We can't wait to see you at the All-City Music Festival on Tuesday, April 8 at 7 pm. at Sangamon Auditorium!
Enjoy the sounds of our middle and high school choir & bands as well as the 5th grade band perform!
This is a must-see and hear event that never fails to amaze!
Join our Team! Come to our Career Fair , Thursday, March 13th!
We have two time slots for you to stop by our District office : 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.- 6 p.m.
Your Voice Matters! 📢
Share your thoughts in the 5Essentials Survey before March 28 and help shape the future of our schools. Your feedback helps us celebrate what’s working and improve where needed, from school culture to family engagement.
We truly appreciate our families taking a few minutes to complete this survey and for being such valuable partners in our students’ success. Your input makes a difference!
Take the survey today: https://survey.5-essentials.org/ILLINOIS/
#levelup186 #weare186 #YourVoiceMatters #5Essentials #StrongerSchools #WeAre186 #FamilyPartnership
Yesterday, students from all three of our high schools had the ultimate inspo moment at the Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward conference, thanks to Illinois Department of Transportation!🏆✨
The highlight? Hearing from the legendary Jackie Joyner-Kersee—East St. Louis native and SIX-time Olympic medalist! 🥇🔥
Moments like this = game changers. Our students walked away with wisdom, motivation, and that champion mindset. 💡💪 Huge thanks to IDOT for making it happen!
Looking for a new opportunity? Come to our Career Fair , March 13th!! We have two time slots for you to stop by our District office - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. Join District 186! #LevelUp186 #sps186 #weare186
Join us for the Black History Bowl Championship at Lanphier High School, Sunday February 23rd from 2- 4 pm!
Nominate today!! We are now accepting nominations for the 2025 Horace Mann Educator of the Year, Administrator of the Year, & Rising Star awards! Anyone can nominate deserving District 186 individuals by 2/23/25.
Nominate today: https://shorturl.at/JmF12
Calling all 5th-grade families! 6th Grade Preview Night is this Thursday! Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025 🕕 Time: 6:00 p.m. 📍 Location: Your assigned middle school What to Expect: Tour the school and explore its facilities Learn about the middle school curriculum Meet the administration and staff who will support your child's transition
Incoming 9th graders for the 2025-2026 school year have an opportunity to apply for the Health & Science Academy at Springfield Southeast High School. The academy is open to all incoming 9th grade students in District 186 boundaries.
The Health & Science Academy is committed to a high quality education that addresses academic, intellectual, social, and work-related skills. The program is intended for students who have good attendance, a high level of self-motivation, and good academic skills.
Learn more about the program : http://tinyurl.com/4f98xya3
Applications : http://tinyurl.com/4p5j3mvk
It's a fun night full of basketball, cheers, dance, band and traditions !!! See you at Bank of Springfield City Tournament Tonight! First game starts at 3:00 p.m.!
It's a fun night full of basketball, cheers, dance, band and traditions !!!
See you at Bank of Springfield City Tournament Tonight! First game starts at 4:00 p.m.!
Calling all 5th-grade families! 6th Grade Preview Night is coming!!
📅 Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025
🕕 Time: 6:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Your assigned middle school
What to Expect:
Tour the school and explore its facilities
Learn about the middle school curriculum
Meet the administration and staff who will support your child's transition
The 2025 Bank of Springfield Boys/Girls Basketball City Tournament will take place next week - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 22nd– 25th at the Bank of Springfield (BOS) Center. Get all the information here - https://www.sps186.org/article/1965800
Looking for a new opportunity? Come to our Career Fair tomorrow, January 9th! We have two time slots for you to stop by our District office - 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. Join District 186! #LevelUp186 #sps186 #weare186
📣 Springfield Ball Charter School Lottery Applications Now Open!
Applications are open now through January 31, 2025.
🔹 The lottery will take place in February, and families of kindergarteners and 6th graders will be notified of acceptance in March 2025.
🔹 Students in grades K-8 not placed through the lottery will be added to our waitlist and notified when a spot becomes available.
Open House : January 29th 6-7 pm
Apply : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc25Afqry3LSA2WoI7tppBe3DmaMyK5ZzdAco46Nc3XyCqP0g/viewform
PROJECT SCOPE: As you know District 186 regular calendar students do not return to school until Tuesday, January 7 (Balanced Calendar students return January 14th). However, our SCOPE program for SCOPE students will still be in operation as scheduled for Monday, January 6, but run condensed hours and locations:
Tomorrow Monday, January 6, 2025 - Scope will be open from 7:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Locations:
Addams, Enos, Fairview, McClernand, Ridgely and Wilcox - report to Ridgely Elementary
Butler, Dubois, and Graham - report to Dubois Elementary
Black Hawk, Feitshans, Harvard Park, Hazel Dell, Iles, Laketown, Lee, Matheny and Southern View- report to Iles School
Lindsay, Marsh and Sandburg- report to Lindsay Elementary
FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is your chance to level up and make college more affordable! It determines your eligibility for grants, loans, and work-study programs that can ease the cost of higher education.
Calling all District 186 seniors and their families! Join us for FAFSA Night on Wednesday, December 18th, from 5:30–7:00 PM at Southeast High School.
Here’s why you should attend:
✅ Expert help to confidently complete your FAFSA application.
✅ Answers to your financial aid questions from experienced professionals.
✅ Step-by-step guidance to maximize your aid opportunities.
✅ A stress-free way to tackle this important step toward your future!
This event is open to all District 186 seniors—don’t miss this opportunity to secure the financial aid you deserve. Let’s level up together
Gratitude in Action!
We’re incredibly grateful for the many community members and organizations that support our students and families—not just during this time of year, but all year long.
A special thank you to Robert Gordon & Associates, Inc. for their generosity and continued partnership with our Office of Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.)! Together with their clients, they collected food and household supplies to support District 186 families.
These thoughtful donations have been distributed to care closets across our district and programs, ensuring essential items are available for families during winter break.
Your kindness makes a real difference in our community. Thank you for helping us take care of our families this season! ❤️
Today, our Superintendent's Student Roundtable—a group of high school student leaders from all three District 186 high schools—took their annual trip to our middle schools! Their mission? To help middle schoolers LEVEL UP and get ready for the next big chapter: high school!
From chatting about classes and courses , to tackling social experiences , and answering those all-important questions, these high school leaders shared valuable peer-to-peer advice to empower our future high schoolers!
Why does this matter?
When students hear from their peers, it creates a real connection. These open, honest conversations help build trust, ease concerns, and inspire confidence—all while strengthening our 186 community.
Shoutout to our amazing high school leaders for helping our middle schoolers LEVEL UP! Have a middle schooler who attended? Drop their biggest takeaway below!
Please note that the 2024-2025 student’s fees have been uploaded and are able to be viewed on your student’s cumulative folder. It is important to pay these fees in a timely manner to help us continue providing high-quality programs and support for all students.
There are three ways in which these student fees can be paid. Online using the SchoolPay website, through a check in the mail, or in person!