Mitchell Elementary School
Dekalb, IL | Completed June 2025
Mitchell Elementary School represents a powerful investment in the future of education and community in DeKalb. Created to reduce overcrowding, balance enrollment across the district, and ensure equitable access to modern learning environments, the new K–5 school transforms an existing Northern Illinois University facility into a vibrant neighborhood hub for learning.
The three-section elementary school includes three classrooms per grade level, along with four additional classrooms to support future growth and flexible programming. Designed to serve 450–500 students, Mitchell integrates next-generation learning environments, including Innovation Pods, STEAM labs with ceiling-mounted power drops, and collaborative spaces that encourage hands-on, inquiry-based learning.
STEM/STEAM
Designed for Every Student
The design reflects the district’s commitment to inclusion and belonging. DeKalb’s SOAL (Specialized Opportunities for Academic and Life Skills) program is intentionally integrated within the same wings as general education classrooms, ensuring all students learn and grow together. Additional amenities include a gymnasium that doubles as a storm shelter, music room, community garden, and ample outdoor spaces for recreation and play.
A Symbol of Growth
Mitchell Elementary creates a welcoming, future-focused school that one-third of the district’s elementary students can walk to. As Superintendent Garcia-Sanchez shared, “This school is more than a solution. It is a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared vision for the future of education.”
Carrying the mascot of the Monarchs, the building features colorful butterfly motifs throughout to represent beauty, growth, and greatness. Like its namesake, Mitchell Elementary embodies the belief that with care, creativity, and community, students can soar.
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