Prospect High School named Blue Ribbon School

Prospect High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2023. This prestigious award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement.

Prospect is one of three public high schools in Illinois selected as Exemplary High Performing Schools, and is one of 52 high schools recognized in the nation.

Click HERE to see the full list of this year’s winners.

New website helps track Bears Stadium information

As the Chicago Bears search for a new home, Elementary School District 15, Township High School District 211 and High School District 214 created a website to track the latest stadium information. SuburbanStadium.org is a one-stop shop for anyone wanting more information about stadium-related issues and possibilities. The website includes a timeline of developments, legislative proposals, FAQ and more.

D214 Response to Illinois Proficiency Standards

District 214 metrics on the Illinois Proficiency Benchmarks reflect our growing population of students with multiple at-risk factors that were exacerbated during the pandemic. District 214 developed and presented to the Board of Education the following plans to directly address academic performance and state testing benchmarks.

• Learning Renewal Plan to address overall academic performance 2021-2024

• A multi-year plan to address College Board SAT performance on state assessment 

• Significant expansion of mental health supports and staffing for English learners

To read the full response, click HERE.

Block Schedule Extended for 2023-2024 School Year

District 214 will extend the Block Schedule Pilot for an additional year to gather two full years of data regarding student attendance, discipline, and academic performance.

The current A/B Block Schedule was adopted by the Board of Education as a component of the District 214 Learning Renewal Plan in a two-year pilot during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.

D214 expanding access to mental health services

District 214 is taking steps to support students and staff in the midst of the national mental health crisis. The Board of Education agreed to hire additional personnel to meet the social-emotional needs of students. This includes the hiring of additional school social workers and school psychologists to be placed at each D214 high school.

In addition to hiring more school social workers and school psychologists, the District is exploring new community partnerships to increase prevention and wellness efforts as well as leveraging technology to expand access to mental health services. 

Click HERE to see the full presentation from the February 21, 2023 Special Board of Education Workshop. 

District 214 is hosting the NWPA High School Educator Job Fair on March 4, 2023 to hire counselors, clinicians and teachers. Click HERE for more information and to pre-register.

D214 Summer Experience

Each year during the summer, District 214 provides students an array of educational opportunities and enrichment experiences. D214.org/SummerExperience is your one-stop shop for all things summer. Families can get information and access the registration portals for:

• Summer Coursework (formerly known as Summer School)
• Summer Enrichment
• Summer Athletic Camps

Registration information for all three programs is also accessible in the new D214 Summer Experience Guidebook, which is available in both English and Spanish. Click the link above to download them. 

Arlington Park Presentation

District 214’s Board of Education conducted a special meeting on Feb. 2 at Forest View Educational Center.

The District’s legal counsel presented an overview of a new financing mechanism called PILOT, or Payment in Lieu of Taxes, being drafted in the Illinois General Assembly that could be applied to the Chicago Bears’ Arlington Heights stadium proposal. This overview includes the potential economic impact on District 214 and district residents.

Click here to view the presentation and the Special Board Meeting.

First Lady visits Rolling Meadows High School

District 214 was honored to host First Lady Jill Biden at Rolling Meadows High School on Monday, November 14, 2022. She was joined by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to kick off National Apprenticeship Week.

The First Lady and Cabinet secretaries met with students in the Career Pathways program. The District was proud to show The First Lady the hands-on learning opportunities available to students.

D214 makes Forbes' 'America's Best' List

District 214 was named one of the best employers in Illinois by Forbes. The magazine surveyed 70,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 500 employees to create its list of America’s Best Employers by State.

According to Forbes, the final employers on the list universally value fair pay, safe working conditions and an inclusive work culture. This year’s survey also included questions about the wage gap for women and initiatives around diversity, equity and inclusion.

District 214 Board waives registration fees for second consecutive year

High School District 214’s Board of Education has waived registration fees for all students for the 2022-2023 school year. Board members voted on January 20 to suspend the $425 fee in response to continuing economic uncertainties in the community linked to the ongoing pandemic. District 214 has identified cost savings elsewhere to offset revenue typically generated by registration fees. 

The $425 registration fee covers such items as textbooks rental, instructional materials, digital learning, school calendars, physical education shirts and locks, a pass to regular season home activities, an iPad Protection Plan and the school newspaper. In addition to waiving the registration fee, the Board voted to suspend co-curricular participation fees.

District 214 receives grant to expand Youth Apprenticeship Program

District 214 is proud to be the recipient of a grant from the State of Illinois to boost workforce development programs. The grant will be used to expand our Youth Apprenticeship Program to continue to provide authentic work experiences for students. District 214 is one of 44 organizations and the only school district to receive a grant. We are honored to be recognized by the state as a leading partner in this initiative.

D214 Awarded with Excellence in Budget

For the 12th year in a row, District 214 has been presented the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials. This award reflects the District’s commitment to sound fiscal management and budgetary policies.

The District also earned a perfect 4.0 Financial Score from the Illinois State Board of Education. The District has received the highest ranking available every year since ISBE began the program 12 years ago.

These awards show the District is providing the highest quality of education in a fiscally responsible manner. Thank you to our staff who worked so hard to earn these honors.

D214 selected as a ‘Lighthouse’ School District

The School Superintendents Association, AASA, recognized High School District 214 as one of its “Lighthouse” systems that serves as models of positive change in public education. A panel reviewed more than 120 school districts across the country and picked the top 13 based on several factors including future-ready leaders, a diverse educator pipeline, technology enhanced learning, community alignment and more.

We are honored to serve as a model District for school communities across the country.