The city of Kankakee is contained within Kankakee County and is located 60 miles south of Chicago off Interstate 57. Kankakee School District, with an enrollment of approximately 5,500 students, prekindergarten through twelfth grade, serves all of the City of Kankakee, the Village of Aroma Park, and rural areas east and south of the city, for a total of 48 square miles. The district has 13 buildings. Kankakee School District offers many unique opportunities for students to learn. The district initiated a magnet program in 1979 which features either a subject- matter focus or a specific instructional style. Five magnet programs are offered and include computer education, exposure to the arts, mathematics education, Montessori-based education, and science and technology. The Kankakee High School offers a Business Partnership Academy developed in cooperation with the Private Industry Council focusing on workforce preparation in the field of business. In 2000, a Health Partnership Academy was started with Riverside Medical Center and Provena St. Mary’s Hospital preparing students for a career in health occupation fields. In addition, a P.O.P.S. (Performance Optimizing Program) program offers an accelerated/gifted program for gifted learners. http://www.k111.k12.il.us/about/default.aspx