Welcome to the District 25 Strategic Plan Hub
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This page includes two key resources to help you understand where we are and where we’re headed:
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Our Current Strategic Plan (2021–2025):
Click below to explore an interactive dashboard that highlights our goals, progress, and key outcomes from the current plan. -
Strategic Plan Refresh (2025–2026):
Scroll down to learn about the process we are currently undertaking to refresh our Strategic Plan, including timelines, stakeholder engagement, and how you can stay involved.
Together, these sections provide a clear snapshot of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and to shaping a strong, student-centered future for District 25.
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Our Current Strategic Plan
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Strategic Plan 21-25 Recap Document
As our 2021–2025 Strategic Plan wraps up, we’ve created a document (linked just above) that celebrates and highlights the progress we’ve made together over the past four years, and also reflects on areas of continued focus as we look ahead. Click here to explore The Journey.
Strategic Plan Refresh
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District 25 is in the exciting process of refreshing our Strategic Plan to guide our work for the next several years. This refresh is rooted in our commitment to continuous improvement, community partnership, and a shared vision for the future of teaching and learning in Arlington Heights. Throughout the 2025–2026 school year, we are bringing together students, staff, families, and community members to help shape the priorities that will carry District 25 forward.
In the dropdowns below, you’ll find an overview of each major step in our refresh process—from the Orientation that launched our work, to a deep dive into district data, to collaborative retreats focused on visioning and direction-setting. You’ll also see how the team will transition our shared insights into formal recommendations, final products, and ultimately a plan that lives in our daily practice.
Each phase is designed to be thoughtful, transparent, and inclusive. We hope this gives you a clear understanding of how the Strategic Plan Refresh is unfolding and how the voices of our community are helping shape the future of District 25.
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Orientation Retreat
The Orientation session serves as our starting point—an opportunity to answer the essential question: “Who are we, and what are we being asked to do?” This session provides the big-picture overview of the Strategic Plan Refresh so all team members begin with a shared understanding of the process, their roles, and the responsibility we share in helping set clear direction for District 25’s future.
During Orientation, team members meet one another and learn which stakeholder group each person represents. Our refresh team includes voices from across the district: community members, families, students, certified staff, non-certified staff, administration, Board members, and union leadership. This diverse representation ensures that our work reflects the perspectives and experiences of the entire District 25 community.
The session also introduces the current Strategic Plan—its goals, progress, and results to date. Team members will build common background knowledge so we can move forward with a unified understanding of where we are and where we hope to go.
Essential Question:
Who is in the room, and what are we charged to do?
Orientation is a chance for team members to connect, learn the structure of the process, and review the commitments expected throughout the refresh work.
Orientation Documents & Resources (PRE)
- Agenda
- Participant Handout
- Table & Article Assignments
- Strategic Planning Schedule
- Homework Assignment
- Strategic Plan Refresh Team Roster
- Strategic Plan 21-25 Recap
- 5Essentials Survey Results 2025
- Article 1: Opportunity Myth
- Article 2: 10 Principals of Schools for Modern Learning
- Article 3: State of Student Experience
Orientation Documents & Resources (POST)
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Data Retreat
The Data Retreat is where our work shifts from understanding the process to understanding our reality. In this session, we explore the essential question: “Where are we now?” By grounding ourselves in data, evidence, and lived experiences, we build a shared picture of District 25’s current strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth.
During this session, team members examine a wide range of data sources—academic performance, school climate, student demographics, readiness indicators, operational measures, and stakeholder feedback. This review is not about judging outcomes but about creating clarity. The Data Retreat invites us to look closely, ask questions, and surface patterns that will guide our decision-making throughout the refresh.
Team members collaborate in mixed-stakeholder groups to analyze findings, share interpretations, and elevate insights that matter for our future direction. By drawing on diverse perspectives, we ensure that our understanding of the data reflects the full story of District 25—one that includes numbers, context, and human experience.
By the end of the Data Retreat, our team will have a cohesive understanding of where we stand today. This step is essential to ensure that the goals and priorities we shape next are rooted in evidence and aligned to the needs of our students, staff, and community.
Essential Question:
Where are we now?
The Data Retreat provides the foundation for all strategic decisions ahead by helping the team develop a shared, evidence-based understanding of District 25’s current state.
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Vision Retreat
Nothing to see here yet! :)
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Setting Direction Retreat
Nothing to see here yet! :)
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Recommendation & Living the Plan
Nothing to see here yet! :)
