Unified school district
Encyclopedia
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten
through middle school
or junior high) and high school
(grades 9–12) under the same district control.
This distinction exists primarily in Illinois
and western U.S. states, where elementary school districts and high school districts are, or were, usually separate. The Los Angeles Unified School District
(sometimes called "LA Unified") is a major example of a California
unified school district. In Illinois, Chicago Public Schools
Unified school districts are not to be confused with consolidated or union school district
s, which are usually formed by the consolidation of multiple school districts of the same type.
s use the term "unified school district" differently. For example:
former districts are elected to form one school board."
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
or junior high) and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(grades 9–12) under the same district control.
This distinction exists primarily in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and western U.S. states, where elementary school districts and high school districts are, or were, usually separate. The Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
(sometimes called "LA Unified") is a major example of a California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
unified school district. In Illinois, Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians and officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, is a large school district that manages over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois...
Unified school districts are not to be confused with consolidated or union school district
Union school district
In some U.S. states, a union school district or union high school district is a school district that has been formed by the consolidation of "two or more school districts situated in the same county". A Joint union school district is similar, but the component districts are "situated wholly or in...
s, which are usually formed by the consolidation of multiple school districts of the same type.
Different uses of the term
Some U.S. stateU.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s use the term "unified school district" differently. For example:
- In ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, a unified school district is a statewide school district serving students under the jurisdiction of a state department:- Unified School District #1 is under the Department of Correction.
- Unified School District #2 is under the Department of Children and Families.
- Unified School District #3 is under the Department of Developmental Services.
- In VermontVermontVermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, a unified school district is a type of union school districtUnion school districtIn some U.S. states, a union school district or union high school district is a school district that has been formed by the consolidation of "two or more school districts situated in the same county". A Joint union school district is similar, but the component districts are "situated wholly or in...
in which "the town school districts (and school boards) are abolished and representatives from the
former districts are elected to form one school board."
- In WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, a unified school district is one in which the school board has "the powers and duties of the school board and annual meeting in a common school district."