Distinctive Schools - Commit. Create. Collaborate

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...

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...

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 ama...

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, fami...

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 implementa...

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 Ma...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 Te...

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 o...

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....

Scott Frauenheim to Speak at SXSW EDU! Distinctive Schools (DS) is committed to supporting students through out innovative learning model; our focus on Diversity, Equity, & I...

“My goal is for them to have that love of learning and to be lifelong learners." Yvonne Glenn, the latest educator in our Teacher Spotlight series, is in her 18th year teaching at...

Distinctive Schools is thrilled to share that we’ve been selected to receive a STOP Award Rescue Grant! This grant will help us to build upon our community hub model that offers a...

Distinctive Schools is proud to launch the official start of construction on the 70,000 square foot campus expansion at Art in Motion, located in Chicago’s Grand Crossing neighbor...

Angela Lee, School Social Worker for Art in Motion, was featured in this month's edition of Helpful Living Magazine , a publication designed to help readers understand mental he...

(Chicago, IL - ) Distinctive Schools, in partnership with the Art In Motion Board of Directors, is proud to announce a 70,000 square foot campus expansion at Art in Motion locat...

Student-centered evidence centers the student in measurement and decision-making, so that the evidence we use builds trust, informs learning and teaching, and speaks to shared asp...

Distinctive Schools Friends & Partners – The 2021-22 school year is off to an awesome start! We’re excited to share that our CICS Bucktown campus was featured on The Today Sh...