Welcome!

 

 

Beliefs:

  • Provide the highest quality of academic programs and services
  • Consider the needs of students while making decisions
  • Listen actively to all stakeholders
  • Open communication creates a good working climate for good decision-making
  • Truth and respect are essential both internally and externally
  • Continuous growth comes through self-evaluation, assessment, and research-based action
  • Community support is imperative to our success
  • High expectations produce higher results
  • Good character and citizenship should be modeled by adults and learned by our students
     

Mission:

The mission of Unit School District 709 is to serve the Groveland-Morton community by stimulating a desire for life-long learning, graduating productive individuals, and challenging all to achieve their highest potentials as active participants and leaders in a dynamic, global society.

 

Morton District 709 Goals:

Achievement: Morton District 709 will nurture and challenge each student to reach their potential through the highest quality teaching and evidenced based practices.

 

Climate: Morton District 709 will maintain a continuous improvement culture of mutual trust and respect demonstrated by all members of the school community.

 

Communication: Morton District 709 will strive to engage all members of the district and community in open, meaningful two-way communication providing timely information and opportunities for dialogue regarding key educational issues.

 

Facilities: Morton District 709 will develop and maintain facilities providing the current and future students with safe, well maintained, and functional space to support research based best practices in teaching and learning.

 

Finance: Morton District 709 will maintain a financial position which supports all district operations in an efficient, cost effective manner, providing long term stability for the district.

 

 

Enrollment and Staff

Total Enrollment for 2024-25: 3,197

Total Number of Schools: 7

Total Number of Teachers: 230

Grundy: 433 students in grades PK-6
Jefferson: 341 students in grades K-6
Lettie Brown: 331 students in grades K-6
Lincoln: 507 students in grades K-6

Morton Academy: 16 students 

Morton Junior High: 493 students in grades 7-8

Morton High School: 1,071 students in grades 9-12

 

Operational Spending
$10,454 per student in FY22. This amount is the average per-student spending for all overall operations in the district, including instructional spending, but excluding summer school, adult education, capital expenditures, and long-term debt payments. The average cost in the state of Illinois is $16,029 per student.

 

Special Programs

  • Special Education

  • Enrichment Education

  • English Language Learner

  • Early Childhood

 

Rankings

Niche,  research, and ranking company, ranked Morton School District as the following in their 2024 Best Schools rankings. 

  • 1) Morton School District was ranked in the top 10 percent on the list of the Best School Districts in Illinois 
  • 2) Morton School District ranked #1 as the Best School District in Tazewell County
  • 3) Morton School District ranked #4 among the 643 Safest School Districts in Illinois 
  • 4) Morton School District ranked #57 among the 11,823 Safest School  Districts in America
  • 5) Morton School District Ranked in the top 10 percent of Best Schools for Athletes in Illinois
  • 6) Morton School District earned an overall  "A" ranking for 2024. 


US News & World Report

  • Morton High School was one of the top 5 School Districts in the Metro-Peoria Area for 2024.