Schools open in Waukegan, North Chicago and across Lake County: ‘The first day is always energizing’
Jorge Cervantes was in a good mood as he took his daughter to school as she entered first grade at Washington Elementary School in Waukegan. Her fourth-grade big brother is there for added support.
“I’m very excited,” Cervantes said. “She has the same teacher he had. Her big brother will look after his little sister. My son had a good experience with her.”
The Cervantes children were among more than 13,000 students going to school in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60’s 21 schools Monday throughout Waukegan, starting the 2026-2027 term.
Schools also opened for North Chicago School District 187, and began opening in Lake County in Round Lake, Lake Zurich, Deerfield, Highland Park and other communities.
District 60 Superintendent Theresa Plascencia spent the morning visiting district schools. She said it is a particularly significant day for students entering school for the first time, transitioning from elementary school to middle school, or moving from middle school to high school.
“The first day is always energizing, and there’s a lot of excitement,” Plascencia said. “Teachers and staff are there to welcome the students. There are a lot of smiles, and some who are more reserved.”
Agustin Trujillo was waiting in line with other students at the Washington campus of Waukegan High School. As a junior, it was a new experience after spending his first two years at the high school’s Brookside campus for freshmen and sophomores.
“This is crazy,” Trujillo said. “I was not sure I was going to get here. I’m going to be working hard to get good grades.”
Seniors Hann Guerrien, Ansiya Mubarack and Hannah George were inside the building waiting for their first class to start. All three plan to continue their education after high school and have a sense of what careers they hope to pursue.
“I’m going to learn more stuff and meet new people," Guerrien, the captain of the dance team, said. “I’m going to college to study kinesiology. I want to help other people feel better.”
Mubarack said she wants to pursue a career as a crime scene investigator. She watches mysteries and wants to learn how to solve them. She also has some unfinished business between now and graduation in May.
“I want to meet new people and have some good memories of my senior year,” Mubarack said.
George plans to go to college to study finance and looks forward to the night the senior class spends on the Waukegan Municipal Beach a few days before graduation.
Dee Bolos-Hartman, the new co-principal of the high school’s Washington and AOEC campuses, greeted students entering the building. Last year, she was the assistant principal at Orr High School in Chicago.
“Waukegan is an amazing community,” Bolos-Hartman said. “I’m excited and optimistic we will overcome hardships and have an amazing school year.”
Another new principal is Shannon Lindsey at Washington Elementary School. She is in her 10th year in District 60, starting as a fourth and fifth grade teacher before becoming an administrator. She said one of her challenges is helping students score better on tests.
Emily Wence, a Washington Elementary School parent, wants to see her daughter, Danila, have a positive experience and make new friends. Danila expressed similar feelings about new friendships.
In North Chicago, Constance Rupert Collins, the interim superintendent for District 187 as a permanent replacement for John Price is sought, was also greeting families as parents brought their children to school on the first day.
“I am delighted that the young people are back and will be filling our hallways and classrooms with a zest for learning as they greet the staff and their classmates,” Collins wrote in a text.
Collins said her goal is to “move forward and maintain the goals which have been accomplished over the last few years, to set high expectations and put systems in place to move the district to a higher level of excellence.”
Schools opening last week included Zion-Benton Township High School, Round Lake Area Schools District 116, Township High School District 113 serving Highland Park and Deerfield high schools, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, North Shore School District 112 serving Highland Park and Highwood, and Lake Zurich School District 95.
Also opening this week are Zion Elementary School District 6 and Barrington Community Unit School District 220.