What's New News Summary

Notice of May 12 and 13 Board Meetings

Fri, 08 May 2026 19:48:00 GMT

On May 12, 2026, the Board of Education will meet for its regular monthly micro meeting. The meeting will be conducted in open and closed sessions beginning at 6 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 214 Washington Street. The Board’s monthly Student Achievement and Operations Services committee meetings will follow the micro meeting at approximately 7 p.m. in the Board Room. Budget Workshop #1 for the Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 6 p.m.

Academia 60 Parent Workshops: Upcoming Sessions- May 2026

Fri, 08 May 2026 18:38:00 GMT

As we wind down the school year, our commitment to supporting families continues. Waukegan Public Schools invites you to join us for the final sessions of the Academia 60 Parent Education Series, designed to provide helpful information and resources to support your child’s success. We hope you can join us for one or more of the following sessions. Childcare and interpretation services will be available at each event, and families may attend either in person or virtually.

Coming Soon: New Website, Communication Tools, and Board Site

Fri, 08 May 2026 16:29:00 GMT

Waukegan Public Schools will be launching new District and school websites, along with a new communication system designed to make it easier for you to stay informed and connected. As part of this transition, we will introduce a new two-way messaging tool called Rooms. Additionally, the District will be transitioning to a new Board of Education platform called Community, as Diligent (the provider of BoardDocs) moves districts to this updated system.

Reminder: AAPI Heritage Month Festival, May 7

Tue, 05 May 2026 21:01:00 GMT

Waukegan Public Schools invites families to join us for our annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Festival this Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Jack Benny Middle School (1401 Montesano Avenue). This year’s celebration will feature an Asian Night Market theme, with food, games, and activities for the whole family.

Notice of May 7 Special Board Meeting

Tue, 05 May 2026 17:28:00 GMT

A Special Meeting with Closed and Open Session of the Board of Education will be held on Thursday, May 7 , 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 112 at the Educational Service Center. Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1), the discussion will be held in Closed Session. The subject will be specific personnel matters. The meeting will begin in open session in the Board Room and then move to closed session in Room 112. The meeting will adjourn from Room 112. No action will be taken during the open session.

WHS Music Program Delivers Another Top 3 Finish in Illinois

Mon, 04 May 2026 20:42:00 GMT

Waukegan High School’s music program has once again solidified its place among the top programs in Illinois. This season, students across band, choir, and orchestra combined for a 3rd place finish in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class AA.

Update on Potential Countywide School Facilities Sales Tax

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:51:00 GMT

At its meeting this week, the Board of Education took an initial step in a countywide process related to a potential school facilities sales tax. The Board approved a resolution that may allow a question to be placed on the November 2026 ballot asking Lake County voters whether to approve a 1% sales tax dedicated to school facility improvements. It is important to note that this action alone does not place the question on the ballot. For this to move forward, school districts representing more than 50% of the total student enrollment in Lake County must also take similar action.

2026 Elementary Art Show at the Belvidere Mall

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:13:00 GMT

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60’s annual Elementary Art Show is now open at the Belvidere Mall, 2107 Belvidere Road, and will be on display through May 8. This year’s exhibit features more than 250 pieces created by students across Waukegan Public Schools’ elementary buildings.

Auditions for WAUK-PAC’s Annie Jr.

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:18:00 GMT

District 60’s K-8 theater program, the Waukegan Performing Arts Company (WAUK-PAC), is holding auditions for its SUMMER production of Annie Jr. Auditions will take place on Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Cooke Magnet School, 522 Belvidere Road. All Waukegan Public Schools students currently in grades K–8 are welcome to audition.

Waukegan High School Spring Concert Series April 27-30

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:07:00 GMT

The Waukegan High School Music Department invites the community to enjoy a week of live performances during its Spring Concert Series. Join us for four nights of music featuring our talented student musicians. All concerts will take place at 7 p.m. in the Trapp Auditorium at the WHS Brookside Campus and are free and open to the public.

Notice of April 28 and 29 Board Meetings

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:51:00 GMT

A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 7 p.m. for Open Session, and 6 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted in person in the Educational Service Center Board Room, 214 Washington Street. Closed Session will occur in Room 112. A Special Meeting with Closed and Open Session of the Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 112 at the Educational Service Center.

2026 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Festival

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:41:00 GMT

Waukegan Public Schools’ Family and Community Engagement Department invites families to its annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Festival. Join us on Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Jack Benny Middle School, 1401 Montesano Avenue, for an evening celebrating Asian-American culture and community. The theme of this year’s celebration is an Asian Night Market, with food and games.

Final Kindergarten Registration Event – April 25

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:48:00 GMT

Waukegan Public Schools will host its final Kindergarten Registration event on Saturday, April 25, at John R. Lewis Middle School, 600 S. Lewis Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. This event is open to families with children who will turn 5 on or before September 1, are entering kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year, and are not currently enrolled in the District’s EPIC pre-k program.

WHS Presents The Fall of the House of Usher April 23-25

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:21:00 GMT

Waukegan High School presents this year’s spring play, a thrilling, 1930s detective-style adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. Performances will be held in the Trapp Auditorium at WHS-Brookside on April 23, 24, and 25 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $8–$10 and are available at the bookstores and online.

Mary Poppins Jr. This Weekend

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 20:32:00 GMT

Tickets are no longer available for Friday's Mary Poppins Jr. performance, but you can still catch our talented Wauk-PAC performers during two shows on Saturday. Presented by District 60’s K–8 theater program, the Waukegan Performing Arts Company (Wauk-PAC), this production features more than 50 students from eight elementary and four middle schools.

Notice of April 21 Special Board Meeting

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 20:25:00 GMT

The Board of Education for Waukegan Public Schools will meet in a Special Meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 6:00 pm at the Educational Service Center, 214 Washington Street. The meeting will begin in open session in the Board Room with a special presentation regarding the proposed sales tax increase. The Board will then move into closed session in Room 112 to discuss personnel matters. No official Board action will be taken at this meeting.

2026 Graduation and Promotion Information

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:14:00 GMT

Graduation and promotion events for Waukegan High School seniors and Waukegan 8th graders are just a month away. Parents of seniors and 8th graders will receive information regarding planned graduation and promotion events for their child. Please see below for further information.

Notice of April 14 Board Meetings

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:51:00 GMT

On April 14, 2026, the Board of Education will meet for its regular monthly micro meeting. The meeting will be conducted in open and closed sessions beginning at 6 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 214 Washington Street. The open session will be held in the Board Room. The closed session will be in Room 112. The Board’s monthly Student Achievement and Operations Services committee meetings will follow the micro meeting at approximately 7 p.m. in the Board Room.

Middle School Music Festival on April 14 and 15

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:49:00 GMT

Waukegan Public Schools’ Middle School Music Festival is back! The popular event will be hosted on Tuesday, April 14 and Wednesday, April 15 at the Genesee Theatre in downtown Waukegan. The event will feature performances by band, choir, orchestra and mariachi students from all five Waukegan middle schools.

Kindergarten Registration Event - April 11

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:32:00 GMT

Waukegan Public Schools will host its next Kindergarten Registration event on Saturday, April 11, at Jack Benny Middle School, 1401 Montesano Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. This event is open to families with children who will turn 5 on or before September 1, are entering kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year, and are not currently enrolled in the District’s EPIC pre-k program.

Black Parent Network Meeting on April 21

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:27:00 GMT

Our April Black Parent Network meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 21, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Families are invited to join us in person at the Waukegan High School Brookside Campus library or participate virtually via Zoom. This month’s meeting will feature important updates from the African American Male Achievement Initiative (AAMI), a continued discussion on the creation of the BPN Scholarship, and a conversation around summer school/camp opportunities to support our students.

WAUK-PAC Presents Mary Poppins Jr. April 17 and 18

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:42:00 GMT

District 60’s K-8 theater program, the Waukegan Performing Arts Company (Wauk-PAC), will debut its next production, Mary Poppins Jr., later this month. Moe than 50 Waukegan students representing eight elementary and four middle schools make up the cast and crew of the production.

Project Discovery Information Night at Little Fort Elementary

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:46:00 GMT

Little Fort Elementary School invites elementary families across Waukegan Public Schools to learn more about Project Discovery, a program designed for students who benefit from accelerated and enriched learning opportunities.

WHS Earns National SkillsUSA Models of Excellence Recognition

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:48:00 GMT

Waukegan High School has been named one of just 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationwide to earn the prestigious Models of Excellence designation for 2026. This honor represents the highest level of recognition from SkillsUSA and highlights the nation’s most outstanding chapters. WHS is the only school in Illinois to receive this distinction this year.

Student Board Member Search 2026-2027

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:45:00 GMT

The Waukegan Community Unit School District Board of Education is seeking two students to serve as Student Board Members for the 2026-2027 school year. Any student who will be a sophomore, junior, or senior next year is eligible to apply. The Board selects two students to serve one-year terms, with one representative from each campus (Brookside and Washington). The term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Academia 60: Supporting Bilingual Children

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:51:00 GMT

Waukegan Public Schools’ Bilingual and Multicultural Department invites families to attend the next session in its Academia 60 Parent Education Series, focused on supporting bilingual children and understanding the benefits of learning more than one language. This session will be led by Psychotherapist Sandra Gomez, and will help parents understand how children learn two languages and why being bilingual is a strength.

Notice of March 31 Board Meeting

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:39:00 GMT

The Board of Education for Waukegan Public Schools will meet in a Special Meeting on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 6:00 pm in Room 112 at the Educational Service Center, for the purpose of discussing the annual evaluation for the superintendent. Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1), the discussion will be held in Closed Session. A brief open session with Public Comment will precede the closed session portion in the Board Room. The meeting will adjourn from Room 112. No action will be taken during the open session.

Spring Break 2026

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:42:00 GMT

See below for a special Spring Break message from Superintendent Plascencia... As we head into Spring Break, I want to take a moment to wish all of you a well-deserved pause from the busy pace of the school year. I hope the days ahead offer an opportunity to rest, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy whatever brings you happiness.

Spring Break Free Meal Distribution on March 20

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:19:00 GMT

Waukegan Public Schools will host a free meal distribution event for families ahead of Spring Break on Friday, March 20, at the Waukegan High School Brookside Campus, 2325 Brookside Avenue. Meals will be available from 5 to 7 p.m.

Missed Our Budget YouTube Update? Watch It Anytime

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Thank you to those who logged in for last night’s community budget presentation. We appreciate the opportunity to share more about how our District approaches financial planning and decision-making. If you were unable to watch live, the presentation, which was conducted in both English and Spanish, is now available to watch on our YouTube Channel.

Reminder: Join Us Tonight for a Community Budget Update

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:44:00 GMT

District leaders will share an overview of the district’s financial outlook, explain the budgeting process, and discuss how decisions are made to support students and schools. Wednesday, March 18, at 6 p.m. Live on the District 60 YouTube channel.

District 60 Earns Meritorious Budget Award for 2025-2026

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:46:00 GMT

For the ninth consecutive year, Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 has received the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International for its 2025–2026 budget. The award recognizes District 60’s commitment to financial transparency, responsible budgeting, and clear communication with the community.

Academia 60 Parent Workshop: Why Are Assessments Important?

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:48:00 GMT

Families are encouraged to join us for “Why Are Assessments Important? / ¿Por Qué Son Importantes las Evaluaciones?”, presented by Dr. Bertha Campos, of our Bilingual & Multicultural Department, and Dr. Jonathan Brown, of our Data and Assessment Department. The workshop will take place on Thursday, March 19, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Waukegan High School Brookside Campus. Families may also join virtually via Google Meet.

Notice of January 21 Board Workshop Meeting

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

A special workshop meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6 p.m. for Open Session. The meeting will be conducted in the Educational Service Center Board Room, 214 Washington Street. The subject will be a review of employee separation procedures.

Notice of March 17 Board Meeting

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:57:00 GMT

A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. for Open Session, and 6 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted in person in the Educational Service Center Board Room, 214 Washington Street. Closed Session will occur in Room 112. Note: This meeting is on the third Tuesday instead of the fourth Tuesday, due to Spring Break.

Returning Student Registration for the 2026-2027 School Year Now Open

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:27:00 GMT

Registration is now open for all returning Waukegan Public Schools students in grades Kindergarten through 11. Parents must complete the online registration process through the Parent Portal. To access registration, log in to Parent Portal and click on "More" to find the Online Registration link. The registration deadline is April 24, 2026. Families are encouraged to complete the registration process before Spring Break to help avoid delays and ensure their information is up to date as we prepare for the 26-27 school year.

School Calendars for the Next Three Years

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 20:27:00 GMT

The Board of Education approved school calendars for the next three academic years during its meeting last night. Sharing multiple years in advance helps families and staff plan ahead, and we appreciate everyone who contributed feedback throughout this process. The calendars include a few adjustments, such as slightly later start dates. As in recent years, Waukegan High School will continue to hold first-semester final exams prior to Winter Break. Linked below are the calendars for the 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 school years.