Union SD 81

Located at 1661 Cherry Hill Road in Joliet, Illinois, Union School District 81 is an active, traditional public school district serving the educational needs of its community within the greater Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area. Categorized as a large suburban district, this single-school district provides an intimate, focused academic environment for elementary and middle school students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Operating as a fully open, non-charter public institution, Union SD 81 delivers a neighborhood-rooted education that fosters close-knit connections among students, educators, and local families.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the district serves a compact student body of 143 learners, reflecting a balanced demographic profile of 70 female and 73 male students across a diverse range of cultural backgrounds. To support student achievement and well-being, the district employs a robust professional team totaling nearly 42 full-time equivalent personnel. This includes approximately 25 dedicated classroom teachers, an instructional aide, and nearly 16 support staff members. This generous staffing structure produces an exceptionally low student-to-teacher ratio, offering parents, students, and educational researchers a model of highly personalized instruction and attentive support in early and middle childhood education.