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, about 45 minutes west of Chicago, and includes vibrant communities within Cook, DuPage, and Kane counties. The majority of our towns and cities are affordable, easily accessible from major interstates and commuter rail lines, and feature miles of bike trails, great library systems and entertainment, including the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Learn more here about Living in U-46.

More than 36,000 preschoolers through 12th graders attend the 57 District schools and programs. Our students represent more than 60 cultures and come from homes where more than 100 languages are spoken.

About a third 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. It 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 12th 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.

“We are doing incredible work here in one of the state’s most multicultural districts,” said former U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders. “Together, with parents and our dedicated staff, we are building new pathways to ensure our students are prepared to succeed in college and careers.”

• For three straight years, 2019, 2020, and 2021, U-46 has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The National Association of Music Merchants for its outstanding commitment to music education.
• Among the class of 2021, 42 graduating seniors in the Dual Credit program earned a total of 817 college credits. This partnership with Elgin Community College allows participants to earn high school and college credit concurrently. 
• For the fifth year, U-46 has issued a special honor to Class of 2021 graduates who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English. The State of Illinois Seal of Biliteracy was awarded to 122 graduating seniors, with six languages represented — Spanish, French, German, Polish, Japanese, and Russian. The number of students earning the Commendation, given to students who have demonstrated significant progress toward achieving a high level of proficiency, was 292, with a seventh language of Arabic represented in that category.
• Bartlett Elementary and Prairieview Elementary were named “Exemplary” on the 2020 Illinois Report Card, the highest designation. Forty-six 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.
• Twelve high schoolers were named in 2021 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. One 2020 graduate won the national award for the Talent category.
• High school students can select from among 27 Advanced Placement courses at our five high schools.
• The District’s DREAM Academy is in its sixth 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 a magnet academy with a unique focus to encourage the development of students' talents and interests.

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 U-46 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.