IMSA Prohibits Students Leaving On Weekends To Slow COVID Spread

AURORA, IL — The Illinois Math and Science Academy, known as IMSA, is prohibiting students from leaving school to visit home on the weekends in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

The public, residential, selective-enrollment high school houses around 650 students from grades 10-12 at its Aurora campus. According to a statement, students were allowed to go home over Labor Day weekend, but will now be required to stay on campus for at least the next month.

IMSA President Evan M. Glazer told the Chicago Tribune the school's options were different from other public high schools due to the close-quarters.

"Because we're a residential high school, we're different from other schools, because our kids are living together and can transmit the virus much more easily, making us vulnerable to shutting down," Glazer said.

Students with prior commitments that have been approved by the administration — such as doctor's appointments or funerals — will be allowed to leave for a weekend, officials said. In addition, families can schedule a time to see their students on campus.

According to IMSA's website, students returned for in-person instruction in August. As of last week, the school's COVID-19 positivity rate was below 1 percent, according to a spokeswoman.

Additional safety measures include requiring all students to get tested for COVID-19 twice a week and, in accordance with Gov. J.B. Pritzker's recent orders, requiring all staff to be vaccinated.