Education in Joliet
Quality education is a priority in Joliet. Knowledgeable, caring faculties, active school boards, and involved parents work together to provide an academic environment conducive to learning. A well-rounded curriculum emphasizes traditional, as well as contemporary learning skills to prepare students for the future.
The Joliet Public School District 86 is home to 22 elementary and middle schools. The District offers a basic skills curriculum focusing on reading, writing, math, and science. A second curriculum, offered at two magnet schools, covers the basic curriculum combined with elective courses and intensive parental involvement. The mission of District 86 is to “create a safe and positive environment in which all students will learn and develop to their greatest potential. All students will be empowered to become lifelong learners, responsible citizens and caring members of their communities.”
Teachers, administrators and parents take this responsibility very seriously and work together to create safe learning environments based on respect for everyone.
Joliet Township High School District 204 offers a diverse educational program to prepare students for higher education or the workforce. Students attend either the District’s Central or West Campus. A comprehensive curriculum includes coursework from the foundations of math, science, English, and social studies, as well as foreign language, computer technology, applied life, industrial technology, and fine arts curricula. The Central Campus is a century-old city landmark, featuring one of the region’s largest auditoriums, an observatory, and well-equipped computer labs.
The West Campus has been rated number one in composite ACT scores in comparison to 21 of Chicago’s suburban high schools. For students looking for more than the traditional educational challenges, the District offers many extracurricular activities at both schools that include athletics, band, choir, dramatic arts, and various special interest clubs and social organizations.
In 2005, Joliet Township High School implemented the new Freshman Academy, a smaller learning community designed specifically for incoming freshmen with special features proven to help students learn more. Every Freshman Academy student is taught by a corps of specialized teachers and starts school one hour earlier than sophomores, juniors and seniors. The extra period at the beginning of the day enables these students to take more electives or, if necessary, double periods of math or English. The Freshman Academy meets at both the Central and West campuses and, in conjunction with the Joliet Township High School, is implementing an advisor/advisee program beginning with all freshmen. This program provides a daily time for students to meet with their advisors to receive academic support and guidance.
Families interested in private parochial education will find many options that meet their educational and religious needs. Joliet Catholic Academy and Providence Catholic High School offer college preparatory curricula at their high school campuses. Joliet Catholic Academy is a Roman Catholic institution sponsored by the Carmelites and Franciscans. It enrolls approximately 950 students and boasts an overall average class size of 23.2 students. Providence, located in nearby New Lenox, is a Catholic, coeducational, diocesan secondary school administered by the Augustinians that serves approximately 1,150 students.
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