Back To School Information
Welcome to the 2026–27 school year! Explore this page for important information about the first day of school and resources to help you prepare for the year ahead.


First Week of School Special Schedules
Wednesday, August 12 (First Day of School)
Special Schedule: Half Day, All class periods, except EB meet.
*Science Labs DO NOT meet on the first day of school. Classes that meet two times per week (such as Study Strategies and LST twice per week) DO meet on the first day of school.
| Period | Time |
|---|---|
| Freshman Orientation | 8:20-12:15 |
| School Opens for Grades 10-12* | 11:30-12:30 |
| Period 1 | 12:35-12:50 |
| Period 2 | 12:55-1:10 |
| Period 3 | 1:15-1:30 |
| Period 4 | 1:35-1:50 |
| Period 5 | 1:55-2:10 |
| Period 6 | 2:15-2:30 |
| Period 7 | 2:35-2:50 |
| Period 8 |
2:55-3:10 |
*The cafeteria and Library will be available
Thursday, August 13
No Early Bird & No Staff Collaboration - With Homeroom
Anchor Day
| Period | Time |
|---|---|
| Period 1 | 8:40-9:18 |
| Homeroom | 9:23-9:38 |
| Period 2 | 9:43-10:21 |
| Period 3 | 10:26-11:04 |
| Period 4A | 11:09-11:47 |
| Period 4B | 11:44-12:22 |
| Period 5A | 11:52-12:29 |
| Period 5B | 12:27-1:04 |
| Period 6 | 1:09-1:46 |
| Period 7 | 1:51-2:28 |
| Period 8 | 2:33-3:10 |
| Lunch | Time |
|---|---|
| Lunch 1 | 11:09-11:39 |
| Lunch 2 | 11:52-12:22 |
| Lunch 3 | 12:34-1:04 |
Friday, August 14
No Early Bird Science & No Staff Collaboration
Anchor Day
| Period | Time |
|---|---|
| Early Bird | 7:14-8:35 |
| Period 1 | 8:40-9:20 |
| Period 2 | 9:25-10:05 |
| Period 3 | 10:10-10:50 |
| Period 4A | 10:55-11:35 |
| Period 4B | 11:30-12:10 |
| Period 5A | 11:40-12:20 |
| Period 5B | 12:15-12:55 |
| Period 6 | 1:00-1:40 |
| Period 7 | 1:45-2:25 |
| Period 8 | 2:30-3:10 |
| Lunch | Time |
|---|---|
| Lunch 1 | 10:55-11:25 |
| Lunch 2 | 11:40-12:10 |
| Lunch 3 | 12:25-12:55 |
2026-2027 School Year Information
- Cell Phones & Chromebooks
- Class Schedules & Course Change Requests
- Online School Registration Fees & Book Store
- Food Services
- Bus Services & Transportation Information
- Student Parking
- Health Services
- Study Halls and Hallways
- Safety & Security
- Deans & Attendance
- Technology
- Athletics Registration
- Additional Information for Freshmen
- Additional Information for Seniors
Cell Phones & Chromebooks
Last spring, District 113 implemented a new cell phone and technology policy. We are very proud of how well students adapted to the policy. Having all cell phones turned off and stored away had a visible improvement in student engagement. That same policy will remain in place for the 2026-27 school year. Students may use phones before/after school, during passing periods, lunch, and study hall—but not during instructional time. Phones must be silenced/in airplane mode and stored in the designated classroom system during class.
Additionally, starting in the 2026-27 school year, all students must use district-issued Chromebooks; personal laptops are not allowed, and the available networks will no longer support them.
We appreciate your support as we work together to create more focused and engaging learning environments for all students.
Class Schedules & Course Change Requests
Class Schedules
Student class schedules for the 2026-27 school year will be available via Infinite Campus on Thursday, July 30th. Some additional information regarding class schedules will be sent via email around Wednesday, July 29th.
- Study Halls - Free periods in a student’s schedule will be designated as a study hall period. During study hall and off-lab periods, students must check into a designated study hall location: E114 and E116, the Library, Academic Resource Center (ARC), College and Career Resource Center (CCRC), or Makerspace. With parent/guardian permission, students may be excused from a study hall that falls at the beginning or end of the day in order to be off campus. The Deans will send a Google form to parents/guardians prior to the first day of school to request to be off campus during these designated times. If a student stays on campus the first or final period of a school day they will report to one of the designated study hall areas listed above.
- Walk your Schedule - Students are welcome to come to the building to walk their schedule between August 3-7 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and August 10-11 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Incoming freshmen will also have a special opportunity to walk their schedule during Freshman Orientation (see more details in the Additional Information for Freshmen section).
Online School Registration Fees & Book Store
As we prepare for the upcoming year, our goal is to make sure every student has the technology and resources they need to start the school year with confidence. We encourage you to bookmark the Deerfield High School Bookstore webpage.
Summer Logistics & Pickup Hours
- Chromebooks: Incoming freshmen and transfer students may pick up their devices during the summer hours listed below. All students will be required to use their district issued Chromebooks in lieu of any personal devices.
- PE Essentials: PE uniforms, locks, and heart rate straps are available for purchase and pickup. To expedite your visit, we highly recommend pre-ordering these items online so they are ready for pickup at the Bookstore. To access your online Virtual Bookstore, please log into Infinite Campus > School Store > Shop > Virtual Bookstore. All incoming freshmen will need these items and returning students will only need to replace lost items.
- Textbooks: Once student schedules are released in early August, you may begin picking up textbooks. Please check the school website in early August to see if your student’s specific courses require a loaner textbook pickup. After school begins, students will receive instructions from their teacher regarding access to digital eBooks and content. Throughout the rest of summer break, the Deerfield High School Bookstore will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Starting the week of 8/3/26, the Bookstore will be open Monday through Friday.
- Calculators: You can find more information about calculators in the Calculator Frequently Asked Questions section of the Mathematics & Computer Science webpage.
School Fees & Campus Portal
Following the Board of Education approval this past spring, District 113 is moving to a new $450 All-Inclusive Student Fee structure for the 2026–2027 school year. This single, streamlined fee covers all required textbooks (rental), digital resources and eBooks, Chromebook access/repairs, course-specific lab materials, and course packets.
- When to View: Fees will be assessed and available for viewing on the Infinite Campus Portal in late July. Payment is due by the first day of school.
- What is Automatically Included: To foster a strong sense of belonging, an Activity Ticket and a copy of the school yearbook are now included automatically for every single student. You do not need to purchase these items separately.
- What Remains Separate: Participation-based or optional expenses—such as transportation, parking, AP testing, Traffic Safety courses, grade-specific fees like graduation, national language exams, optional extracurricular or activity-related costs, and PE uniforms/personal equipment —remain separate charges.
- You can find more information by visiting the Fees & Refunds webpage.
Infinite Campus Payment Method Update
Infinite Campus announced it is switching payment processors for all online payment functions in the Campus Portal (as of July 20, 2026). This will have no impact on how payments are processed, however you will need to update the following:
- Add Payment Method(s):
- Your information will NOT automatically be transferred over to ensure the security and confidentiality of your data so if you have any saved methods, you will have to enter them again into Campus Parent.
- If you need assistance adding payment methods, please follow these instructions.
- Update Recurring Payments:
- To ensure the security and confidentiality of your data, your recurring payments will NOT be transferred.
- Add any recurring payments you previously had set up and use the new payment methods you created.
There are no other changes in the way you will experience online payments.
Financial Assistance
- In alignment with District 113’s core values, fees will be waived for students who qualify for financial assistance, ensuring costs are never a barrier to educational opportunities. To apply, please visit our Financial Assistance webpage.
School Year Operations
Once the school year begins, the bookstore will open daily at 7:30 am. Please be mindful that to protect instructional time, the bookstore does not provide passes for students who arrive late to class due to pickup/purchasing materials.
Best regards,
Angie Suszek, Instructional Resource Manager - asuszek@dist113.org
Dr. Marcellous Moore, Assistant Principal of Educational Services - mmoore@dist113.org.
Food Services
Quest is our food service vendor at Deerfield High School. Learn more about Quest by visiting our Food Services webpage.
Purchasing Items
Students may purchase food in the cafeteria and coffee bar during the school year using their school ID as a debit card. Each student must have their own ID available to purchase food in the cafeteria. Students purchasing food through their account must have adequate funds. Please know that we do not allow students to carry a negative balance.
- Set-Up & Adding Funds: Money may be deposited into a student’s account at any time during the school year. Log in to your Infinite Campus Portal and select “Food Service”
- Account Notification - Parents/guardians can set up notifications to send an email when food service account balances drop below a specified threshold.
- Year-End Balances - Balances at the end of the school year roll over to the next year unless a refund is requested. Graduating seniors will receive a refund in the form of a check mailed to their household. Checks will be mailed by the end of June. Families wishing to transfer balances to a sibling must request this prior to graduation.
Other Payment Methods
The student school ID is the preferred and quickest form of payment in the cafeteria and coffee bar. However, cash will also be accepted. Credit/debit cards and other payment methods are not accepted in the cafeteria and coffee bar. Please note that the vending machines accept cash, credit/debit, and Apple Pay.
Food Delivery Information
Please be aware that Deerfield High School will not accept food deliveries from services such as Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats. We need to maintain an accessible and secure front entrance, and the traffic from these services compromises these efforts. However, we continue to allow families to drop off items (like lunches or forgotten school supplies) at the front security entrance.
Bus Services & Transportation Information
Students who reside 1.5 miles or more from school are eligible to take advantage of the free bus service. Service begins on Wednesday, August 13. Bus schedules and routes will be available via My Ride K-12. More details can be found on the District 113 Transportation webpage.
District 113 has made important updates to student transportation for the 2026–27 school year to improve safety, route efficiency, and driver availability for daily routes, transition programs, and after-school activities.
Transportation Opt-In Required
Families who live beyond the 1.5-mile walk boundary must opt in to receive district transportation for the 2026–27 school year. This allows the Transportation Department to build routes based on actual ridership, reduce empty stops, shorten route times, and use district resources more efficiently. The opt-in deadline is July 29, 2026.
How to Opt In
Families can opt in by completing the transportation section during the Annual Update in Campus Parent.
Students may still be added after the deadline; however, they may be assigned to an existing stop, and route or stop changes are not guaranteed before the start of school.
Paid Ridership
Families who live within the 1.5-mile walk boundary may request paid transportation via the link below, subject to bus capacity and district approval.
The fee is $230 per student/per semester. The fee can be submitted via Infinite Campus. The path to submit the payment is as follows: school store > student activities > click the tile with the school bus that says D113 paid ridership to submit.
Student ID Required for Bus Boarding
Beginning this school year, students must present a valid ID to board district buses.
Accepted IDs:
- My Ride K-12 App: We strongly encourage all students to download and utilize the My Ride K-12 app; instructions for setup can be found via the link provided below. This tool allows students to conveniently display their assigned route information on their mobile devices when boarding the bus.
- Alternative Identification: We recognize that some students may not have access to a mobile device while boarding. In these instances, our bus drivers will provide a specific route identification sticker to the student.
- Sticker Placement: If a student receives an identification sticker from their driver, it must be placed prominently on the front of their student ID card. This ensures that drivers can perform quick, accurate verifications during boarding, which helps maintain our scheduled route efficiency.
- Stickers will be provided by the driver in the event a student does not have a mobile device to show the My Ride K-12 app route assignment.
- If ID is Missing:
- The student provides their name or ID number to the driver.
- The driver confirms the route assignment with dispatch.
- The driver issues a route sticker to place on the student's ID.
For questions, please contact the Transportation Department at transportation@dist113.org or 224-765-1040.
Parking Lot/Traffic Flow Patterns
Student drop-off and pick-up before and after school will occur in the back (east) parking lot. Note: The Village of Deerfield does not allow pick-up and drop-off in the neighboring North Trail subdivision.
Student Parking
Student Parking
There is limited student parking available. Incoming senior students applied and received verification of their parking status this past May. Any additional spots made available will be given to senior students on the waitlist. If additional spots are available, a lottery for semester parking will be held for juniors. Due to high demand, no spots will be available for sophomores or freshmen. For additional information, please contact Mr. Grubb, Security Manager at ggrubb@dist113.org or 224-632-3374. Additional parking information is posted on the Parking & Visiting DHS webpage.
Expectations for Students with Parking Privileges
Earlier this month we communicated new expectations related to parking and student attendance. As a reminder, all students with on campus parking privileges will have their attendance reviewed each month. If a student's cumulative attendance has fallen below 90% during a monthly review, they will be placed on parking probation for the following month. Students will have the full month to get their attendance back on track, and if they do, their parking privileges will remain intact. If cumulative attendance has not improved to 90% or greater by the next monthly review, parking privileges will be revoked until the following month's review confirms the threshold has been met. It is also important to note that all absences, both excused and unexcused, are factored into the attendance calculation.
Health Services
If your student has a known health condition such as asthma, diabetes, seizures, or food allergies, please provide Health Services with the applicable documentation as found on the DHS Health Services’ webpage, including:
- Medication Authorization Form
- Diabetes Medical Management Plan
- Asthma Action Plan
- Allergy Action Plan
- Seizure Action Plan
Please provide the School Nurse with all necessary supplies to treat your student(s) effectively during the school day. DHS Health Services has a stock supply of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin). However, only students who have the School Medication Authorization Form on file will be able to have these dispensed during the school day.
District 113 policy does not allow students to carry any medication, prescription or non-prescription, on campus during the school day; exceptions are epinephrine auto-injectors, asthma rescue inhalers, and diabetes medication.
Proof of immunization (freshmen and seniors)
By the first day of school, freshmen are required to show proof of physical examination, immunizations, and dental examination, while seniors are required to show proof of the second dose of the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine.
Please feel free to contact health services at 224-632-3200 if you have any questions. Additional contact information can be found on the DHS Health Services webpage.
Study Halls and Hallways
Safety and security are of utmost importance in District 113. Our district and school administrators, security team, school resource officer, and local law enforcement work together to implement safety and security measures. State-required emergency drills will be conducted throughout the school year.
In addition to our annual safety and security measures, Deerfield High School will be implementing additional procedural changes to ensure we are creating the safest possible environment.
- Supervised Study Halls: Students with a study hall in their schedule will be expected to report to the following areas to scan in to account for their attendance:
- Room E114 and E116
- The Library
- College and Career Resource Center (CCRC)
- The Maker Space
- The Academic Resource Center (ARC)
Students will scan in at the above locations where they will remain for the duration of the period unless they have been given a pass to see a counselor, take a test in the testing center or attend to other needs in the building. We are implementing this procedural change so that we are aware of the location of all students in case of an emergency situation so we can safely account for all students.
- Hallway Passes: Beginning this school year, all students will need a pass from their classroom teacher to move about the hallways. Students are expected to be in their assigned classroom or designated instructional space within five (5) minutes of the bell. Any student in the hallway after the bell is expected to have a valid hall pass from their classroom indicating their destination. Written hall passes will be used for other various needs. This new structure is designed to minimize keep students safe, minimize disruptions, and ensure every learner has the opportunity to thrive.
Safety & Security
Addressing Safety & Security Concerns
To address safety and security concerns with the school, students are encouraged to talk to administrators, deans, SROs, teachers, counselors, or another trusted adult. Students may also access the following resources: District 113 tipline by phone or text at (847) 262-3363. (Please note that the District 113 tipline will not be monitored outside of school hours, on student non-attendance days, weekends, school breaks (including summer), or holidays.) Additional tiplines, monitored 24/7, can be found on the back of a student's ID, including Safe2Help Illinois (text SAFE2) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (call 988). In the case of an emergency, call 911.
Emergency Notification System
For students and their parents/guardians, the District 113 emergency notification system uses the contact information provided during Registration and confirmed during the Annual Update process. That contact information is housed in Infinite Campus. Please review your contact information in the Infinite Campus Portal to ensure that it is up-to-date. View instructions for updating your contact information in Infinite Campus.
Deans & Attendance
All students and parents/guardians are required to review the District 113 Student Handbook. The Handbook provides important school information, including policies and procedures, contact information, and important dates.
Some special highlights from the Handbook are listed below:
- Student IDs - Students must scan their school ID to enter the building during the school day. Students may access their electronic school ID via the Infinite Campus App. **Please note that new physical IDs will not be issued until early September.**
- Attendance - While the importance of regular and sustained attendance is recognized, the Board of Education understands that there will be times when students are absent for a valid cause. Parents/guardians are expected to report and provide a reason for absence to the high school attendance office within 24 hours of the absence. Please refer to the Parent Square communication sent on July 10th regarding attendance expectations for the 2026/27 school year.
- Cell Phone Usage - Students are not permitted to use cell phones during their class period unless specifically authorized by the teacher. Students are expected to store their silenced cell phones in the designated cell phone pouches in every classroom.
- Lockers - Freshmen students will obtain their assigned locker during Warrior Welcome on Wednesday, August 12. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors may request a locker by contacting Dean Jimenez (jjimenez@dist113.org) or Dean Auston (eauston@dist113.org).
- Student Behavior Expectations - Please carefully review the rules and policies related to student behavior expectations, discipline and consequences, which focus on safety, promote fairness, and provide support for struggling students.
Technology
Infinite Campus
Parents/guardians and students should familiarize themselves with the Infinite Campus portal, which provides important information about the student, contact information, schedule, attendance, grades, food service, school store, and much more. Questions about the Infinite Campus portal access can be directed to dhsportal@dist113.org.
- Message Contact Update. It is important to keep your contact information up to date in Infinite Campus. Manage your contact preference by selecting the desired language and when you receive a message, and how you receive that message (phone call, email, or text message). Additional details can be found on the D113 Infinite Campus webpage.
- Information Change Request. To change a student’s information in Infinite Campus, please return the information change form to Mrs. Kristen Doktor, Interim Counseling Department Chair, during the summer or your student's School Counselor beginning August 3rd.
Student Email Accounts/Network and Internet Acceptable Use Policy
All DHS students are provided a student Gmail account. School staff use these school-issued email accounts when communicating with students via email. Use of this e-mail account is subject to District 113’s Acceptable Use Policy.
Chromebook Distribution (Incoming freshmen and transfer students)
Chromebook distribution began this summer through the bookstore. Be sure to pick up your Chromebook at the DHS Bookstore prior to the first day of school. Any questions related to Chromebooks can be directed to Nannette Lamberti at nlamberti@dist113.org. Also, please note that starting this school year (26-27), all students will be required to use their district-issued Chromebooks in lieu of any personal devices.
Additional Resources
- Schoology - Parents/guardians and students can use this system to engage with learning materials. Access codes to create parent accounts will be in Campus Parent accounts in August. Additional Details can be found on the district Schoology Resources page.
- ParentSquare - Resources for this communications platform can be found on the ParentSquare Overview page.
Athletics Registration
DHS is proud to support over 30 sports teams. Fall, Winter, and Spring season start dates for the 26-27 School Year can be found by navigating to the DHS Athletics webpage.
Please be aware that the Fall Athletics season starts during the first week of school on August 10th (NOTE THAT FOOTBALL BEGINS ON 8/5/26).
Fall sports include cheerleading, cross country (boys & girls), field hockey (girls), flag football (girls), football, golf (boys & girls), soccer (boys), swimming and diving (girls), tennis (girls), and volleyball (girls). All student athletes must register online prior to tryouts.
Registration Information:
- Navigate to the DHS Athletic Registration webpage. Follow the link to the Registration page.
- Midway down the webpage, you will find details regarding the registration process.
School Physical Form
A current physical is required to be eligible to participate in athletics and must be uploaded to the school registration website. Physicals are valid for 13 months from the date of the exam per IHSA regulations and must be current for the duration of the athletic season. The physical must contain a "YES" statement signed and dated by the doctor that your child can participate in physical education and/or physical activity. Click here for the School Physical Form.
*Please note: Incoming freshmen are ALSO required to submit the school physical form to the Health Services Office. This form must be separately submitted to Health Services AND as a part of the athletic registration process.
Additional Information for Freshmen
We are extremely excited to welcome you, the Class of 2030, to our DHS family! Our hope is that you will expand your knowledge and skills during the next four years and have fun doing so. You will take exciting classes, meet new friends, attend or perform in concerts and plays, cheer or compete at athletic events, and so much more. While high school won’t always be easy, we know that you will do great things, and we are here to support you every step of the way. To ensure that you are ready for the first day of school, we have a special program for you which is detailed below.
Warrior Welcome is our orientation evening event for parents and guardians of the Class of 2030, as well as the parents and guardians of transfer students. The event is scheduled for Monday, August 10. See below for the schedule for the evening:
- 6:00-7:00 p.m. session for parents/guardians (This is not intended for students)
- Parent/guardian session. Parents/Guardians will meet in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) with the DHS administration to review important information to start the school year.
If you have questions regarding the program, please contact Kristen Doktor at kdoktor@dist113.org.
Freshmen students will attend an orientation program in the morning on August 12 from 8:20 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Students will then have a lunch break before attending all of their classes in the afternoon.
Additional Information for Seniors
Congratulations, Class of 2027, you are officially seniors! This year brings the excitement of planning for the next steps after high school. While you are busy planning, we also want to ensure that you take advantage of every moment you have left at DHS. We look forward to seeing your last performances and big accomplishments that you have worked so hard to achieve. Best of luck in everything that you do this year! Please review the additional information below that is specific to seniors.
Yearbook/School Pictures (Senior)
Stuart Rodgers is the official Deerfield High School photographer. You should have received a postcard from them at the beginning of July, which explains the process of getting your senior picture taken. They have offices in Highland Park and Evanston. Additional details may be found at the Stuart Rodgers website or by phone at 877-864-7322 or email at info@srphoto.com.
Postsecondary Programs and Workshops
Senior students are invited to attend the following Postsecondary meetings during the month of August:
- Introduction to College Essay & Application Workshop - Postsecondary Counselors Kim Magee and Traci Flowers will walk you through the ins and outs of writing a college essay and get you started on the Common App. Friday, September 5 , during all lunch periods in the CCRC.
- Senior Class Meeting w/ Postsecondary Counselors - Postsecondary Counselors will present to the senior class on Tuesday, August 19 and August 20 , during their respective Physical Education classes.
Graduation Information
The DHS Class of 2027 Graduation is scheduled for Thursday, May 27, at Ravinia Festival at 5:00 pm. We will provide additional details about graduation during the school year. Prior to the start of the school year, we ask all seniors to complete the following:
- Pay Graduation Fee - Make this payment via the Infinite Campus Portal prior to the start of the school year.
- Complete Cap and Gown Order Form - Seniors must complete the cap and gown order form by Friday, August 14.
- Review Student Name on the Infinite Campus Portal - The student name listed on the diploma will be taken from Infinite Campus student records. First, Middle (if applicable), and Last Name will be listed on the diploma. Please be sure the student's name is accurate on the Infinite Campus Portal demographics page. If you have any questions, please contact one of the assistant principals:
- Dan Chamberlin, Assistant Principal at dchamberlin@dist113.org.
- Donielle Escalante, Assistant Principal at descalante@dist113.org.
- Dr. Marcellous Moore, Assistant Principal at mmoore@dist113.org.




