Joliet Public Schools District 86

Voters will be asked to vote on seven members of the school boards of Joliet Public Schools District 86 and Joliet Township High School District 204 on April 1.

Joliet Public Schools District 86′s Joy Hopkins and Megan Palka are being recognized for their contributions to the social-emotional development and well-being of students.

Joliet Public Schools District 86 and Joliet Township High School District 204 students saw better scores in ELA—which evaluates reading, writing, comprehension, and critical thinking skills—than in math.

A 2018 murder case filed against a former Joliet teacher was given a new trial date in July 2025. He's charged with killing his wife, who was also a teacher.

School District 86's Marycrest Early Childhood Center in Joliet has been recognized by the State of Illinois with the Golden Circle of Quality award for the fourth time in 11 years.

This week, the Illinois State Board of Education released school- and district-level data showing what percentage of Will County students were considered proficient in math and reading last year. Check out this chart to see if that's an improvement over the prior year.

Search our table to see what designation your Will County school received on the 2024 school report card.

Bob DiLorenzo, who graduated from Gompers Junior High in 1958, got to serve as Principal for a Day after gifting the school old copies of his graduation papers.

Special education students at Sator Sanchez Elementary School in Joliet were treated to an in-school pumpkin farm field trip, thanks to donations from community businesses.

Joliet Public Schools District 86 recognizes October as National Principals Month. “I am very grateful and proud of each of our school principals,” Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse stated.

Local businesses rallied together to answer the call of a special education teacher at Sator Sanchez Elementary School in Joliet to give students a pumpkin farm experience.

A 12-year-old boy is the latest youth to be arrested and charged for his involvement in posting social media threats to Joliet schools, police said Tuesday night.

A woman claims in a lawsuit that Joliet Public Schools District 86 officials failed to protect her son from bullying and racial harassment while he was attending M.J. Cunningham Elementary School.

Joliet police say no credible threats found, but others may be involved after making two arrests in connection with social media threats made to Joliet schools.

Due to a threat that is circulating about students bringing weapons to several schools in Joliet this week all Joliet District 86 schools will go to e-learning

Joliet Public Schools District 86 broke ground Thursday on construction projects to build new buildings to replace Gompers and Hufford junior high schools, both schools that were built in the 1950s.

Officials from Joliet Public Schools District 86 will break ground on the new Hufford and Gompers Junior High School buildings on Thursday.

Joliet Public Schools District 86 recognized those employees who have served from 5 to 35 years

A.O. Marshall Elementary School teacher Maida Cornelio-Sauseda was presented with the Chicago Bears Classroom Legends award on Aug. 27.

Judith Nash, assistant superintendent of human resources and labor relations at District 86 in Joliet, started her career in 1991 by teaching at Hufford Junior High School. When Nash returned to District 86 on 2024, she learned two former student also work for District 86.

Joliet Schools District 86 recently recognized Becky Nahas, the district's only teacher for the visually impaired students for her more than 3 decades of educating.

Joliet Public Schools District 86 recently welcomed more than 70 n new employees for the 2024-25 school year.

The Joliet City Council approved what officials say is the first pay increase for school crossing guards since 2015.

As Will County schools begin a new year this month, we took a look at cell phone policies for students at Joliet area schools districts. Here's what we found.

Mayor Terry D'Arcy, educators, others join to warn against vaping as school year nears.

After a two month search, Joliet Public Schools District 86 has appointed a new assistant superintendent for business and financial services.

The Council of Catholic Women at St. Dennis Catholic Church in Lockport donated baby clothes and baby supplies for Kristina Lowman's Two Miracle Girlz NICU Sprinkles, which gives care packages to families of premature babies.

Joliet Public Schools District 86 has hired 2 new administrators. The hires were approved at the June 12 Board of School Inspectors meeting.

Joliet Public Schools District 86 Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Services Tamara Mitchell unexpectedly announced her resignation to the board Tuesday.

Joliet Public Schools District 86 held an informational meeting for subcontractors interested in bidding on the upcoming rebuilds of Gompers and Hufford Junior High Schools, projects which are slated to begin in September.

On May 16, members of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL) organized a competitive engineering activity to 27 students in Stephen Rummel’s sixth-grade science class at Gompers Junior High School in Joliet.

James McElroy, 83, of Morris, participates in many veteran-related programs.

Subcontractors sought for replacement schools to be built at Hufford and Gompers.

Volunteers from the Zonta Club of Joliet and Visitation and Aid Society hosted a “jewelry gift shop” of gently used bracelets earrings, necklaces for kindergartners at four District 86 schools to give as gifts on Mother's Day.

These seven local teachers were among the 23 teachers The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry recognized as 2024 Joliet Area Great Teachers.

Prosecutors seek to disqualify the longtime attorney for a former Joliet teacher charged with the murder of his wife in 2018. The case set for trial last February but that was delayed after more pretrial issues were raised.

Joliet Public School District 86 named Xavier Samuel as the winner of its 2024 district spelling bee.

Kristina Lowman, a paraprofessional at Joliet Public Schools District 86, started Two Miracle Girlz NICU Sprinkles in honor of her two daughters Kailey McClintock, 20, and Addison Lowman, 17. Both girls were born prematurely and spent time in the NICU.

All 9,567 Joliet District 86 students in 20 schools received their own copy of a book to take home and read with their families for the reading initiative.

The Associated Clubs of Will County arranged for a last-minute Christmas gift for a Joliet family who lost their home in a fire on Nov. 30.

The students are part of the Hufford Junior High School Honors Orchestra (colloquially known as HHO, pronounced H20), a volunteer orchestra with musicians from the Joliet school's orchestra.

Students in Hufford Jr. High's I.E. program collected food and socks for organizations around the Joliet community as part of the school's community service elective.

A.O. Marshall Elementary School fifth graders spent an hour on Zoom with Joyce McFarland, the education manager for the Nez Perce Tribal Nation in Idaho.

The director of safety and security for Joliet Public Schools District 86 has been appointed as a trustee to the Joliet Township board.

District 86 in Joliet's celebration is in coordination with a number of educator organizations, which recognize October as National Principals Month.

The Mariachi de Joliet, comprised mainly of Joliet area students, is raising money in partnership with the Joliet nonprofit Legacy Fine Arts.

Bernie’s Book Bank has donated books to Joliet District 86 students since 2015.

The Joliet Noon Lions club sponsors two local. competitions each year for the Lions lnternational Peace Poster contest.

Joliet Public Schools District 86 honored employees for five to 45 years of service.

A reverse 911 system that alerts the community about public safety issues in Joliet will also be used for schools districts.