Universal School
School Profile
2008-2009
FROM CRAYONS TO COLLEGE: Universal School provides classes from preschool through 12th grade. During the last school year, there were over 341 students in the preschool and elementary level and 327 in the middle and high school, totaling 668 students. The spacious 70,000 square foot modern facility allows a maximum of 700 students. At the current rate of growth, we anticipate reaching this number in a few short years. Our graduates have been accepted into Harvard University, Yale University, Cornell University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Washington St Louis Medical Program, Wesleyan University in Connecticut, I.I.T. Dual acceptance Medical, DePaul University, Loyola University Honors Program, University of Illinois at Chicago Honors Program, University of Illinois at Urbana and other smaller undergraduate schools. Last year’s graduates received a total of over 2 million in academic scholarships.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Universal School is governed by a well-diversified, group of Muslim professionals who are not only active in the school, but in the community at large. There are nine members, eight men and one woman. These individuals who volunteer their time oversee the basic functions of the school.
ACCREDITATION: Since 1992, Universal has been recognized by the State of Illinois Board of Education and in 2004, Universal School also received accreditation from the very prestigious North Central Association for Accreditation. Universal School is also recognized nationally as a leading Islamic school by the Islamic Society of North America, Islamic Circle of North America, American Muslim Council, Dar-ul-Islam Inc., and Council o¬n American Islamic relations, among others.
BUDGET: The annual budget of Universal sums over 3,300,000.00. Seventy-five percent of this amount is collected through tuition, the remainder is provided through grants and fund raising efforts.
ENROLLMENT: Universal’s 668 students and their parents are from various cultural and economic backgrounds. Over 63% of parents of students come from twenty different Arab countries, 15% represent the Indian subcontinent, 12% are African Americans and 10% from other nationalities.
CURRICULUM AND ACHIEVEMENT: The elementary level adheres to an accelerated academic program that leads the students in the high school level to our college preparatory program offering Advanced Placement and Honors classes. Our elementary school students, o¬n average, performed better than 77% of all the students nationally, when compared to students in other private and parochial schools in grades 2nd through 8th, on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills.
Our high school students’ scores averaged from 23.0 to 24.1% for the last four years o¬n nationally conducted achievement tests such as the SAT and ACT, with the score of 34 out of 36 as the highest ACT score, and 790 out of 800 SAT subject test score obtained this past year by Universal Students. This is well above the national average of 21.1 and State average of 20.5.
THE FACILITY: The spacious 70,000 square foot modern facility includes thirty-six classrooms; a state of the art, fully equipped science lab; two computer labs; o¬ne journalism lab; library-media center; a cafeteria with a full service kitchen; an inside regulation size basketball court; playing field; and a playground.
THE FACULTY/STAFF: The school is home to sixty dedicated faculty and staff members. The Principal and Assistant Principal both hold a Master’s Degrees in Education and Administration. All teachers of core subjects are certified in their respective fields where certification is offered except for a few who are currently pursuing a certification program. Over forty percent have earned at least o¬ne Master’s Degree in education-related fields, the remaining have Bachelor’s Degrees. O¬ne high school teacher has a Ph.D. in curricular development. Several elementary and high school teachers have been chosen annually, as Who’s Who among U.S. teachers. Over 50% of the elementary faculty graduated with honors from their respective alma mater. The elementary and high school teachers have an average of nine years teaching experience behind them.
DISTINCT AWARDS:
2008: 1st place school recognition in the Regional Science Fair out of 48 participating schools. From the 300 projects judged, Universal School students received the greatest percentage of "Outstanding Projects" recognition. 1st place school recognition in the Regional and Sectional WYSE Competition, Universal School students received individual "Outstanding" recognition in the areas of Biology and Physics, at State level. 14 students were recognized as AP Scholars. 83% of the students passed the AP Exam. 2 students finalists in the All American Boy/Girl Contest, Highest ACT score of a 34 out of 36.
2007: 1st place school recognition in the Regional Science Fair out of 55 students. 1 st place school Recognition in the Regional and Sectional WYSE Competition. 7 AP Scholars and 2 National Merit Scholars Semi Finalists (This honor is awarded to only 1 in every 250,000 high school juniors). 2 finalists in the All American Boys Contest, Highest ACT score 34 out of 36, and highest SAT 1420, 10 Illinois State Scholars.
2006: Highest ACT scores of 32 out of 36; 11 AP Scholars; 6 Illinois State Scholars. 1 finalist in the All American Boys Contest.
2005: Highest ACT score of 34 out of 36. All American Boy Contest, 3rd place winner: Sponsored by U.S. Congressman Lipinski; Midwest Muslimah Volleyball Tournament Winners; 8 AP Scholars; 4 Illinois State Scholars.
Extra Recognitions
- 2000: Metro Prep Conference Championship,Student On-Line Award, (SOJA) Awarded grand prize in the national competition sponsor by US News and World Report.
- All American Girl Contest, winner: Sponsored by U.S. Congressman Lipinski; National Merit Scholar: Awarded to 1 in 250,000 high school seniors.
- Illinois State Scholar, awarded to 1% of Illinois H.S. seniors; Highest SAT score, 1570 out of 1600.
- WGN Extra Effort Award
TAKING THE LEAD: Universal is known as the pioneer in taking bold steps toward establishing and refining North America’s Islamic school movement. Some of our unique endeavors include: establishing an Arabic as a second language curriculum including original textbooks and materials; creating and utilizing an Islamic Studies curriculum as well as textbooks for the elementary grades; participants of the Tarbiyah Project, a national Islamic character education program; 12-page, independent student newspaper, The Constellation; joining an official IHSA private high school basketball conference; initiating and hosting a volleyball tournament for girls involving other Muslim schools in the area, a wrestling program where students participated and won at the regional level, track and field team for boys and girls (Islamic dress code worn through special permission) has participated in the State Sectional Meet for the past eight years, and several students competed on the state level.
LOCATION: Nestled in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Universal School draws students from the entire Chicago land area with a significant number living up to an hour’s drive away.
IMPACT ON COMMUNITY: Since its inception, Universal School has played a dynamic and significant role in the community. Many school programs involve the students in community services, such as feeding the indigent, visiting nursing homes, participating in activities at homeless shelters and sponsorship of orphaned children. Universal students publish their own 12-page student newspaper three times a year, and have an o¬nline newspaper as well. The first high school chapter of IMAN (Inner-city Muslim Action Network) was established at Universal in which students actively work in the community to help those in need.
