Arlington Heights (Ill.) district is adding classrooms to accommodate full-day kindergarten

The Arlington Heights, Ill., Village Board has approved expansion plans for two schools in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25.

The Arlington Heights Post reports that new classrooms will be built at Olive-Mary Stitt and Patton elementary schools.

The district is adding classrooms to five of its campuses to accommodate the introduction of full-day kindergarten starting the 2024-25 school year.

Last month, the village board also approved similar expansion plans at Dryden and Westgate schools. Plans for expansion at Greenbrier and Windsor schools have yet to come before the Village Board.

Last year, the school district won voter approval of a proposal authorizing the sale of up to $75 million in bonds to help pay for the building additions and other capital improvements.

The nine-school elementary district has over 5,200 students in pre-K to 8; kindergarten now is a half-day program.

Olive-Mary Stitt has 31 classrooms and will be increasing to 35, says Ryan Schulz, the district’s director of facilities management said, with space for additional growth.

At Patton Elementary, Schulz says three classrooms will be added to the western edge of the building, along with a small courtyard.