Community Welcome
Welcome to the Kenilworth School District No. 38, The Joseph Sears School.
Located in the village of Kenilworth, The Joseph Sears School combines the feel and traditions of a small-town community with the forward-thinking practices of a 21st-century educational institution. Our goal is to prepare students for success through their teenage years and beyond by allowing them to cultivate their passions, develop a genuine love of learning and establish a system of values that will guide them throughout their later stages of life.
From our students and parents to our teachers and administrators, every member of our learning community strives for academic excellence -- and it shows. Joseph Sears students consistently rank in the 98th to 99th percentile nationally on standardized tests. The Illinois State Board of Education recognized The Joseph Sears School with the 2013 Excellent Award for academic performance on the Illinois Learning Standards and a 2015 study published in Chicago Agent Magazine named Kenilworth as the suburb with the top school district in all of Illinois. In 2019, Chicago Magazine named The Joseph Sears School as the top PK-8 suburban public elementary and middle school in Cook County.
U.S. News & World Report recently released its 2024 rankings of Illinois's top elementary and middle schools based on academic performance. The Joseph Sears School ranked 4th among elementary schools. The rankings considered proficiency in math and reading, student backgrounds, achievement in core subjects, and student-teacher ratios. The report is intended to help parents evaluate schools in their communities.
More than academics, our commitment to the growth and development of our students is evident in our adherence to the Four Cornerstones. Every member of our community is asked to live out the values of Responsibility, Kindness, Honesty and Respect. These Four Cornerstones, which are prominently displayed throughout our building and our district materials, are a fundamental part of our school culture and they continue to be a source of pride for our students and our community.
With our longstanding school traditions, the generous support of our parent volunteer association and the tight-knit bonds formed in a small village, Joseph Sears is truly a special school located at the heart of a special community.
Please take some time to browse our website and learn more about our school district. If you would like additional information or would like to schedule a tour of our campus, please contact us.