A unified school district (in the states of Arizona, California, Kansas and Oregon) or unit school district (in Illinois), in the United States of America, is a school district that generally includes and operates both

primary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary e ...

s (

kindergarten Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cent ...

through

middle school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school. ...

or junior high) and

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

s (grades 9–12) under the same district control. This distinction is predominant in states where elementary school districts and high school districts are, or were, generally separate. The

Los Angeles Unified School District Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a public school district in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is the largest public school system in California in terms of number of students and the 2nd largest public school district in ...

is a major example of a unified school district in California. In Illinois, unit school districts must not be confused with consolidated or

union school district In some states in the United States of America (US), a union school district or union high school district is a school district that has been established by the consolidation of "two or more school districts situated in the same county". A Joint ...

s, which are generally formed by the consolidation of multiple school districts of the same type. In Kansas, the unified school districts developed after legislation passed in 1962 that was intended to reduce the number of rural school districts. After the law's passage, the number of districts in Kansas dropped dramatically. In 1947, there were over 3,000 districts. After the unification law and establishment of unified school districts, their number dropped to under 400. In Arizona, unified school districts elect 5 school board members. Common school districts have elected boards consisting of 3 members.

Distinct uses of the term

Some other states use the term "unified school district" to refer to different characteristics. For example: * In Connecticut, a unified school district is a statewide school district serving students under the jurisdiction of a particular state department: ** Unified School District #1 is under the

Connecticut Department of Correction The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The agency operates 18 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. History The correctional syste ...

. ** Unified School District #2 is under the

Connecticut Department of Children and Families The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a state agency of Connecticut providing family services. Its headquarters is in Hartford. History The Connecticut Department of Children and Youth Services was established around 1970. ...

. ** Unified School District #3 is under the Department of Developmental Services. * In Vermont, a unified school district is a type of

, 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 Wisconsin, a unified school district is one type of school district. Its school board has "the powers and duties of the school board and annual meeting in a common school district."Wisconsin Statutes § 120.44
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unified School District School districts School districts in the United States