
At Distinctive Schools, we build joyful classrooms, develop a sense of belonging, and provide growth opportunities for our students and staff alike. Distinctive Schools are an amaz...

Dr. Derrick Harrison has been offered and accepted the Plymouth Educational Center Principal role!
Dr. Harrison joins Distinctive Schools after having served as an Assistant Prin...

Summer is a wonderful time for students to continue their education at home by looking at the world through a lens of learning! We are excited to announce this year’s Anytime, Anyw...

Summer is just around the corner! As you start planning your summer activities, remember to allow yourself time to rest, restore, and reconnect.
Choose the outdoors. Spending time...

CONGRATULATIONS to all our 8th grade graduates! We are so proud of how far you have come in your educational journey and so excited to see the incredible things you will do next. W...

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sara Ray Stoelinga, PHD and Chuala Gupta to the Distinctive Schools National Board! We are committed to bringing together brilliant, forward thinking...

We have exciting news to share – we are making another incredible investment in our Distinctive family! Our HR/Talent and Finance team, with support and advocacy from our senior le...

Have you seen DISTINCTIVE SCHOOLS on the CTA? Our bus ads are rolling, and there are posters on platforms! Our staff and families have had so much fun spotting DS all around Chicag...

This spring, CICS West Belden was one of the recipients of a grant from the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund! Led by music teacher Ms. Chopp, this grant allowed for an incredible r...

We are thrilled to highlight future educator and Distinctive alumni – TY LEE! Ty, a graduate of CICS Irving Park Class of 2018, was recently selected to receive a Golden Apple Sch...

CICS West Belden celebrates TWENTY YEARS of operation this year! CICS West Belden is a neighborhood school that many call home and that is exactly what it is to our students, famil...

We are proud to have taken part in this SEL Case Study through xSEL Labs! In alignment with our focus on Mental Health and Wellness across our network, we began implementation of t...

The month of May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Check out this article from out partners at Care Solace to learn more:In the month of May w...

Distinctive Schools is excited to announce that Jessica Paulsen has been named Distinctive Schools’ Chief of Staff! Jessica’s focus on strategic initiatives and planning for long t...

This is a very special week for all of us at Distinctive Schools, a favorite time to celebrate you during TEACHER & STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK! We are endlessly grateful our amazing t...

This CEO Spotlight celebrates an amazing leader who is always on the go, Latrel Cunningham! Latrel joined us in 2020 as our Regional Transportation Coordinator, and has been hard a...

Last week we visited each Distinctive Schools Michigan campus with a camera crew to capture all the amazing learning that goes on every day! We got to sit down with students, teach...

This CEO Spotlight celebrates a phenomenal trio of dynamic, hard-working leaders who have been a champion for Distinctive Schools. Thank you Elizabeth Winke, Toni Drisdell, and Ter...
Spring break is here! We hope you have a wonderful break, and take some time to rest and recharge. Take a look at this short video from our partners at The Chicago Department of Pu...

In support of our ongoing commitment and prioritization of Mental Health & Wellness, we have partnered with Care Solace to provide an additional layer of care for our community. Ca...