Community Unit School District 303 is a high-achieving, pre-K-12 system covering 57.4 square miles in the picturesque Fox River Valley, 40 miles west of Chicago. District 303 serves about 13,800 students (August, 2009) from the City of St. Charles and portions of West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne, Campton Hills, Wasco, Elburn and unincorporated Kane County. In July 2011, Family Circle Magazine named St. Charles the Best Town for Families in the United States. Among the reasons why the City of St. Charles was given this honor is the involvement of District 303 in the community and the fact that District 303 works closely with the City of St. Charles, the St. Charles Park District, the St. Charles Public Library and other civic organizations to benefit the residents of the community.