Office of the Superintendent

Our students are without question, some of the most remarkable and promising young people in the world. As Superintendent, I am not only privileged to witness it; I am on the ground floor of ensuring that it continues. That is why, despite budget cutbacks, we have continued to not only maintain the level of academic excellence, but we have enhanced it. Mandarin Chinese, our newest elective, allows our students to learn remotely through the use of satellite technology, alongside their global neighbors from across the world. District 227 students are not simply learning about world history, they are a part of it.

Going forward, as a result of moving from an 8 period school day, to a 7 period school day, we will be able to extend the class time for each class period, while maintaining the length of the school day.  This process not only offers more study time to our students, but more time for our teachers to instruct , and more time for students to learn in greater depth. Our goal is to answer the call by President Obama to increase our college prepared population by 2020.

Part of that preparation includes a renewed emphasis on Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) course.   Currently our students have access to 21 Advanced Placement Courses that are taught at the collegiate level with the opportunity for students to earn college credit.  This includes AP Human Geography for freshmen students who are ready for the intense rigor.  The class of 2015 has taken full advantage of this opportunity with sections running at each of our three campuses.  We will be reviewing incoming freshmen placements to assure that our students are gaining access to as many Honors Courses as possible within the Freshmen Academy while ensuring upper classmen are able to participate in Advanced Placement Classes with students from across the district.  We are looking at avenues to continue to maximize our resources. Students, because of our new extended class time, will have more time to comprehend, to study and to apply what they have learned in their AP classes.   

In addition to the Advanced Placement, we continue to offer dual credit courses with Prairie State College that provides our students with college credits while still in high school.  Beginning 2012 – 2013, we have added additional support to our partnership with Prairie State College through a new S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academy for juniors and seniors.  In partnership with Prairie State College, we will be providing opportunities for students who are interested in S.T.E.M. careers while earning college credit.  This will be the first of its type in the South Suburbs; and we are excited to have our students out in front. 

While we continue to enhance our offerings, we maintain our standard of excellence. Our graduation requirements exceed the state requirements and assure entrance into the top universities for Rich Township students – including Harvard, Brown, Stanford, Yale and University of Illinois to name a few.  This renewed spirit of success in Rich Township High School District is truly focused on our students and their overwhelming capacity for greatness! 

Thank you for your continued support.