Wheaton Warrenville South Designated Democracy School

The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition (ICMC) has recognized Wheaton Warrenville South High School as a 2016 Illinois Democracy School. Democracy Schools are recognized for providing students with authentic experiences in the rights, responsibilities and tensions inherent in living in a constitutional democracy. Through these experiences, participating schools strive to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for informed, effective engagement in our democracy.

Since 2006, only 54 Illinois high schools, including Wheaton North High School, have successfully completed a school-wide civic assessment and have been subsequently recognized as Democracy Schools.

Democracy Schools foster a school climate that nurtures and models civic dispositions and builds strong relationships within the surrounding community. These schools provide students with various opportunities to participate in the democratic process such as engaging in current and controversial issue discussions, participating in democratic simulations and providing service learning opportunities. Though these practices, student see first-hand the critical role they play in shaping government and society.

Social studies Department Chair Daryl Fitts led the school's effort to achieve the Democracy School status. "This was a year long process of surveying our students staff and community. We have a team of teachers from all the departments in the building who have worked to earn this recognition," says Fitts. "This is a school-wide effort through classrooms, activities and athletics to teach students to be involved in the democracy process and to be socially responsible citizens."