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Education

Education is paramount in the Joliet community, which is evidenced through the number of excellent learning institutions located within and closely surrounding the city. Everything from early childhood learning through graduate studies can be accessed without having to leave the greater Joliet area.

JOLIET GRADE SCHOOL DISTRICT 86

Empowering students “to become lifelong learners, responsible citizens and caring members of their communities” is the mission of Joliet Grade School District 86. Currently, the district serves 10,634 students in one of its 21 facilities—which includes 1,112 students enrolled in Special Education classes, 946 in the English Language Learners Program and 367 students in Early Childhood classes. The district is equipped with 1,300 employees and 600 knowledgeable teachers dedicated to providing students with the highest level of education.

In addition to instruction in the language arts, mathematics, science, social science, fine arts and physical development and health, the district offers Joliet families with early childhood instruction, gifted offerings, bilingual education, before and after school programming, comprehensive services programs and the opportunity to take advantage of full-day kindergarten.

Joliet Grade School District 86 encompasses four magnet schools, which provide students with unique educational opportunities. These magnet-designated facilities include:

• Eisenhower Academy, which was recently recognized as the #1 school in Will County by the Chicago Tribune (based on Illinois Standards Achievement Test scores);
• Washington Junior High and Academy;
• Forest Park Individual Education (I.E.) School; and
• Hufford Junior High Schools’ I.E. Program.

These are not the only exceptional facilities within the district, as 13 District 86 schools were placed on the Illinois State Board of Education’s Illinois Honor Roll List in 2007. Eisenhower Academy was the only facility to receive an Academic Excellence Award, while M.J. Cunningham, Forest Park, Thomas Jefferson, Sator Sanchez, Carl Sandburg and Taft Schools were recognized as Spotlight Schools. Additionally, Dirksen, Gompers, Hufford, Edna Keith, Sator Sanchez, Lynne Thigpen and Washington Schools were all recipients of Academic Improvement Awards.

www.joliet86.will.k12.il.us

JOLIET TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 204

Joliet Township High School District 204 strives to “ensure that every student acquires and applies the necessary attributes to compete and contribute positively to society by providing a rigorous and relevant educational program in a safe, supportive environment through a quality, caring and dedicated staff working in partnership with every student’s family.”

The district has restructured its schools into career-based, smaller learning communities. “Throughout the freshman year, students work during an advisory period to create an Individualized Career Plan that places them within one of five Career Academies that relates to their chosen path,” explained Kristine Schlismann of JTHS District 204.

In order to foster further career exploration, JTHS students are required to complete a job shadowing experience during sophomore year. Students choose from three job shadowing options, each requiring a minimum of four hours of career-related observation. “The observation hours give students an insight into what their career path entails as students observe employees working in their chosen field of work,” said Schlismann.

The schools within the district are continually raising the bar academically, receiving a number of recent accolades and increases in performance:

• Joliet Central was named to the Illinois Honor Roll for academic improvement and outstanding increases in performance on the Illinois Learning Standards test—making it only one of nine high schools receiving this recognition; and
• The district’s scores on the Prairie State Achievement Exam increased 12.9 percent in 2007 in comparison to scores in 2005. What’s more, the number of students meeting or surpassing state standards hit 47 percent in 2007, an exceptional increase from 34.2 percent in 2005.

www.jths.org

JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY

The public school route is not one every student takes. Thankfully, Joliet is home to the esteemed Joliet Catholic Academy, a Roman Catholic co-educational college preparatory high school dedicated to exceptional academic excellence. The academy, which provides a diverse curriculum to more than 900 students, is co-sponsored by the Joliet Franciscan Sisters and the Carmelites of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.

Joliet Catholic caters to each individual need of its student-base through its offering of three academic programs—College Prep, Upper College Prep and Honors/Accelerated. Additionally, those in need of special academic assistance can take advantage of the academy’s Learning Resource Program.

The parochial institution has several points of pride in its history, with the most recent including:

• The induction of 61 students into the National Honor Society in 2007;
• The class of 2007 earning more than $4.6 million in scholarships; and
• A 100 percent graduation rate, which the institution has experienced each year.

www.jca-online.org

JOLIET JUNIOR COLLEGE

Joliet Junior College, the nation’s first public community college, enriches people’s lives through affordable, accessible and quality programs and services. The college provides transfer and career preparation, training and workforce development and a lifetime of learning to the diverse community it serves.

A leader in teaching and learning, JJC is the first choice for postsecondary for residents of District 525. Today, JJC serves more than 38,000 students in credit classes and noncredit courses.

www.jjc.edu

LEWIS UNIVERSITY

Located in nearby Romeoville, Lewis University is a private, four-year institution serving a total of 5,400 students—making it the 11th largest private university in Illinois. Lewis’ comprehensive academic offerings include nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, over 22 graduate programs and accelerated programs designed for the busy and/or working adult.

Lewis University is recognized as having:

• The state’s second largest undergraduate program in Criminal/Social Justice (among private universities);
• The oldest Aviation program among Illinois universities;
• Illinois’ largest graduate program in School Counseling and Guidance;
• The state’s largest bachelor’s degree program in Nursing (among private universities)
• Recognition as one of only 14 accredited programs in Athletic Training among Illinois’ private universities.

Additionally, outstanding accolades received by Lewis University include:

• Being named “A Best Midwestern College” by The Princeton Review; and
• Its rating as a “Top Tier” institution by U.S. News and World Report.

www.lewisu.edu

UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS

Established in 1920, the University of St. Francis in Joliet stands as a four-year, private Catholic, Franciscan university dedicated to the “values of Respect, Service, Integrity and Compassion and to the tradition of Franciscan hospitality.” Approximately 3,600 students nationwide take advantage of USF’s more than 60 areas of undergraduate study and 13 graduate programs. Classes are offered online and at sites throughout the country.

USF is a recognized leader in higher education, as evidenced by ongoing recognitions:

• Ranked in the top quarter of Midwestern Master’s institutions in U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges;” and
• Recognized as one of the Best Colleges: Region by Region in The Princeton Review.

www.stfrancis.edu