Welcome to District 21!

We are thrilled to have you here! We believe in fostering a warm, inclusive, and dynamic environment where every student can thrive.

Kindergarten and New Student Registration Now Available!

We're excited to welcome incoming kindergarteners and new students for the 2025-2026 school year!

Kilmer Elementary

The 5th grade Kilmer Pep Squad ended the 2025 Kilmer Kids Heart Challenge by performing in front of all students and staff. Kilmer was able to raise over $4,000! Way to go !

Holmes Middle School

The Holmes Jazz Band lit up the stage with smooth grooves and big energy—proof that middle schoolers can seriously swing!

Whitman Elementary

The Whitman Bulldogs celebrated Arbor Day by getting their hands dirty and their hearts full- planting trees and learning about nature. These young learners are growing a greener future one sapling at a time.

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District 21 Health Center

Bring your student in for a physical, immunization or other medical needs. It’s free of cost and in your backyard.

Click Here to Schedule an Appointment

Events View All Events >

Event Details
May
26

No School - Memorial Day

8:00a - 3:30p

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May
30

School Improvement Day--AM Classes Only, no pre-K

All Day

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Jun
10

Last Day of Classes

All Day

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Jun
12

Board of Education Meeting

7:00p - 9:00p
959 W Dundee Rd, Wheeling, IL 60090, USA

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Jun
19

District Office Closed for Juneteenth

All Day

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Jul
24

Board of Education Meeting

7:00p - 9:00p
959 W Dundee Rd, Wheeling, IL 60090, USA

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Aug
18

Institute Day - No Classes

8:00a - 3:30p

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Aug
19

Institute Day - No Classes

8:00a - 3:30p

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Aug
20

First Day of Classes, Grades 1-8

All Day

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Aug
21

First Day of Classes, Pre-K (Early Childhood)

All Day

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Aug
21

First Day of Classes, Kindergarten Group A

All Day

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Aug
21

Board of Education Meeting

7:00p - 9:00p
959 W Dundee Rd, Wheeling, IL 60090, USA

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Event Details
Aug
22

First Day of Classes, Kindergarten Group B

All Day

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Aug
25

Second Day of Classes, Kindergarten Groups A & B (All K)

All Day

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Sep
01

No School - Labor Day

8:00a - 3:30p

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Health Center
Virtual Tour

Board of Education

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District 21 consists of 13 schools providing learning spaces for students in grades PK to 8th.

We serve more than 6,000 students from Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Mt. Prospect, Prospect Heights and Northbrook.

More than 1,000 teachers, support staff and administrators work each day to empower every student, every day.

The many languages spoken in our students' homes reflect our diverse community.

News and Happenings View All News >

May 16, 2025

CCSD21 names new director for safety and security

The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education on May 15 voted in favor of appointing Todd Rohlwing as its new director of safety and security, effective July 1. The district formerly shared a director of safety and…

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May 16, 2025

CCSD21 names new assistant principals for Riley, Tarkington, Whitman

The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education on May 15 unanimously voted to appoint new assistant principals for Riley, Tarkington and Whitman Elementary Schools. Ali Padalik will join the Rams at Riley as its new assistant principal,…

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May 12, 2025

Message from the Superintendent: Weekend Incident at Wheeling Park

Dear District 21 community, We want to inform you of an ongoing investigation by the Wheeling Police Department involving an incident that occurred over the weekend at Pleasant Run/Four Acres Park. According to police reports, a woman distributed candy to children at…

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May 8, 2025

Message from the Superintendent: Dangerous social media trend involving school devices

Dear District 21 families, We want to make you aware of a dangerous trend circulating on social media that poses a serious safety risk to students and school property. This trend involves students inserting metallic objects, such as paper clips…

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May 5, 2025

CCSD21 to purchase 2,300 Acer Chromebooks for 2025-26 school year

As part of its planned replacement cycle for student-issued Chromebooks, Community Consolidated School District 21 has inked a $967,150 order with CDW to purchase approximately 2,300 Acer Chromebooks. The district strives to keep its devices on a consistent refresh cycle…

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May 5, 2025

CCSD21 names new directors for human resources, student services

At its April 24 meeting, the Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education unanimously approved the appointments of a new executive director of human resources and a new director of student services. Lewis Roberts will become the new…

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May 2, 2025

The May 2025 Family Newsletter is now available!

The latest edition of The 21 Ledger, our family and community newsletter, is now available! Check your email, head to our Facebook, or scroll below to read the full version. Let’s stay connected!

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May 1, 2025

District 21 Health Center celebrates one-year anniversary

On May 20, Community Consolidated School District 21 will celebrate the first anniversary of the District 21 Health Center! Over the past year, the center has become an essential part of our school community, providing high-quality medical, mental health, and…

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Apr 30, 2025

Returning student registration for 2025-2026 opens May 1

Community Consolidated School District 21 is thrilled to announce the launch of returning student registration for the 2025-2026 academic year. Starting May 1, parents and guardians are encouraged to register their returning students through our user-friendly online platform. Returning student…

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Apr 28, 2025

CCSD21 names new principals for Holmes, Longfellow, Twain

The Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education on April 24 voted in favor of appointing new principals for Holmes Middle School and Longfellow and Twain Elementary Schools. Ben Neidich will join Holmes as of July 1, succeeding…

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Apr 25, 2025

Pritzker reflects on 36 years of service to D21 board

“Extremely positive and incredibly rewarding.” This brief but powerful sentiment captures Phil Pritzker’s 36 years of dedicated service on the District 21 Board of Education. The board meeting on April 24 became a momentous occasion, signaling the conclusion of…

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Apr 22, 2025

Board to return to in-person public comments starting April 24

Beginning with the April 24 meeting, the Board of Education will return to exclusively welcoming in-person public comments. This shift reflects a return to our traditional meeting structure. We initially introduced online public comment options at the height of the…

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My Why View All >

Mar 13, 2025

My Why - Evelyn Schuler, Retired 2nd Grade Teacher

At the incredible age of 102, Mrs. Evelyn Schuler is a cherished former District 21 educator who dedicated 28 rewarding years to teaching in our district. A true inspiration, she spent her career shaping young minds with wisdom, patience,…

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Feb 6, 2025

My Why - Michelle Turek, Art Teacher at Field

Michelle Turek has always loved art. She is a creative soul who immersed herself into artistic endeavor's as a child in an early pursuit of an art career. Her parents, however, wanted her to pursue a different path – a…

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Dec 10, 2024

My Why - Alli Tower, Technology Support Specialist

Common thinking about technology positions is that it requires a computer science degree. CCSD21 technology support specialist Alli Tower busts this myth. With her calm demeanor and excellent customer service support, she possesses the perfect combination of qualities to assist…

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Nov 6, 2024

My Why - Dhurata Devija, Field 1st Grade Teacher

Born and raised in Albania, Dhurata Devija dreamed of coming to America to work as a teacher. Surrounded by a family of educators, she was inspired to make a difference in students’ lives, like her mother, who was an elementary…

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Oct 23, 2024

My Why - Janet Acosta, Frost Secretary

As a third grader at Whitman Elementary School in the late ‘90’s, Janet Acosta struggled with math, English and other subjects. With the guidance and patience of teacher Clara Riley, Acosta was able to progress with the other classmates. “Ms.…

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Oct 21, 2024

My Why - Ariadna Navarro, Special Education Teacher

As a young immigrant from Mexico, Ariadna Navarro was a quiet child. She was in first grade and didn’t understand English when her family moved to the States. It was only when a teacher who took an interest in her…

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Jul 2, 2024

My Why - Kenny Munao, Communications Intern

Hello, my name is Kenny Munao and I am a senior at Prospect High School. I just started as an intern this summer with Community Consolidated School District 21. I have always had a passion for storytelling from elementary to…

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Apr 15, 2024

My Why - Alvarado Brothers, Custodians for CCSD21

There is a famous quote about leadership that goes something like this: Where one goes, others will follow. This couldn’t be more accurate for the Alvarado brothers, all of whom work at CCSD21. Born in Mexico, four Alvarado brothers (and…

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Apr 4, 2024

My Why - Abigail Lopez, Teacher's Assistant

Sometimes fate has a way of guiding you towards the next steps of your life. After being employed in a variety of jobs, including supporting autistic children at Clearbrook home-based services, working at Starbucks, and teaching kids how to swim,…

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Feb 20, 2024

My Why - Kasia Gold, LMC Assistant

It’s so inspiring when you hear that someone has found their purpose. They radiate light. They are happy. They are energetic. They connect with others. They contribute to a greater community. Kasia Gold, library and media center assistant at Field…

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Feb 14, 2024

My Why - Maria Elena Martinez, Teacher's Assistant

Maria Elena Martinez frequently gets mistaken for a student. “It’s probably because I’m small in stature and have youthful energy,” Martinez quips. But this teacher’s assistant at Twain Elementary School has over 30 years of teaching experience both in the…

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Feb 13, 2024

My Why - Dennis Depcik, CCSD21 Parent

If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Buffalo Grove resident Dennis Depcik yet, you’re missing out on knowing a local renaissance man – a cultured, compassionate and open-minded person who has worn many hats during his long, rich life.…

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Faces of Tomorrow View All >

May 5, 2025

Meet Lily F

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Apr 21, 2025

Meet Enrique R

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Apr 7, 2025

Meet Kaitlyn H

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Mar 26, 2025

Meet Mason M

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Meet our Alumni View All >

Nov 11, 2024

Dr. Craig Winkelman - '87

As the superintendent of Barrington School District 220, Dr. Craig Winkelman’s most important objective is to be student-centered in the decisions made for the district, most importantly giving students interesting and unique experiences inside and outside the classroom. One of…

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Oct 9, 2024

Chris Pippin Northwick - '79

One of CCSD21’s alumna, Chris Pippin Northwick, has a simple life philosophy: make connections with others. She believes that it has a direct correlation to personal success and creates emotionally, well-balanced individuals. And she should know. As the Co-Executive Director…

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Sep 30, 2024

Lynda (Steckling) Collins - ‘74

Alumna Lynda (Steckling) Collins sees her life as a series of building blocks. Learning a new skill and then securing a job with exactly that skill set required. Living internationally, and then securing a job that depends on cultural diversity.…

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Aug 20, 2024

Jim Ray - '77

Contributed by Thomas Parker, Communications Intern From a young age, Jim Ray, an alumnus of District 21, learned the valuable lesson of taking the chance to try something new. This was one of many lessons he learned during his…

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Aug 16, 2024

Gillian Sherman - '11

Contributed by Comms Intern, Thomas Parker For as long as she can remember, Gillian Sherman has dreamed of being a teacher. Her time in District 21, attending Longfellow Elementary School and Cooper Middle School, taught her a lot and…

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Aug 6, 2024

Glenn Meier - '68

Glenn Meier ‘68 Contributed by Thomas Parker, Communications Intern From being a part of the very first class at Holmes Middle School in 1966, to his current membership with the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove, Glenn Meier has always…

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Jul 29, 2024

Andrew Sanchez - '99

Contributed by Thomas Parker, Communications Intern Andrew Manuel Sanchez, a native of the northwest suburbs, has always felt connected to the community. During his time within District 21, Sanchez attended Twain Elementary School starting in second grade before moving on…

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Jul 16, 2024

Maya Belorusskiy - ‘20

Maya Belorusskiy has not always been the confident and outgoing individual she is today. She described herself as shy and anxious when looking back on her days at Longfellow Elementary School and Cooper Middle School. Belorusskiy credits her favorite teachers,…

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Apr 10, 2024

Allyson Bremer - '98

Allyson (“Ally”) Bremer didn’t have the best time in middle school. “I was really unhappy and never pictured an opening for myself,” said Bremer. That is, until, London Middle School teacher Miss Brand (now Mrs. Thomas) came into the picture.…

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Jan 9, 2024

Matt Pomilia - '98

Matt Pomilia is earning his second master’s degree. This comes after earning two other degrees from other higher education institutions. Education is important to Pomilia. “It’s the process of self discovery,” says Pomilia. “It’s a way to accentuate yourself…

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Oct 30, 2023

Maggie Khayyata - '20

Maggie Khayyata “Lights Up” (a song from Harry Styles' Fine Line album) when talking about being able to see her favorite artist in concert. Besides her love for Harry there is so much more to know about her. Maggie attended…

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Sep 27, 2023

Joseph Eckert - '93

Joseph Eckert is one of four physical education teachers at Cooper Middle School and believes middle school P.E. is one of the most important classes students take. “Students learn social, cognitive and physical skills when they are doing athletic…

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