Education

Mendota is served by two school districts – Mendota Elementary School District #289 and Mendota Township High School District #280. Mendota Elementary School District #289 has three elementary schools. The District 289 Education Center holds Preschool Special Education classrooms, speech and physical therapy classrooms, and administrative offices. The total enrollment of the District #289 schools is over 1,100.

BLACKSTONE SCHOOL

This school, where the youngest members of the school district can learn and have fun, is for kindergarten and first grade. It has a media center, library, and computer lab.

LINCOLN SCHOOL

Lincoln School serves students in second grade, third grade, and fourth grade. Like Blackstone, it has a media center, library, and computer lab. In each classroom, it also has computers linked to the World Wide Web.

NORTHBROOK SCHOOL

This school serves fifth-grade elementary students and sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade middle school students. It has a media center, mobile laptops, and desktop PCs. With many extracurricular opportunities, the school hosts basketball and volleyball games, band, choral concerts, and other community activities.

MENDOTA TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT #280

The high school has an enrollment of 560 students and offers many opportunities for students, both in academics and extracurriculars. The school offers dual credit coursework in conjunction with Illinois Valley Community College, FFA activities, and fine arts. The students of MHS learn in a 1:1 technology environment with Chromebooks. The high school, built in 2003, includes a complete outdoor athletic and co-curricular complex that is utilized by physical education classes, agriculture greenhouse and Waldorf Agricultural Center, as well as athletic activities of football, soccer, track, baseball, softball, and tennis.

HOLY CROSS SCHOOL

Holy Cross offers pre-school enrichment and a parochial grade school, with an enrollment of 189, for students in preschool through eighth grade. It’s known for its academic excellence, a safe environment, and having many extracurricular and sports activities. They offer a faith-based education, an advanced technology program, small class sizes, and strive to challenge each student to reach full potential through spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, and physical development. They offer a yearround Child Care Program as well.

HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Many Mendota residents attend Illinois Valley Community College, 20 miles from Mendota in Oglesby. IVCC offers courses and degrees required for effective transfer to baccalaureate degree programs, occupational/ technical courses, certificates, and degrees leading directly to successful employment and continuing education courses. Northern Illinois University at DeKalb is just 45 miles from Mendota.