The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy spent $1,840 in school money on a blacks-only graduation ceremony — complete with custom sashes and a catered lunch — according to emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The segregated event was separate from the school’s general commencement. Only black seniors qualified to participate.
Emails show the school’s diversity office helped organize the entire affair, scheduling the room and coordinating with the Black Alumni Association sponsor.
“For the Black Graduation, we’re thinking of the last Wednesday in May again, if possible. Could you share approximately how many Black students there are to order stoles?”
An invoice dated March 27 shows an order for 12 custom black-and-gold embroidered sashes at $50 each, totaling $640 with shipping.
The diversity director asked if the purchase could be made directly using a “Multicultural Retention Undesignated” account. Internal emails discussed using the Cherry Endowment to cover the sash order plus up to $1,200 for the graduation lunch.
A promotional flyer invited guests to “celebrate the class of 2026 at their Black graduation.” Formal attire was required.
Students raised concerns when the blacks-only ceremony conflicted with the school’s Senior Sunset event.
“We don’t want the Black seniors to miss out on this event,” one student wrote.
The diversity office rescheduled to avoid the conflict.
Paul Runko, senior director of strategic initiatives at Defending Education, told Breitbart News parents are “tired of DEI and race obsession in K-12 schools.”
“They expect schools that honor the successes of every student, and taxpayers expect their hard-earned money to support public education focused on honoring academic excellence and ideological neutrality.”
This isn’t the first time IMSA has faced scrutiny for race-based programming.
Defending Education filed a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in February 2024 alleging IMSA discriminated on the basis of race and sex through its Brotherhood Sister Circle affinity group.
The complaint alleged membership and program access were restricted to black and Latino students only. Retreat invitations went exclusively to black and Latino students, and yearbook photographers covering the event were expected to be black or Latino.
The complaint was dismissed during the Biden administration.
In December 2023, IMSA students staged a sit-in and walkout demanding “concrete consequences” for bias-incident reports — including detention, suspension, expulsion, and notifying parents and future colleges.
Students also demanded consequences for faculty and staff, mandatory participation by “marginalized communities” in DEI training, prioritizing the hiring of “diverse and supportive individuals,” and greater administrative accountability for addressing racism.
IMSA’s anonymous bias-reporting form included categories such as race, color, gender, ability, weight, political affiliation, and microaggressions.
