Pekin Community High School

Pekin Community HighSchool, also known as Pekin High School, is a public secondary educational institution located in Pekin, Illinois, United States. It provides comprehensive instruction for students in grades nine through twelve, delivering a curriculum that includes core academic subjects such as mathematics, science, English language arts, and social studies, as well as elective courses in fine arts, technology, and vocational training. The school serves the residents of the Pekin Community High School District 303, offering educational services to the local community and preparing students for post‑secondary education, employment, or civic participation. In addition to classroom instruction, the institution supports a range of extracurricular activities, including interscholastic athletics, music ensembles, theater productions, and various student‑run clubs.

While specific enrollment figures are not provided in the source material, the school operates as a single‑campus facility that serves the broader Pekin area, reflecting a typical footprint for a suburban public high school in the Midwest. A distinguishing attribute of Pekin Community High School is its experience with a ransomware incident on April 23, 2017, when attackers encrypted the school’s computer systems and demanded a $37,000 ransom; the district refused to pay and continued operations without its technology‑dependent resources while restoring the network. This event highlights the institution’s reliance on digital infrastructure for administrative and instructional functions and its capacity to manage cybersecurity incidents under pressure. As a public school, Pekin Community High School is required to provide special education services in accordance with federal and state laws, ensuring that students with disabilities receive appropriate support. The school follows the curriculum standards set by the Illinois State Board of Education, aligning its instructional programs with statewide academic expectations. Structurally, Pekin Community High School is a public school governed by the elected board of Pekin Community High School District 303, receiving funding primarily from local property taxes and state aid, and it is not a subsidiary of any private corporation or parent entity.