to the Early Childhood Center, established in 2025 by D303, and Compass Academy.

In 2018, Fox Ridge Elementary was shut down and converted into an Early Childhood Center. In October 2023, the D303 School Board decided to convert Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center back into an elementary school, with the Early Childhood Center being moved to the former Haines Middle School. As of 2025, Fox Ridge was repurposed back into an elementary school.

Build in 1928, Lincoln Elementary closed primarily due to a combination of factors. D303 officials decided to repurpose Lincoln Elementary as part of a broader plan to handle overcrowding in other parts of the district and decrease class sizes. The district considered using Lincoln for administrative office space, with little to no student programming remaining at the building. ^[3]

Lincoln was the smallest elementary school in the district, operating as a "two-section" building for many years, meaning there were only two class sections per grade level. Its small size made it less efficient to operate compared to larger buildings in the district.

The changes were tied to a larger reshuffling that also involved Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center being converted back into an elementary school, with early childhood programming being relocated to the Haines Center — all designed to address "hot spot" areas in the district where student enrollment growth was expected in the coming years.

The closure was controversial, with community members launching a petition to save the school, arguing that Lincoln's downtown St. Charles location was important to the surrounding neighborhood and local businesses, and that D303 had already spent $1.9 million upgrading the building since 2000.

Its last school year was 2023–2024, after which Lincoln School began housing the District's Transition Program and other services.

In 2026, D303 approved a $6.35 million renovation and addition at Richmond Elementary School, located at 300 S. 12th Street in St. Charles. The upgrades were designed to expand and modernize the school to better accommodate the district's growing enrollment, with construction beginning in late February following a ceremonial groundbreaking on February 19, 2026. The project includes two new classrooms, additional auxiliary spaces, interior renovations, replacement of the gym flooring, and partial roof replacement, as well as improvements to sidewalks and exterior pavement. Principal Lisa Simoncelli-Bulak noted that the addition provides greater flexibility to respond to enrollment changes without disrupting instructional quality. All construction is projected to be completed by August 2026, in time for the start of the 2026–2027 school year.

^[1]

^[2]

• Official website