Portrait of a Graduate
We want our students to be creative, critical thinkers who question claims and embrace evidence in making decisions, who continue to be curious, and who seek solutions to problems of personal value.
We want our students to be able to communicate in a world where, increasingly, they will have the means and need to reach audiences in ways unfamiliar to us as adults. We want them to leverage the strengths of others and contribute their own strengths to reach goals that could not be accomplished without collaboration.
Finally, we share the hope of every parent that our children grow up to be good people, live with integrity and empathy, show personal, civic, and global responsibility, embrace change, and above all, seek balance in their lives, both now and in the future.
Our goal in District 102 is to create the conditions which we believe have the greatest potential to develop and nurture these skills and characteristics in the children whose lives we touch. District 102 is living its Vision for every student, every day through its work.
Crafted from our Future Planning Process
D102’s Portrait of a Graduate was crafted with the help of students, staff, and community members as part of our Future Planning process during the 2015-16 school year. The portrait of a D102 graduate represents our aspirations for our students. It is by no means exhaustive. During as many as eleven years in our district, D102 students learn and grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a wide variety of contexts, and the total of those experiences can never be captured in a single image. In conversations among stakeholders, several themes emerged and are outlined as attributes above.
2026 Portrait of a Graduate
"Every teacher, administrator, and staff member at D102 creates a positive atmosphere that encourages students to shape the individuals they are becoming. The schools are more than just classrooms, they are supportive communities where staff and students embrace making mistakes. Apart from offering immaculate academics, D102 has a holistic approach to every student’s well-being. This dedication to “Every Day, Every Student” has left a lasting impact on me, instilling a lifelong resilience."
Sohan Vemula, AJHS Class of 2026
Skills and Competencies of a Portrait of a Graduate
Perseverance
Staying the course through challenges.
Adaptability
Thriving in a changing world.
Collaboration
Working effectively with others to reach a goal.
Kindness (Empathy in Action)
Understanding and supporting others.
Integrity
Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Creativity
Approaching the world with an innovative lens.
Critical Thinking
Analyzing information to make informed decisions.
Throughout D102's 5-year future planning process (2026), the committee revised the framework for the portrait of a graduate. The revised 2026 D102 Portrait highlights seven key competencies that reflect our mission to empower all students to thrive as lifelong learners and global citizens. Over the next year, we will enhance the language and support materials for the Portrait to share them in student-friendly language by grade levels. The visual representation below, featuring puzzle pieces, illustrates the interconnectedness of these seven competencies.