School District U-46 serves families in 11 communities across 90 square miles within Chicago’s northwest suburbs, including Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wayne and portions of Carol Stream, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Schaumburg, and West Chicago. The District is located in the Fox River Valley, approximately 45 minutes west of downtown Chicago, and includes communities within Cook, DuPage, and Kane counties. The majority of our towns and cities are easily accessible from major interstates and commuter rail lines.

More than 35,000 pre-schoolers through 12th graders attend the 55 District schools and programs. Our vibrant student population lists 95 home languages and more than half of our students are from Hispanic families.

Nearly 40 percent of our students are English Learners, a demographic that paved the way for U-46 to develop its renowned Dual Language program. The program allows many students to maintain their first language of Spanish while learning English and also offers an opportunity for all students to become fluent in Spanish in addition to English and any other languages they may speak at home. With the Dual Language program now serving students in kindergarten through 11th grade, more than 11,000 students are developing bilingualism and biliteracy skills in our U-46 classrooms. On any given day, children are speaking both English and Spanish as they discuss concepts in language arts, math, science, and more.

From principals to bus drivers, many of our staff members are former students who have returned to their communities to serve and lead students within U-46. 

"As a proud graduate of U-46, it is an honor and privilege to be able to serve the same school system that provided me with an outstanding education," said Dr. Suzanne Johnson, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction. “This position provides me an opportunity to give back to the same community that has given me so much.”  

Some recent points of pride include:

• U-46 was honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 for its outstanding commitment to music education.

• Sycamore Trails Elementary School was named “Exemplary” on the 2023-24 Illinois Report Card, the highest designation. Forty other U-46 schools were categorized as “Commendable,” the next highest designation.

• U-46 Educational Foundation Board President E.C. “Bud” Wilson was given an Award of Merit in the 2020 Distinguished Service Awards Program by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association.

• South Elgin High School’s Co-Ed Varsity Cheer Team won the state championship in 2020 and 2024.

• Ten high schoolers were named in 2023-34 as All-State Musicians, the highest musical achievement for high schoolers in Illinois. 

• Five Class of 2020 graduates of South Elgin High School’s Beacon Academy of Media and Digital Arts were nominated for a National Student Production Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

• High school students can select from among 27 Advanced Placement courses at our five high schools, and 47 students graduated in 2020 from the Dual Credit program, a partnership with Elgin Community College, with more than 625 college credits earned.

• The District’s DREAM Academy is in its fifth year serving as an alternative program for secondary students focused on social-emotional support and maximizing each student’s individual potential.

• U-46 has earned national accreditations in our Career and Technical Education programs, including automotive, precision manufacturing, and welding.
• Each of the District’s five high schools houses one Magnet Academy.

The District headquarters, known as the “U-46 Educational Services Center,” is located at 355 E. Chicago Street in downtown Elgin. The phone number is 847-888-5000. A complete list of all schools, with links to their individual websites, can be found here.

U-46 encourages community members to use Let’s Talk!, the District’s online customer service tool, to ask questions, register a concern, or submit feedback.