Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered to all second and fifth grade students between November 10 - 14, 2025. This assessment indicates the level and pattern of a student’s cognitive development in comparison to other students enrolled in the same grade-level and/or who are of the same age. 

The CogAT is comprised of three sections, each taking approximately 30 minutes with breaks in between.  

• 2nd and 5th: Quantitative - measures a child’s understanding of relational mathematical concepts and ability to discover patterns, to figure out a rule or principle, and to transfer this information. 

• 2nd and 5th: Non-Verbal - measures a child’s ability to reason using pictures and shapes. In addition, this section appraises a child’s ability to use his/her cognitive resources in new situations.

• 5th ONLY: Verbal - measures a child’s ability to remember and transform sequences of words, to understand them and to make inferences and judgements about them. 

2nd Grade will take their assessments on November 10th and 12th.

5th Grade will take their assessments on November 12th, 13th and 14th.

How your child can prepare for assessment—and what you can do to help

A student who is well-rested and well-fed and has a positive attitude about testing is best prepared for testing. You can help your child do his or her best by considering these tips:

• Make sure that your child is in school and on time on her or his assigned test day.

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast before each day of testing.

• Remind your child that these tests are only one measure. Emphasize that you have confidence in his or her ability to do the best job possible.

• Remind your child to listen to the directions and read each question carefully during testing.

Parent Teacher Conference Information

Starting at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, November 3rd, you will have access to schedule parent-teacher conference(s) for your child through Skyward Family Access. Parent-teacher conferences will be held from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 24th, and 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25th. Elementary conferences are scheduled for 15 minutes. Parent-teacher conference sign-up will close on November 14th at 3:00 p.m. 

Once you log into Skyward, you will have the option to sign up for a conference with your child’s elementary classroom teacher. If your child is in middle school, you will see the option to sign up for multiple conferences. We look forward to seeing you in our schools on November 24-25, 2025. 

Please use this document for detailed directions on how to sign up using Skyward Family Access. If you are having any issues with selecting your child's conference in Skyward Family Access, please email Nick Skrip at nskrip@d181.org.

Bar Soap Drive - Thank you!

As part of our Unity Week celebration, our school came together to support HCS Family Services through our Bar Soap Drive—and what an incredible success it was! Thanks to your generosity, we collected 310 bars of soap to help local families in need.

This effort was about more than just soap—it was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we act with kindness and unity.  

Thank you for your participation and for helping our students see that even small acts of giving can make a big difference when we work together.

iPad Reminder

We’ve noticed an increase in the number of students arriving at school without charged iPads. Since the iPad is their work device, and an essential learning tool, it’s important that each student comes to school ready to learn with a fully charged device.

Please help your child build independence by adding “charge iPad” to their evening routine—perhaps by plugging it in right after homework or before bedtime. Setting a reminder or designating a specific charging spot at home can also help make this a habit.

Thank you for your support in helping students take responsibility for their learning tools and come prepared each day.

Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Invites Sender School Families to Complete Superintendent Search Survey 

Stakeholder input is an important part of District 86's process of identifying the school district's next superintendent. To gather that feedback, District 86 invites parents and guardians of students who will one day attend Hinsdale Central or Hinsdale South to share their perspectives by completing an anonymous survey.

Your feedback will help in the development of a Leadership Profile that outlines the professional and personal characteristics needed to be successful in this role.

Click Here To Take The Survey In English

Click Here To Take The Survey In Spanish