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Distinguished Schools

Wilmette Public Schools is proud to be recognized as an Apple Distinguished School District, a designation awarded by Apple to school districts where all schools have the Apple Distinguished School designation and demonstrate innovation in learning, teaching, and the use of technology. From our technology teachers and specialists to our classroom teachers, our faculty and staff consistently integrate technology to new and creative ways to help our students in the pursuit of academic excellence and growth.

This recognition is given to institutions that foster creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, while showcasing exemplary learning environments that prepare students for the future. Apple Distinguished Schools and Districts are known for their ability to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum, inspiring students to think differently and achieve more.

Our Story

Wilmette Public Schools began its journey with Apple technology well over a decade ago, with a vision to transform teaching and learning. Building by building, classrooms became centers of creativity and collaboration using iPad and MacBooks. What began as individual recognitions for our schools has now grown into a district-wide distinction.

Each elementary school went through a detailed application process that included both narrative and video elements to illustrate how they leverage the use of technology as a part of teaching and learning. Each elementary school's video submissions are linked below. Our middle school and junior high went through a similar process but created a visual to tell their story. The visuals are linked below.

Highcrest Middle School: Story
Wilmette Junior High School: Story

Success

Our learners:

Collaborate in real-time
Think critically and creatively through hands-on projects
Express understanding through multimedia and digital storytelling
Engage deeply with curriculum via interactive, individualized learning

Our educators create lessons that blend technology seamlessly with strong pedagogy, helping students achieve more than ever.

Impact

The impact of this recognition is seen daily in our schools:

Students are more engaged and motivated to learn
Teachers are empowered to individualized learning experiences
Families see the benefits of technology preparing children for future academic and career opportunities

Our classrooms have become spaces where creativity flourishes, collaboration is the norm, and students develop the critical skills needed for high school, collage, and careers.

What's Next

Becoming an Apple Distinguished School District is a milestone, but it’s not the finish line. We are committed to:

Expanding innovative instructional practices
Exploring new ways technology can support creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking for every learner
Offering continued support to our faculty and staff, as well as our families

This recognition celebrates where we are today and inspires where we are going tomorrow.