Wauconda Community Unit School District 118

What Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 does

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 (WCUSD 118) is a public PreK-12 school district operating six schools across six communities in Illinois, serving approximately 4,200-4,500 students. The district employs roughly 350 teaching staff, 30 administrative personnel, and 200 support staff, and is currently led by two Co-Interim Superintendents following recent executive transition. Annual operating budget is approximately $82 million, of which 71% is funded through local property taxes, 24% through state sources (primarily Illinois Evidence-Based Funding), 4% through federal Title/IDEA allocations, and 1% through other sources; the district is funded at approximately 75% of adequacy, reflecting chronic underfunding relative to formula-calculated need. The district is operating with a $4.2 million deficit in FY25-26 and has announced $7 million in cuts as part of a Board-approved deficit reduction plan.\n\nThe district's operational technology stack centers on established education-sector platforms: PowerSchool serves as the student information system, BrightArrow handles mass communications, Nutrislice manages nutrition program information, Applitrack supports hiring workflows, and the ParentHub mobile app (launched 2024) provides parent engagement tools. The district also operates e-Funds for Schools for online fee and payment processing, and has partnered with AP Energy Solutions on an LED retrofit projected to deliver $100,000 in annual savings. A Special Education Audit initiated in January 2026 will shape forthcoming program and compliance changes. A tuition-based blended preschool program is in planning for the 2027-28 school year as a new fee-based revenue diversification vehicle.\n\nRevenue mechanics rely on statutory funding formulas: property tax collections via local levies, evidence-based funding from the Illinois State Board of Education, federal Title and IDEA allocations, and ancillary student fees processed through e-Funds. Service delivery is anchored in six physical school sites distributed across the district's six communities, supported by a credentialed teacher workforce. There is no observable AI/ML capability, no proprietary technology development, and no enrollment-expansion strategy beyond modest program diversification (preschool) and parent-facing digital modernization (ParentHub, e-Funds).

Name

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118

Legal name

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118

Website

https://d118.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 is a PreK-12 public school district operating six schools across six Illinois communities, serving approximately 4,200-4,500 students with an $82 million annual budget funded primarily through local property taxes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD), Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• PreK-12 school district
• Student support services
• Special education services
• School transportation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wauconda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Local Property Tax: The majority of district funding comes from local property taxes, accounting for 71% of total funding. Property tax levies are filed annually with balloon levy strategy to capture new construction growth.
2. State Funding: State of Illinois Evidence-Based Funding accounts for 24% of district revenue. District is funded at 75% Adequacy Level in FY26 per Illinois State Board of Education formula.
3. Federal Funding: Federal funding represents 4% of district revenue, including IDEA, TITLE grants, and ARP/ESSER III COVID relief funds.
4. Other Revenue: Miscellaneous revenue sources account for 1% of total funding.
5. Food Service Fees: Cafeteria fees for meals - K-8th grade lunch $3.50 (reduced $0.40), 9th-12th grade lunch $4.05 (reduced $0.40), breakfast $2.00 (reduced $0.30), adult lunch $4.70, milk $0.55.
6. School Fees: Fee-based services including school fee payments processed through e-Funds for Schools platform, with fee waiver options available for qualifying families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 operates public PreK-12 education across six schools (three elementary, two middle, one high school) serving nearly 4,500 students in Lake County and McHenry County, Illinois. Core offerings include academic instruction aligned to Illinois Learning Standards, special education and bilingual/ELL services, food services, district-owned transportation, and a 1:1 device program supported by PowerSchool and ParentHub digital platforms.

Product overview

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 is a PreK-12 public school district serving approximately 4,500 students across Lake County and McHenry County in Illinois. The district operates a unified educational platform consisting of core instructional programs enhanced by technology integration (1:1 device programs, ParentHub app, PowerSchool portal), student support services (special education, ELL, social-emotional support), and operational services (food services, transportation). The district comprises six schools including elementary, middle, and high school levels, with preschool programs including the WEE Kids early education program and a planned tuition-based blended preschool for 2027-28. Technology services provide the digital infrastructure for learning while PowerSchool and ParentHub serve as the primary parent engagement platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WEE Kids (Wauconda Early Education): Preschool program for children ages 3-5 who are at-risk or need evaluation for special education services

Products and services

• PreK-12 Education Programs
• Food Services
• Transportation Services
• WEE Kids Preschool Program
• ParentHub Mobile App
• Special Education Services
• Bilingual/ELL Services
• Social-Emotional Support Services Mental health, suicide prevention, and grief support resources including crisis hotlines, Text-a-Tip, Safe 2 Help Illinois, and partnerships with Alexian Brothers, Barr-Harris, Journey Care, NICASA, and Streamwood Behavioral Health.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AP Energy SolutionscoreTechnology or Integration · 2 June 2026Partnering with AP Energy Solutions to replace all District 118 light fixtures with LED lights at no cost to the district. Estimated annual energy savings of $100,000. Majority of fixtures will be fully replaced with LED lights; retrofitting used for exterior mounted fixtures where appropriate.
• Transformational Business ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 8 January 2026Financial audit firm that presented Financial Audit to Board of Education meeting. Recommended Special Education Audit as part of their audit process. Conducting multi-phase special education audit with executive summary presented June 1, 2026.
• ComEdminorOthersElectric utility provider enabling District 118 to capitalize on additional rebates for LED lighting project. Rebates contribute to estimated $100,000 annual energy savings.
• NutrislicecoreTechnology or IntegrationFood service menu platform providing all District 118 menus and nutritional information. Accessible at d118.nutrislice.com for families to view daily menus and nutrition information.
• PowerSchoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationStudent information system providing Parent Portal for student registration, returning student enrollment, fee waiver applications, and access to district forms. Real-time syncing with e-Funds payment platform.
• BrightArrowcoreTechnology or IntegrationMessaging system integrated with District 118's ParentHub app. Provides real-time alerts and push notifications, collecting all school communications in one location for parents.
• ApplitrackcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline employment application system for certified and support staff positions. District 118 uses Applitrack for all job applications including substitute teachers, bus drivers, substitute nurses, and lunch/playground supervisors.
• ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education)coreOthersState education board providing Evidence-Based Funding. District 118 is funded at 75% Adequacy Level in FY26. ISBE administers educator licensure requirements including substitute licensing through ELIS system.
• Lake County Health DepartmentminorOthersCounty health department providing immunization clinics and health services. McHenry County Health Department also referenced for immunizations.
• Lake County (211 Helpline)minorOthers24-hour information and referral helpline for health and human services in Lake County. District refers families to 211 as a central access point for community resources.
• Text-a-Tip (Lake County)minorOthers24/7 anonymous text-communication system for youth needing immediate mental health assistance. Text LAKECO to 844-823-5323.
• Safe 2 Help IllinoisminorOthersStatewide crisis support for students. Text SAFE2 to 72332 for mental health and crisis resources.
• District 118 PTOcoreOthersParent-teacher organization supporting all district schools. Coordinates building-based PTOs at each school including Cotton Creek School, Robert Crown School, Wauconda Grade School, Matthews Middle School, and Wauconda Middle School.
• Wauconda Band BoostersminorOthersParent organization supporting band programs for grades 6-12, including Matthews Middle School and Wauconda Middle School bands.
• Wauconda BoostersminorOthersAthletic booster club supporting grades 9-12 programs at Wauconda High School.
• Wauconda Fine Arts BoostersminorOthersBooster organization supporting fine arts programs for grades 9-12 at Wauconda High School.
• Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health HospitalminorOthersBehavioral health hospital providing support for mental health issues, addiction, and behavioral disorders. 800-432-5005.
• Barr-Harris Children's Grief CenterminorOthersChildren's grief center serving children who have lost a parent, sibling, or family member. Sliding scale fee available.
• Journey CareminorOthersProvides one-on-one and group grief support services. 847-467-7423 (general) or 224-770-2489 (24-hour).
• NICASAminorOthersNot-for-profit behavioral health services organization providing substance abuse services. 847-546-6450.
• Streamwood Behavioral HealthminorOthersHospital providing support for mental health and behavioral concerns with free initial assessments available. 630-837-9000.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Round Lake Area Schools District 116: Lake County PreK-12 public school district with comparable suburban profile, multilingual community, and similar scale of elementary/middle/high school operations.
• McHenry Community High School District 156: Adjacent McHenry County high school district serving overlapping communities; faces the same Illinois EBF funding environment and similar property-tax-dependent revenue model.
• Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120: Lake County public high school district with overlapping feeder communities, similar budget scale, and shared reliance on Illinois state aid and local property taxes.
• Barrington Community Unit School District 220: Lake County-area PreK-12 district with comparable scale, suburban/exurban communities, and reliance on local property taxes; competes for the same Lake Barrington-area families.
• Grayslake Community Consolidated School District 46: Lake County K-8 public school district with comparable enrollment scale and suburban community profile.
• Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47: McHenry County K-8 feeder district similar to District 118's elementary/middle footprint, sharing demographic and funding profile.
• Community High School District 117 (Antioch): Neighboring Lake County public high school district operating two high schools (Antioch and Lakes) with similar suburban Lake County demographic and funding mix under the same Illinois Evidence-Based Funding formula.
• Fremont School District 79 (Mundelein): Lake County K-8 public district with similar enrollment and bilingual/ELL program offerings, operating under the same Illinois School Code.

Others

• PowerSchool: Vendor partner providing the SIS that underpins District 118's parent portal, registration, and grading workflows, comparable across thousands of US K-12 districts.
• Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE): State regulatory and funding counterpart that administers Evidence-Based Funding, licensure, and accountability frameworks for all Illinois school districts including District 118.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WaucondaCUSD118

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wauconda Community Unit School District 118