Higgins Education Center — Local services in Schaumburg Township

The school has been so supportive to my son the past 3 years. My son was having some severe emotional issues at the end of 8th grade as well as dealing with the loss of his father to cancer causing more trauma at the same time . All coincided with the pandemic and he could not function in the “virtual” classes even though he was a very good student. He was extremely depressed, frustrated, angry at his lowest when high school started. He started at Fremd and did try to go to the tutoring sessions since all the classes were virtual. Then they were allowed to go in and he did but no one else was coming to school. It just wasn’t working and sent him continuing to spiral downward and he stopped attempting virtual. I, therapists, teachers , no one could convince him to try going to class. We were allowed to go to a very supported private school where they were coming to class in person and as soon as he was to start they pulled the in person to virtual. It just seemed no end in sight. We met with the district again at the end of Freshman year when classes were starting to be in person and it was agreed to switch to Academy South in district. He was so down and lost confidence in school even though he was getting intense therapy that he wouldn’t go in though the school was very willing to work with him and make special arrangements etc. Fast forward after the abysmal Freshman year to start of Sophomore year. I had as many delicate talks with him as possible trying to get him to a point to try and get back to enjoying school. I honestly did not know if he would get on the bus the day before school started but he decided to try though very apprehensive and it’s pretty much one chance and done if he has a bad experience. He came home and was irritated about the level system and some of the rules. To try and put out a fire and come up with any option that would keep him in school I called the team and we quickly agreed to some actually pretty minor modifications but to him were creating a huge issue. After that was done, the staff worked with him and he started to garner trust. The smaller environment for him and getting to know the staff and kids very well without allot of judgement were very key I think. He doesn’t talk about it but I think there are some kids struggling with behavior issues (which is one of the reasons they may be placed in that setting as the larger classrooms and low staff can’t accommodate) so there are distractions at times going on. Teachers have to deal with it the best they can to de-escalate and try to keep the students in school. As time went on and he progressed quickly the level system which was not that difficult if you pay attention, be respectful, and do your work. We agreed with the staff the second semester since he was doing well to start going back to Fremd which he took 2 courses. Junior year was expanded to half day and he academically did very well though he did not feel comfortable as he didn’t know the students. Senior year he decided he wanted to stay at South full time as it was just a more comfortable environment for him. The staff I find have been very supportive to his needs and do email or call me if their is any concerns or changes as I do them as well . I have found them to be very responsive and I am truly thankful for them as he’s grown so much and has improved his coping skills. I was seriously concerned he was going to drop out and in a different uncaring environment I’m sure that would have been the case. All I can say is I feel very fortunate to have been in D15 and D211 as in my opinion they have some of the best Special Ed and Social/Emotional programs probably in the whole state. We were going to move, but I could not risk going to a lower quality programs and support. If the larger high school’s environment is not working for your child to progress, I would definitely recommend trying the more supported environment at...

My child speaks that the staff never try to listen to them to give the chance to level up. They are a senior this year been there since a freshman. I was to have an IEP mtg 30th and the person rescheduled it to today. We had a few communications to update stuff as I could see it in the infinite campus all seemed well until I didn't get the Zoom link. I started emailing the team. They had no knowledge and even stated someone that was supposed to be there was at a field trip. So the lady booked it without communicating with the team. This school is a joke every time I try to talk to them they brush off . Like our time isn't valuable either. Don't send your kid here if you don't have to. My kid lost interest in band after doing it all years in elementary and middle school I had them doing it with a tutor in hopes they would go back to CHS but this school never allowed them to level up. They were supposed to end of Junior but Kali never let them hear their petition. So they donated their instrument back to their Junior High...

Current/former student here- the building has some of the worst funding and the students are treated like inmates. I’ve honestly never attended a place that has made me feel as insignificant or not worthy of literally just feeling as this school in specific. The staff consists of a lot of different “educators” that completely disregard the well being and livelihood of the students. There is consistent hate crime and violence against poc including frequent and large swastikas. And it all just goes by unbothered. For the love of literally all things holy give your child a shot by sending them to literally any...