Quincy Public School District #172 is a large unit district located in west central Illinois. The QPS mission is to educate students and teachers to achieve personal excellence. QPS is a Pre K -12 district with more than 6,500 students enrolled. The district includes a Pre K/Head Start school, seven elementary schools for grades K-3, an intermediate school for grades 4-5, a junior high for grades 6-8, and a high school for grades 9-12. In November of 2014, an 89 million dollar bond referendum for five new state of the art K-5 elementary schools and an expansion to the high school passed overwhelmingly in all voting districts. As a result, the district will transform into five elementary schools for grades K-5 over the next few years. In the 2016-2017 academic year the district adopted a middle school model for grades 6-8, and a traditional high school for grades 9-12. In 2018-2019 the district will transition to K-5 Learning Communities. Currently, QPS has two Leader In Me schools on the path to Lighthouse status; and two schools having achieved Lighthouse status. QPS offers a rigorous standards aligned curriculum, including AP courses at the high school, Project Lead the Way courses in grades 7-12, accelerated course in grades 4-8, and STEM courses K-12. Students at all grade levels have access to technology in a blended learning environment, which was made possible through the generous support from community partnerships and the Quincy Public Schools Foundation. QPS offers many robust co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities through the music department. In addition, the QJHS and QHS athletic departments offer a variety of extra-curricular activities.