Pathways Academy: Best High School in Joliet (2026 List)

About Pathways Academy

Pathways Academy is a public high school in Joliet, Illinois that serves students in grades 9 through 12. It is the only high school in the district to hold its name and is a top school for its commitment to alternative routes to learning. The school has an enrollment of around 140 students and offers a very supportive environment with a close student-to-teacher ratio of about 13:1.Pathways Academy is a very diverse school; 99% of its students belong to minority groups. It is one of the leading schools for social equity. 99% of students are identified as economically disadvantaged. Known for its credit recovery and personalized instruction, the school is one of the best schools for helping students meet unique challenges to earn their high school diplomas. The school reports many district-wide benchmarks for Math and Reading proficiency scores, but offers important resources for SAT and ACT prep. At the end, the academy is on the list of the most respected schools for developing student’s resilience and future career preparedness, and it is one of the best high schools in Illinois.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 0%

Reading 0%

State average proficiency is 0% in Math and 0% in Reading.

8

Full-time Teachers

0

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

76 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Pathways Academy Contact Information

Address

110 Collins St, Joliet, IL, 60432

View on Map

Phone

(815) 727-6810

Call Now

Website

http://www.jths.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM to 3:15 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Pathways Academy 110 Collins St. New for 2025-2026, individual credit recovery and career exploration options that are supported by Joliet Township High School District 204’s one-to-one laptop initiative. The alternative school offers SAT, ACT prep and online tutoring and social-emotional supports in a small setting for grades 9-12. District staff advised Pathways to opt out of the state’s “Breakfast After the Bell” mandate, citing operational needs, but students would still get free breakfast and lunch. Pathways scholars take part in district graduation ceremonies and can pursue JTHS dual credit and Career Academes pathways at Triton College.

FAQ

Q1. Are students able to look into STEM options?

Ans. Yes, ! There are science, technology, engineering, and math programs that let students learn through practical activities.

Q2. Are there any programs that are creative?

Ans. Yes, students can be creative through practical activities music, drama, and visual arts.

Q3. What is the goal of Pathways Academy?

Ans. Pathways Academy wants to give students a challenging academic program while also encouraging them to be responsible, involved, and lifelong learners.

Q4. How does Pathways Academy keep things positive?

Ans. A safe and productive learning environment is built on respect, accountability, and inclusion.

Q5. Do students get help getting ready for college?

Ans. Yes, Students can take the SAT and ACT and get help planning for college.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say