Shared Services Benefits
The Shared Services Model began in 2018 between Mundelein Elementary District 75 and Mundelein High School District 120. The partnership has allowed the two districts to save money, reallocate resources to the classrooms and work toward shared goals in the best interests of the students.
By pooling talent and resources, D75 and D120 can work toward a unified goal of providing the best possible education for our students.
The benefits of the Shared Services Model include:
- Reallocation of Resources. Between 2019 and 2023, MHS has reallocated $6 million into classrooms and District 75 has reallocated $3 million through the Shared Services model. During a four-year period, the two districts have reinvested a total of $9 million back into programs that benefit students and improve student achievement.
- More efficient leadership. The districts are consolidating positions as they become available. When there is attrition or retirements, two roles will merge into one. By sharing these costs, we’ve made our team of administrators in both districts deeper at a lower cost to both districts.
- Curriculum improvements. Shared Services strengthens the flow of our curriculum between District 75 and the high school. The continuity and collaboration among staff at both districts improves academic programs for students at all levels of education. This has also led to a stronger partnership with the other elementary school districts that send students to MHS.
- Create a productive synergy. Shared Service administrators and staff from both districts share information, data and ideas with their counterparts from other elementary feeder districts. The four superintendents from these five districts meet monthly. This collaboration leads to better decision-making and improved educational opportunities for all students.
- Alignment between grade levels. Leadership roles have been adjusted to fit Shared Services, creating better alignment and consistency between middle school and high school curricula. For example, as eighth-grade math teachers better understand teaching methods at the high school, they can better prepare eighth-grade students for the next level of education. In the same way, high school teachers also better understand the methods used at the middle school and make necessary adjustments to best educate incoming freshmen.
- Efficiencies in materials, supplies and skilled labor. Supplies like salt can be bought in bulk and shared. Skilled personnel such as electricians can be shared among both districts. Departments that provide similar services, such as accounting and technology, will have less overlap, greater efficiencies, and a deeper bench.
- Continuity for students and parents. Processes and systems from registration to curriculum nights are streamlined so a parent has a consistent experience from the time their child enters kindergarten to when they graduate high school.
- Collaboration with other districts. The Shared Services Model has led to further collaboration with schools from Fremont, Hawthorn and Diamond Lake, all districts that feed into MHS. These connections promise to enhance the continuity of programming from academics to athletics and extracurriculars across the entire Mundelein community.
- Staff training opportunities. Staff from both districts will be exposed to more training opportunities.
Individual School Profiles
Carl Sandburg Middle School
At Carl Sandburg Middle School, we bridge the transformational years between elementary school and high school by empowering sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students to become independent, confident, and self-directed learners. Our mission centers on academic excellence paired with dedicated personal growth, ensuring every student acquires the skills, resilience, and curiosity needed to thrive at CSMS and beyond.
Our school maintains high academic expectations paired with robust instructional support. A rigorous core curriculum challenges students to think critically, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively—setting a strong foundation for future success.
To help students uncover their unique talents and passions, Carl Sandburg Middle School provides a diverse lineup of related arts courses:
- STEM & Innovation: Hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that encourages experimentation and real-world design challenges.
- Fine & Performing Arts: Comprehensive offerings in visual arts, music, and performance that foster creative expression and artistic technical skills.
- Career Exploration: Engaging coursework that introduces real-world industries, technical pathways, and self-assessment tools to help students map out future possibilities.
For students in our Dual Language Program, middle school is a crucial bridge for maintaining and expanding advanced language skills. Through specialized instruction in English, Spanish Language Arts and Social Studies, students continue building academic biliteracy and biculturalism.
Through high expectations, strong community partnership, and continuous encouragement, Carl Sandburg Middle School ensures every student we promote is fully prepared for the academic rigor and social independence of Mundelein High School.
Mechanics Grove Elementary School
Mechanics Grove was presented in 2026 with the coveted Legacy Award among FranklinCovey’s Leader In Me Schools, an elite level reached by only 34 other schools worldwide. The Legacy Award acknowledges that MG is a global example of excellence in leadership, culture and academics.
For the past 11 years, the Leader in Me program has been a way of life at MG. It embraces practicing good habits, learning life skills and celebrating student success. Every student has a formal leadership role either in their classroom or school-wide. MG consistently increases student leadership opportunities, empowering our students to become confident and responsible leaders.
Lincoln Early Learning Center
Lincoln Early Learning Center serves as the foundation for lifelong learning in District 75. Providing comprehensive early childhood education and developmental screenings, Lincoln focuses on fostering social-emotional growth, foundational literacy, and cognitive development in a warm, nurturing environment tailored for young learners.
Through play-based learning and research-backed instructional strategies, our dedicated early childhood educators partner closely with families to ensure every child builds the confidence, curiosity, and essential skills needed for a smooth transition into elementary school.
Washington Early Learning Center
Washington Early Learning Center provides specialized, high-quality early childhood programming aimed at supporting students during their most critical formative years. By offering structured, engaging learning environments and family support services, Washington lays the groundwork for academic readiness and personal growth.
Our collaborative staff utilizes evidence-based practices to support language acquisition, physical motor skills, and creative expression, ensuring a strong educational start for all District 75 children.
Mundelein High School District 120
Mundelein High School (District 120) is an award-winning, comprehensive high school dedicated to academic rigor, post-secondary readiness, and robust student engagement. Serving students in grades 9 through 12, MHS offers an extensive curriculum featuring Advanced Placement (AP) courses, dual-credit partnerships, career and technical education (CTE) pathways, and cutting-edge STEM facilities.
Working in seamless alignment with feeder middle schools through the Shared Services model, MHS creates tailored academic pathways that prepare students for university admissions, technical careers, and civic leadership. Beyond the classroom, MHS offers dozens of athletic teams, fine arts programs, and extracurricular clubs that foster community pride and lifelong success.