Residency (Proof of Living Situation)
Per Illinois law and Board of Education policy, 7:060 Residence, only students who are legal residents of District 15 may attend school in the District without a tuition charge, except as otherwise provided below or in State law. Generally, a student’s residency is the same as the person who has legal custody of the student. The person registering the student must submit proof of legal custody and residency.
Map My School Tool
District 15's Map My Schools Tool allows families to type in their address to see where their house is on the updated boundary map. *Please keep in mind that the Map My School Tool may not reflect school assignments due to programmatic placement. The Map My School Tool shows a student’s home school assignment based on their address.
Residency (proof of living situation) in District 15 boundaries is required for all incoming Early Childhood students, Kindergarten students, student entering 6th grade, students new to the District, existing families with a lease, and families that are flagged by our third-party residency verification system to complete the registration process. Providing a copy of a current mortgage or lease is a required step for registering or re-registering in District 15.
Proof of residency must be provided by August 1 to complete registration.
If proof of residency is not provided by August 1, students will be dis-enrolled from the district. When students are dis-enrolled from the district, they will not receive a classroom assignment, a schedule, or a bus route if applicable. Families will need to contact the school office and provide the required documentation to prove residency to be re-enrolled in the district.
For the 2026-27 school year, in the case of a lease, please note that if the copy of the lease provided expires before August 19, 2026, the family will need to provide an UPDATED lease to remain enrolled for the 2026-27 school year. The lease needs to show that the family lives in District 15's boundaries at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Residency Documents
A total of THREE (3) documents must be provided. One (1) Category A Document and Two (2) Category B Documents:
1. Must provide ONE (1) document from Category A:
Homeowners:
- Most recent Property Tax bill
- Most recent Mortgage Statement/Document
- Real Estate Closing Document (only for closing within 60 days)
Renters:
- Lease (including all pages, with lease term dates, and all required signatures)
- Military Housing Letter
- Section 8 Letter
2. Must provide TWO (2) documents from Category B
(must be dated within 45 days):
- Phone bill
- Cable/Internet bill
- Gas bill
- Electric bill
- Water/sewer bill
- Credit card statement
- Vehicle registration
- Public aid card
- Food stamp card
- Paycheck stub
- City sticker receipt
- Driver's License or State ID
For your convenience, use the Residency Verification Checklist (English) | (Spanish) to aid in gathering the required documentation.
Clear electronic copies or photos of these documents may be uploaded while you complete online registration in PowerSchool. If you are unable to upload the required documents, you will need to go to your school in person and present your residency documents to be copied. All submitted residency documents, online or in person, will be reviewed by the District. Once your child’s residency is verified by the District, you will be notified via email or mail.
If you do not have any of the documents listed, or are experiencing homelessness, please contact the building principal or the Associate Superintendent, 847-963-3000.
If you are residing with someone within District 15 boundaries:
- Complete the Affidavit of Enrollment and Residency (English) | (Spanish) and have it notarized.
- Along with the notarized Affidavit of Enrollment and Residency, the homeowner must provide ONE (1) document from Category A.
- Additionally, the parent or guardian of the enrolling student must submit TWO (2) documents from Category B.
Non-Residents of CCSD15
It is contrary to the policy of the Board of Education to enroll students who do not legally reside with the person who has legal custody of the student within District boundaries. The information you provide will be used by school officials to help establish the eligibility of each student for enrollment. Falsification of information submitted to the District may result in your child being excluded from school, and may expose you to monetary liability under Illinois law for payment of tuition for such time as your child was illegally enrolled in the District. Further, any person who knowingly enrolls or attempts to enroll a non-resident student in the District or presents to the District any false information regarding the residency of a student commits a Class C misdemeanor.
Enrollment Process
Residency verification is one step in the enrollment process. Student online registration and paying student fees are the additional two steps in the enrollment process. All three steps of the enrollment process must be completed for a student to be enrolled in the District prior to the start of the school year. Students will not be assigned to a classroom teacher or allowed to start the school year until residency has been verified.
Residency Q&As
- How do I get my property tax bill if I can't find a copy of it?
- If my lease expires before the first day of school, do I need to submit an updated lease?
- What if my family qualifies for Free and Reduced-Price Meals for this school year and plans to apply again for next school year, do I still have to pay by June 1 or what is the process for payment?
- Do I need to provide an official birth certificate for my child?
- What if I am unable to provide proof of residency?
- Will I get an email reminder about paying student fees prior to June 1?
- Can I provide a driver’s license as one of the proofs of residency?
- I am divorced/legally separated. Must I submit a custody plan?
- If I am unable to upload documents into PowerSchool (for whatever reason), may I email the documents to the school office secretary, or must they be physically brought into the office?
- What is an Affidavit of Enrollment and Residency?
- I live month-to-month and cannot provide a lease. What documents do I need to provide?
- What if I have a Change of Residence Due to Military Service?
- Who can I contact if I have further questions about Residency?