Principal: Dr. Rob Bohanek

Holmes Junior High is a 6th through 8th grade school located in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Mt. Prospect is a northwest suburb of Chicago and is located in the general vicinity of O'Hare airport. Holmes Junior High is one of fourteen schools that together comprise Elk Grove Township Community Consolidated School District 59. The enrollment at Holmes is approximately 440 students who represent many different backgrounds and cultures. The school mascot is the hawk, and our school colors are red and black. Our school is named after Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841-1935). He is remembered as a United States Supreme Court Justice. Holmes was highly regarded for his defense of free expression and his eloquently written case dissents. It is fitting that our school is named for Oliver Wendell Holmes, because we value the diversity and exchange of ideas. To support the exchange of ideas, we as a staff place a strong instructional focus on all aspects of increased student literacy. In 2006/07 we added a literacy skills class for selected students. This class is in addition to the students' regularly scheduled reading class and will assist students' reading comprehension and fluency. We continue to implement individual interventions that we believe will assist in student achievement. These three questions guide our instruction:

  1. What do we expect students to learn?
  2. How will we know what they have learned?
  3. How will we respond when students don’t learn?
    and (How will we provide enrichment for those that have learned?)

The mission of Holmes Junior High is to provide for high student achievement through a child-centered, teamed teaching structure.

Our school improvement plan goals for the 2009/10 school year are:

  1. All students will meet established benchmarks and and/or meet Illinois Learning Standards with a focus on reading, math, and English language proficiency.
  2. All staff and students will nurture a safe and positive climate as measured by the School Wide Discipline Information System, discipline records and stakeholder surveys.

As a successful school, the Holmes Junior High School community will reach outcomes for young adolescents that encompass responsible citizenship, healthy physical, emotional, and social development as well as the highest possible learning standards for all. At Holmes, teaming is the corner stone of planning and implementing our building's instructional program. Teachers meet daily in teams to discuss curriculum, short/long range planning, student issues, and professional development. In most cases, children will have the same teacher for reading, social studies and language arts. Having the same teacher for those three subjects allows teachers the increased time to better know your child and meaningfully integrate instruction. We as a staff believe that learning is constructive and needs to be related to the real world and our children's life experiences.

Character education is emphasized through our school-wide participation in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS involved surveying staff and students and reaching agreement of common rules and expectations. Behavioral outcomes are explicitly taught to students and there is a recognition and celebration component for students and staff. A wide range of extracurricular activities is also available throughout the school year.

Holmes was built in 1967 and is picturesquely situated on a large campus area. In the summer of 2005, renovations of the Science labs/classrooms and Life Skills (Home Economics) room took place. Great care has been taken to maintain the many bright interior spaces as well as the exterior appearance of our building.

Students and staff are proud of Holmes Junior High. Visitors are welcome to the school, and tours are gladly given. If you have any questions, or would like to know more about Holmes, please call us or contact us electronically. We would enjoy speaking with you.

email Dr. Bohanek