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As Prairie Ridge High School prepares for graduation, four outstanding seniors will have the honor of addressing their peers during the commencement ceremony. Dharshini Jayaprakash, Imani Trotter, Elyse Werner, and Ellen Iremashvili are not only accomplished individuals but also inspiring leaders who have made a lasting impact on their school and community. Here’s a closer look at each speaker and the messages they hope to share. 

Performance Dates & Times: 
May 1-3 @ 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Information:
Tickets are $10 each

Purchase Tickets Here

Prom 2025: An Evening in Paris
Friday, April 25, 2025 at The Seville Banquet Hall, IL

Time: Students must arrive at PR and check in with their chaperone in the North Gym by 4:45 PM sharp. 

Buses will depart from PR at 5:15 PM 

Tickets: $95/ person Purchase Tickets Here

The Black Student Union (BSU) club at Prairie Ridge High School is dedicated to fostering awareness, inclusivity, and education. Led by Co-Presidents Arthur Thompson and Ella Glover Taylor, the club provides a welcoming space where students can connect, learn, and celebrate culture.

Recently, BSU leaders attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, an event honoring Dr. King’s legacy while supporting the Fred D. Gray Foundation. Mr. Gray, a distinguished civil rights attorney, played a key role in historic cases and continues to advocate for justice. Hearing directly from him was an inspiring experience. 

Arthur and Ella shared that learning about Mr. Gray’s journey and the lasting impact of his work was incredible. One of the most important takeaways was the importance of always standing up for what is right.

Prairie Ridge launched the Black Student Union club at the beginning of the school year. The club has been active in organizing student and staff panels, decorating for Black History Month, and collaborating with other student organizations. The club continues to plan events that encourage discussion, education, and a sense of belonging.

The co-presidents emphasized that it’s open to everyone who wants to expand their understanding of history and culture. 

“We want to create a space where all students feel included, valued, and empowered.” said Arthur Thompson, BSU Co-President 

“Our goal is to bring people together in a positive and educational way.” said Ella Glover Taylor, BSU Co-President 

Performance Dates & Times: 

February 28- 7:00 p.m.

March 1 - 6:00 p.m.

March 6 - 7:00 p.m.

March 7 - 7:00 p.m.

March 8 - 1:00 p.m.

March 8 - 6:00 p.m.

Ticket Information:

Tickets are $13 each, student activity passes are accepted at the door. Tickets go on sale 1/2

Prairie Ridge High School has been awarded this year’s H2O On the Go grant, presented by Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation and Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation, to help improve access to water for students. The $3,000 grant funded the installation of a new water bottle filler in the main locker hallway, addressing congestion and reducing wait times in the athletic and physical education areas. The addition supports students by providing a more accessible hydration station, especially after school during athletic activities.

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) named Prairie Ridge Coach William Stastny as the Boys Tennis Coach of the Year. Since 2019, Coach Stastny has shown exceptional commitment to his athletes, fostering athletic and personal growth. His dedication, tireless support, and positive influence on his players have left a lasting impact, contributing to a thriving tennis program. Earlier this year, the boys' tennis team at PR made school history with a third-place finish in the Class 1-A state tournament.

Three students from District 155 have been selected to join the Illinois High School Theater Festival’s All-State Company of She Kills Monsters at the 48th annual Festival held January 11-13 at Illinois State University.  

Five District 155 seniors have been named semifinalists in the National Merit® Scholarship Program, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. The nationwide pool of semifinalists includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Nine students from District 155 recently earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs celebrate students' hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance.

U.S. News & World Report named all four D155 high schools in the top 14 percent nationally. The data includes nearly 25,000 public high schools which are ranked based on college readiness, college curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency and performance, as well as graduation rate.

Community High School District 155 has taken steps to enhance district safety and security over the summer with the installation of BluePoint Alert Systems in all four buildings. These rapid emergency response systems will immediately notify first responders, school leadership, students, teachers and staff of a threat.

Nearly 86 percent of Community High School District 155’s 2023 graduates will continue their studies at four-year colleges, two-year community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. Over 58 percent percent of the graduating class will pursue degrees at four-year colleges and universities.

Prairie Ridge World Studies teacher Sarah Dunker has been named October 2022 Home State Bank/Star 105.5 Teacher of the Month.

Prairie Ridge junior Rylee Lydon wins the state title in the high jump, clearing 1.68m. Rylee placed in more than one category at the girls track and field state championship, also earning 3rd place in the long jump and 7th place in the 400 meter dash. 

Prairie Ridge's Daren Dusenske was named one of McHenry County Regional Office of Education's first-ever Educator of the Year.

Congratulations to all of the Prairie Ridge autos students that are now ASE certified, these certifications open up many doors in the automotive industry. 

Senior John Martino's efforts in Autos class paid off! John, who has plans to work towards a welding and fabrication certification at McHenry County College in the fall, has been awarded the Pierce-Sherer Student Scholarship.

"My favorite class is Autos... My brother and father have helped me come a long way in the automotive and welding environment. As a result, I would love to pursue [it] as a career," said John.

The Prairie Ridge Business DECA/Investment Club left an impression at the DECA North Suburban Area Conference. Competing in the areas of entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, sports and entertainment marketing, all ten students who attended received a medal, placing in the top three of their role play event.

Prairie Ridge senior David Llanes earned the National Hispanic Recognition Award. This honor is the result of his combined GPA, PSAT % score, and AP results. 

"I feel grateful and privileged to be the child of my hard working parents...

Makayla Nietzel, a 2021 Prairie Ridge graduate, competed and placed seventh in two swimming events at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. 

“The most exciting part was walking on the pool deck for the first time. Having the lights blind me for a few seconds and just looking around, and thinking this is crazy.”

Prairie Ridge’s Class of 2021 includes 299 graduates who earned $2,923,188 in scholarships. Eighty-seven percent of graduates are continuing their education at four-year universities, two-year universities, technical/vocational schools, or trade and apprenticeship programs. 

Seven students enrolled in Autos Seminar at Prairie Ridge High School have successfully earned Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications. This certification program is meant for professionals in the automotive industry to demonstrate their training in service and repair skills. 

Prairie Ridge will be streaming a recording of its 2021 Musical "Curtains" on March 19, 20, and 21 at 7:00 p.m. 

Stream passes will go on sale on Friday, February 26. Click the link below to purchase stream passes:

Purchase Tickets Here

Devin Lessner, a junior at Prairie Ridge High School, was able to secure an internship position during Hybrid Learning this semester at Little Board Woodworking in Lake in the Hills. The local business specializes in creating custom pieces of furniture for clients and is owned and operated by Matt Kebr, a District 155 alum.

Two art students in District 155, Kaitlin Ellison and Kaitlyn Martin, had their artwork selected to appear in this year’s Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA) state-wide student art show. Ellison submitted an original photograph and Martin created a piece using colored pencil.

Eighty-seven percent of graduates in the class of 2020 will continue their studies at four-year colleges, two-year community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. Fifty-nine percent of students are pursuing degrees at four year colleges and universities. Students earned $2,859,260 in scholarships.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of our calculator recommendation if you are looking to purchase a new graphing calculator.

Show Dates, Times & Ticket Information

February 28 - 7:00 p.m.

February 29 - 7:00 p.m.

March 5 – 7:00 p.m.

March 6 – 7:00 p.m.

March 7 – 1:00 p.m.

March 7 - 6:00 p.m.

All tickets are $10

Tickets will be available for online purchase on Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Glen Pecoraro, Prairie Ridge High School head baseball coach, was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) Hall of Fame on January 25. The IHSBCA executive board selects coaching candidates for induction into the IHSBCA Hall of Fame. This year, six coaches were inducted.

Students must be 15 before May 1 in order to enroll in the summer program.

There are a limited number of spots available for the summer program so the oldest students will be enrolled first. Students that don’t make the cut off can enroll in classes during the school year.  All schedules will be posted after Spring Break.

Both the student and parent must sign the schedule sheet.

All forms must be turned in no later than March 13.

Bring the signed schedule sheet and a check or money order made out to “District 155” in the amount of $100 to the Student Services Office.

Prairie Ridge senior, Ermina Hassan, was presented the Congressional Silver Medal for her efforts in the community by U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood on January 17. The Congressional Silver Medal recognizes outstanding young people who have donated their time toward the betterment of their community and demonstrated personal growth. Hassan has been involved as a volunteer at multiple local hospitals during her time in high school. 

Calista Pollack, a junior at Prairie Ridge High School, relied on her CPR training from her health class to save a man’s life. She dropped her brother off for his Eagle Scout project when a man was in need of medical attention. They were on the phone with 911, and the dispatcher told Pollack to begin compressions and start counting.

The Chicago Blackhawks recognized Zander Marino-Sacharoff, a freshman at Prairie Ridge, as Hockey Player of the Month this past December in a pre-game on-ice ceremony and was interviewed by Blackhawks TV. The Chicago Blackhawks and BMO Harris Bank honored Marino-Sacharoff and his parents at the United Center. 

This semester, freshmen PE students at Prairie Ridge High School are learning self defense techniques under the instruction of Team Curran Jiu-Jitsu. Jeff Curran, a professional fighter of 20 years and founder of Team Curran, spends each 45-minute session demonstrating self defense skills and allowing the students to practice themselves. 

Ninety-one percent of graduates in the class of 2019 will continue their studies at four-year colleges, two-year community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. Sixty-one percent of students are pursuing degrees at four-year colleges and universities.

Prairie Ridge junior, Erin Mahon, recently won a place in the competitive Study Bridge program. Study Bridge is designed to prepare U.S. High Schoolers for study at a highly accredited university in Germany.  

Buy your tickets now for the spring musical! The first show is Friday, March 1, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the Prairie Ridge Theatre.