It's Back-To-School Time!

It's back-to-school time again! As Lake Zurich students head back to their classrooms today, we'd like to share some local and national information and statistics with you about this exciting time of year. Enjoy!

Here's some local information, courtesy of . This information was provided by Jean Malek, director of communications and community relations:

• 5,950: The number of students estimated to attend schools this year.

• 30: The number of new staff members the district welcomed for the 2011-12 school year.

• The district is offering a new transitional classroom at for special needs students. The class will help teach the students essential life skills.

Some national statistics, courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts and Figures publications:

• $7.4 billion: The amount spent at family clothing stores in August 2010.

• 77 million: The number of children and adults enrolled in school in October 2009.

• 52: The percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in school in October 2009.

• 74: The percentage of children ages 3 to 6 who were enrolled in all-day kindergarten as of October 2009.

• 55.5 million: The estimated number of children expected to be enrolled in elementary through high school nationwide this fall.

• 11: The percentage of elementary through high school students expected to be enrolled in private schools this fall.

• Nearly 80 percent: The percentage of students ages 12 to 17 who were considered academically on-track in 2006, up 8 percentage points from 1998. According to the Census Bureau, students were considered on-track if they were enrolled in school at or above the grade level appropriate for their age.

• 11.2 million: The number of school-age children who spoke a language other than English at home in 2009.

• 31.3 million: The average number of children who participated in the National School Lunch Program each month in 2009.

• 19.7 million: The number of students estimated to attend colleges and universities this fall.

• 98,706: The number of public schools in 2008-09.

• 7.2 million: The number of teachers in the United States in 2009.

• 3.2 million: The projected number of high school diplomas that will be issued this school year.

• 3.4 million: The projected number of college degrees that will be issued in the 2011-12 school year.