• Dear community members,

    High School District 214 is a center of educational excellence where students discover their future. At District 214, we encourage every student to explore world-class academic and co-curricular opportunities that will inspire them to find their passion and reach their potential.

    Having pioneered career pathways, we continue to innovate and lead the way nationally. Our students can pursue coursework in over 40 state and nationally recognized career programs, exposing them to a wide range of opportunities and challenging their intellectual curiosity.

    District 214 is also a leader in early-college opportunities. All students have access to Advanced Placement (AP) programs, dual credit courses, and independent online learning. Roughly 90% of our students take at least one college course while enrolled at our schools, and half earn the equivalent of a full semester of college credit — an achievement that increases their likelihood of postsecondary success and reduces tuition costs.

    District 214 is a positive place where people are inspired and lives are changed. All six of our high schools have received state or national academic recognition, have been ranked among the top and most challenging schools in Illinois, and have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.

    We achieve this level of success while remaining one of the most fiscally responsible districts in Illinois. Compared to our peer districts, we have the 3rd lowest overall tax rate, the 2nd lowest expense per pupil, and the 2nd lowest average administrator salary.

    However, our aging infrastructure is deteriorating, and some of our school facilities are no longer meeting our community’s standards. Our comprehensive facility assessment, conducted by external experts, identified over $850 million in needed improvements that are not cosmetic—they are necessary to keep our students and teachers safe, warm, and dry.

    Our district takes pride in not having gone to referendum in over 50 years, but if we are going to give our students, teachers, and communities the facilities they deserve, it’s time to get serious about improving our school buildings. That’s why our community has begun an open, transparent process to develop a plan for the future of District 214. This community-driven process will ensure every voice in our community is heard as we develop a consensus plan for our schools.

    Please participate in our first phase of community engagement by reviewing this presentation and filling out this feedback form (see below for Polish, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian translated forms). The survey will remain open through Friday, Sept. 12.

    Thank you for participating. Together, we will determine our path forward.

    Sincerely,

    Dr. Scott Rowe
    Superintendent
    High School District 214

     

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