News

ACS students are showcasing creativity, teamwork, and technical skills through our dynamic robotics program, which spans from Lower School through Middle School. From classrooms to competitions, the program offers engaging opportunities for students at every level!

Ms. Nancy Nassr has been appointed as Avery Coonley's next head of school, effective July 1, 2026. The announcement was made by The Avery Coonley School’s board chair, Jennifer Reenan, on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, following a comprehensive and thoughtful search process conducted over the last six months.

On October 27, 2025, The Avery Coonley School hosted its third TEDx event themed The Green Frontier: Sky's the Limit. The evening, emceed by Middle School STEAM Club members Nathan S. and Henry O., featured five inspiring speakers who shared ideas shaping the future of innovation, sustainability, and creativity. The event was organized by a 35-member TEDx ACS Student Steering Committee comprised of Lower and Middle School students who selected this year’s speakers.

ACS was pleased to welcome Matt Johnson, Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield, to speak with the Middle School STEAM Club. Matt shared how his engineering background informs his work promoting sustainability in commercial buildings and advancing environmentally responsible practices across the real estate industry.

Our Group 2-4 students got into the groove of learning with a unique art activity — bilateral drawing! This hands-on exercise engages both sides of the brain, boosts creativity, strengthens fine motor skills, and encourages a growth mindset. At ACS, the art program supports learning and development through innovative projects like this.

A group of middle school students from The Avery Coonley School's STEAM Club was selected to attend the 45th Annual Energy Education Development (NEED) Project Youth Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.. The students earned national recognition for their original research project on environmental science and climate change.

It was another amazing year for our robotics teams—FLL Cyhorse and FTC Cyber Seahorse. Their hard work, innovation, and dedication led them from local competitions all the way to the international stage.

The Avery Coonley School is proud to announce its selection as a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education for exemplary efforts in environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and sustainability education.

Earlier this month, Group 7 students explored the foundations of American democracy during their five-day trip to Washington, D.C. The experience, organized in collaboration with the Close Up Foundation, featured a blend of workshops, museum visits, memorial tours, and policy discussions designed to deepen students’ understanding of civic life.