Voters this week in McHenry County determined who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries. See the results here.

This spring, McHenry County voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

A selection of some of Northwest Herald photojournalist Gregory Shaver's favorite photos of 2024.

This week, the Illinois State Board of Education released school- and district-level data showing what percentage of McHenry County students were considered proficient in math and reading last year. Check out this chart to see if that's an improvement over the prior year.

Within the past five months, the District 46 Prairie Grove Junior High School Jazz Band has had a lot to celebrate from a perfect score in a state competition to winning awards in national competitions.

Disparities in absenteeism appear in most McHenry County school districts when the data are broken down by race and in comparing students with disabilities.

Col. Patty Klop, of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, will be the first female keynote speaker at the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony in Crystal Lake later this month.

Voters went to the polls on Tuesday to elect school boards across McHenry County.

Nearly four dozen of the local races in McHenry County will be competitive on Tuesday, as voters head to the polls to decide who will lead their school boards, municipalities, libraries and parks.

Question: Would you propose any changes to the curriculum? If so, what? Answer: I would support administration and teachers who are well versed in curriculum to continue to do their jobs in selecting curriculum that is rigorous and meets the needs of our students

Almost 20% of McHenry County is without power as of early Thursday morning

More than a hundred candidates across 19 school districts have filed to run for school board in the past week across McHenry County, meaning a dozen districts can expect to see competitive races heading into April.

A list of those who are running for school board across McHenry County

Search this chart to see what designation all McHenry County and Community School District 300 schools received

Twice this week, dozens of Prairie Grove School District 46 paraprofessionals, bus drivers and other staff rallied along Route 176, calling for “a fair living wage.”

Prairie Grove District 46 is putting future campus expansion plans on hold, at least for now, following survey results that showed many community members were not in favor of taxpayer funded options, Superintendent John Bute said.

McHenry County school districts are seeing more students than ever enrolling in summer school, and while the pandemic continues to play a factor, district administrators said, the high attendance speaks to expanded opportunities overall during the summer season.

McHenry County school districts have re-emphasized relationships with both local police forces and mental health services in the wake of an attack by a lone gunman at a Texas elementary school Tuesday that left 21 people dead and 17 injured.

Prairie Grove School District 46 is soliciting community feedback and holding tours ahead of a possible referendum this November, which could ask for millions of dollars to build an addition at the schools.

Prairie Grove Junior High School students dissect sheep’s brains and build space ships as part of the school’s STEM curriculum, which is designed to allow students to discover what they are passionate about, its teacher said.

The threat came Thursday, prompting officials to cancel school and after-school programs Friday.

Prairie Grove School District 46 canceled school Friday due to a threat against the building and everyone in it, the superintendent said Thursday.

Two new COVID-19 outbreaks were reported at McHenry County schools this week, IDPH reported, including one at Oak Knoll Early Childhood Center in Cary and Chauncey H. Duker School in McHenry.

While the McHenry County Department of Health and other local health agencies recommended the continued use of masks as part of a “layered approach” to slowing the spread of COVID-19 in schools, some McHenry County school districts decided to recommend but not require masks.

Five new COVID-19 outbreaks were reported at McHenry County schools this week, IDPH reported, including two at Prairie Grove Elementary School and a fourth active outbreak at a Crystal Lake elementary school.

With remote learning a familiar feeling after the pandemic, some school districts plan to hold classes virtually on days that would traditionally be used as a snow day

Harvard District 50 officials canceled their first days back from winter break this week, opting to keep classrooms shut Thursday and Friday due to COVID-19 cases among staff, the superintendent said.

Prairie Grove School District 46 is on track to grow the amount of money it collects in property taxes due, in large part, because of Woodlore Estates, its superintendent said.

Huntley’s Leggee Elementary School, Prairie Grove Elementary School and a First United Methodist Church preschool were among the schools identified with outbreaks, IDPH reported

Prairie Grove School District 46 is among the suburban districts experiencing the trend and the number of incidents had “increased significantly in recent days, leaving restrooms, in particular, damaged,” the superintendent said.

Most districts have vaccinated at least 75% of their staff members, they reported Monday after Pritzker’s deadline for staff vaccinations took effect

A Cary man whose car struck a Prairie Grove School District 46 bus Wednesday morning outside Crystal Lake has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said.

No students were present at the school during the incident

Both schools were placed on a hard lockdown, although no students were present as first day was pushed back to Monday

Prairie Grove School District 46 postponed its first day of school and canceled a few other events after Tuesday night thunderstorms caused a power outage at its school buildings.

Masks are now required for all Illinois schools – from preschool through grade 12 – as well as daycares, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced Wednesday. Here's what some McHenry County parents had to say in response.

The first day of school is quickly approaching for McHenry County students, but with federal and state guidance less than a week old, many McHenry County school districts said they’re still finalizing some details.

A new five-year contract between Prairie Grove School District 46 and its teachers union that includes salary increases of 2.5% each of the first three years and 3% for the final two.

New hire is currently chief financial officer for Prairie Grove School District 46

COVID-19 metrics are headed in the right direction plus much of the district’s staff is on track to be fully vaccinated soon, superintendent says

National Weather Service reports 4 inches of snow in McHenry, 3.5 inches in Richmond

School districts remaining remote Tuesday in light of weather include Crystal Lake District 47, Community High School District 155

Prairie Grove School District 46 confirmed that it will bring back students to hybrid learning starting on Jan. 19 at its school board meeting Tuesday night.

School board to meet Tuesday, will hear COVID-19 metrics presentation, updated learning plan

The hybrid plan, presented by Superintendent John Bute, will have early childhood and pre-K through second grade students will begin hybrid on Oct. 13

Prairie Grove School District 46's school board approved using remote learning for the first six weeks of the school year during its Thursday evening special meeting.

Prairie Grove Elementary School needs millions of dollars in upgrades and vital repairs, Prairie Grove School District 46 Board President Joe Ricciardi said

More than a hundred police officers scoured terrain just miles from the site of another manhunt that occurred less than a year before, but Tuesday’s frantic search was done with the knowledge that this time they were searching for a cop killer.

The School District 46 Board has unanimously approved a levy totaling $10.7 million, an increase of 1.08 percent over last year.