Inside 86

This Inside 86 video offers a behind-the-scenes look at how District 86 uses summer school to expand learning opportunities for students. Through accelerated coursework, credit recovery, and enrichment classes, students are able to focus deeply on individual subjects without the distractions of the regular school year.

Teachers highlight how the condensed schedule helps students advance in mathematics, fulfill graduation requirements such as driver’s education and consumer economics, and build critical skills through workshops like AP writing. Students share how these courses allow them to challenge themselves, stay on track academically, and prepare for college-level rigor.

This Inside 86 video provides an inside look at the two science pathways available to District 86 students: Physics–Chemistry–Biology (PCB) and Biology–Chemistry–Physics (Biology First).

The video outlines how each sequence exposes students to core scientific disciplines while allowing them to choose a starting point that aligns with their interests, learning preferences, and future goals. Students and teachers highlight the benefits of hands-on labs, collaborative learning, and opportunities for advanced study.

Together, the pathways offer flexibility and rigor, ensuring that all students experience high-quality instruction while building the skills and knowledge needed for college, careers, and future scientific pursuits.

This Inside 86 video highlights how District Improvement Days provide essential time for educators to grow, collaborate, and refine their practice so they can better serve students.

Staff members describe how stepping outside their classroom allows them to learn from colleagues across departments, explore new instructional strategies, and respond to students’ evolving needs. The dedicated time for reflection and professional development helps teachers strengthen their craft.

The video also emphasizes the deep expertise and passion within District 86, where educators continually invest in their own learning to ensure that classrooms reflect current best practices. 

This Inside 86 video explores how District 86 creates learning environments where students are fully engaged—intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

Teachers and students describe the importance of regular attendance, active participation, and minimizing distractions such as cell phones in order to support meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and hands-on learning.

The video also highlights the role of supportive systems, including deans and student services, in helping students overcome challenges that impact their ability to attend and succeed.

This Inside 86 video highlights the importance of student voice in shaping a positive and inclusive school community.

Students share how serving in leadership roles and engaging with administrators empowers them to express concerns, offer ideas, and influence decisions that directly affect their school experience. They describe how speaking up builds confidence, strengthens communication, and prepares them for life beyond high school.

By fostering spaces where students are heard and valued, District 86 helps create a collaborative environment where meaningful change can take root and every student feels connected and supported.

This Inside 86 video offers an inside look at how District 86 supports multilingual learners and newcomers as they transition into Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South.

Students and staff share how the newcomer program, scaffolded instruction, and a welcoming school culture help students adjust to a new language, new routines, and a new community. Teachers describe the intentional strategies they use to make grade-level content accessible while building English proficiency.

The video highlights the diverse perspectives multilingual students bring to the classroom, as well as the leadership opportunities and peer-to-peer connections that help them thrive. 

This Inside 86 video explains how Early Release Wednesdays provide District 86 with dedicated time each week for meaningful collaboration and student support.

While most students leave at 1:55 p.m., staff members spend the afternoon working together to refine curriculum, analyze learning, and problem-solve around student needs—work that is only possible when all team members can meet at once. 

By carving out this hour each week, the district strengthens instructional quality, enhances coordination across departments, and ensures students receive the highest level of support both inside and outside the classroom.

This Inside 86 video was created to provide transparency around the District’s K9 Security Team and to help families better understand how the program supports school safety. For parents and community members who are not regularly inside school buildings, the video offers a clear and accessible look at what the K9 presence is like on a day-to-day basis.

By showing the dogs interacting positively with students and staff, the video emphasizes that the K9s are highly trained, approachable, and integrated into the school environment in a thoughtful and intentional way. 

Overall, the video helps strengthen communication with the community by ensuring families have an accurate picture of the program and confidence in how District 86 approaches safety.