CICS West Belden -

At Distinctive Schools, we believe true education extends beyond traditional boundaries, encouraging students to explore their passions. Our music classrooms are excellent example...

Distinctive Schools is buzzing with excitement, pride, and a touch of bittersweet farewells as we celebrate our incredible "Step Up" ceremonies across our campuses! This special...

This is Part II in a three-part blog series exploring how Distinctive Schools is approaching artificial intelligence (AI) in education. From building custom tools to supporting s...

May is Mental Health Awareness month. At Distinctive Schools, we believe in fostering a culture where open, compassionate conversations about mental health are encouraged and are ...

April is Stress Awareness Month—a reminder to prioritize mental well-being. With academic and daily demands, Distinctive Schools students and families should take intentional mome...

No two Distinctive Schools Assistant Principals are exactly alike, but they all share a deep commitment to ignite teacher leadership and champion student excellence. As we prepa...

This is Part I in a three-part blog series exploring how Distinctive Schools is approaching artificial intelligence (AI) in education. From building custom tools to supporting st...

International Social Emotional Learning Day on March 10th is a way to celebrate the way SEL is “Uplifting Hearts, Connecting Minds.” Studies show SEL reduces stress and promotes...

Every year, Distinctive Schools administers federally-required state assessments that help us gauge how our students are growing academically compared to their peers across the st...

Chicago, IL – February 18, 2025 – Distinctive Schools is excited to announce the appointment of Mary Beck as its new President, effective February 10, 2025. Beck, a longtime edu...

At Distinctive Schools, we believe strongly in the power of student voice – insight shared directly from our students is invaluable to us. Our Learner Advisory embodies this pr...

Every year, Distinctive Schools administers federally-required state assessments that help us gauge how our students are growing academically compared to their peers across the st...

At Distinctive Schools, we are committed to creating a supportive, student-centered environment where every child feels seen, heard, and valued. This work wouldn’t be possible wit...

Earlier this year , CICS West Belden shared how our middle school math team was selected to be part of LEAP Innovations’ Pilot Network. Throughout the course of the Pilot Networ...

At CICS West Belden, we believe that all of our alumni are truly Distinctive. In this season of giving back, we are celebrating alumni Zenobia Ellis , who is studying to become a...

We’re continuing to share gratitude throughout November, today we are celebrating our CICS West Belden community, who have so much to be grateful for. We believe in the power of c...

CICS Bucktown hosted the 14th annual Distinctive Schools high school fair connecting students from CICS Bucktown, CICS Irving Park, and CICS West Belden with over 40 high scho...

CICS West Belden’s goal has always been to improve student outcomes. This year, our middle school math team is taking this commitment to the next level by joining the LEAP Innovat...

October is Principal Appreciation Month , a time to honor and celebrate the leaders who make a difference in our schools every day. We’re celebrating CICS West Belden Principal ...

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Distinctive Schools is spotlighting our incredible bilingual programming. Our commitment to bilingual education isn't just about teaching two ...