School Transition Hub

Many students will be assigned to a new school for the 2026-27 school year.  We are committed to ongoing support, collaboration, and transparent communication to ensure that students, staff, and families are cared for and that the transition ahead is as smooth and thoughtful as possible.

Below you'll find the new attendance boundaries, general school information, frequently asked questions, and resources for navigating change.  This page will be updated often and we hope it will serve as a hub for all things related to school transitions for the 2026-27 school year.

Dear Harlem Staff and Families,

We want to share an update regarding our Early Childhood program and the Preschool for All grant that helps support it.

Currently, Harlem serves approximately 360 early childhood students, along with two specialized early childhood classrooms that provide additional support for students with unique learning needs. As part of our district’s long-range consolidation and financial planning, we previously announced that the number of seats would need to be reduced to 80 seats due to funding limitations.

Over the past several months, district leaders have worked closely with the Illinois State Board of Education to review our allocation. Through these efforts, the state has approved an adjustment that will allow Harlem to offer 200 Early Childhood seats for the upcoming school year.

While this is still fewer seats than the program currently serves, it represents a significant improvement from the original proposal and allows us to continue providing early learning opportunities to many Harlem families. Even with this adjustment, the Early Childhood program will continue to require some district support beyond the grant funding. However, the increased allocation substantially reduces the financial impact on local taxpayers while preserving more seats for young learners.

Early childhood education plays an important role in helping children develop the social, language, and early academic skills that prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. We remain committed to providing strong early learning experiences while also ensuring the long-term financial stability of the district.

Additional information about enrollment and next steps for the 2026–2027 school year will be shared with families in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting Harlem’s youngest learners.

Sincerely,

R. Terrell Yarbrough Ed.D.
Superintendent
Harlem School District 122

Family Notification of 2026-2027 Official School Boundaries and Student Placement - March

Returning Student Registration for 2026-2027 School Year - May