Aqsa School

Aqsa School (Arabic: مدرسة الأقصی) is an Islamic day school in Bridgeview, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. As of 2016^[update] the principal is Tammie Ismail.^[1]

The school has elementary, junior high, and high school levels.^[2] The elementary is coeducational while the later stages are all-girls'.^[3]

Aqsa School is not affiliated with the nearby Universal School.^[4]

History

The middle and high school opened in 1986 and the elementary division opened after its standalone school building opened in 1996.^[3]

In 2016 Sudanese American teacher Laila El-Amin, who headed the Arabic and religion departments of Aqsa School, received the Golden Apple award.^[5]

Demographics

Most students are of Arab heritage, and those of Palestinian heritage are the largest Arab subgroup.^[3]

Other Arab-American groups include Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, Libyan, and Syrian backgrounds. There are also students of European origin, including those of Albanian, Italian, and Turkish backgrounds. The school has South Asian-origin students; including those of Bangladeshi, Indian, Kashmiri, and Pakistani origins; and Southeast Asian-origin students, including those from the Philippines. In addition there are African-American and Hispanic and Latino students.^[3]

In terms of race most students are designated as White American,^[3] as Arab Americans are racially classified as "White".^[6]

Operations

The 6th and 9th grades see influxes of students who transfer from other schools.