By Salem Chicago News Staff
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — John Hersey High School has been named a 2026-2028 RULER Spotlight School by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Township High School District 214 announced Thursday.
The designation recognizes the northwest suburban school’s work integrating social-emotional learning into daily instruction. It places Hersey among a select national cohort of schools honored by the Yale center.
District 214, one of the largest high school districts in Illinois, has invested in the RULER program as part of its broader Future 214 Strategic Plan, which completed its first year of implementation this past school year. RULER is an evidence-based approach developed by Yale that teaches students and educators to recognize, understand, label, express and regulate emotions.
The recognition comes during a period of transition for Hersey. The District 214 Board of Education approved Dr. Patty Grow as the school’s next principal in May. Grow began her career at Hersey and returns to lead the school after serving elsewhere in the district.
All six District 214 comprehensive high schools rank among the top 15 percent of public high schools nationwide, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings released in August.
The district, which serves approximately 12,000 students across Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling, has prioritized student well-being alongside academic achievement as part of its strategic plan.
District 214 also faces a major infrastructure decision this fall. The Board of Education voted Aug. 6 to place a $295 million bond question on the Nov. 3 ballot. The district is hosting eight community information sessions this fall to give residents tours of aging school buildings ahead of the referendum vote.
The RULER framework has been adopted by schools across the country as research links emotional intelligence to improved academic outcomes, reduced behavioral incidents and better student-teacher relationships. The Yale center selects Spotlight Schools based on demonstrated commitment to embedding the program schoolwide.
Hersey also hosts an annual Funner Olympics organized by the school’s Service Over Self program. The event brings approximately 275 special-needs students from nearly 25 local schools for a day of games, activities and connection.
The 2026-2028 Spotlight designation will be active for two academic years. District 214 is headquartered at 2121 South Goebbert Road in Arlington Heights.
