Sandridge School District 172 is an elementary school district based in the unincorporated southern Chicago suburb of Chicago Heights, Illinois on the Cook County side of boundaries with Will County, Illinois and Lake County, Indiana; Sandridge School District serves students in Chicago Heights and the surrounding communities of Lynwood and Sauk Village. The district is composed of a single facility that handles all students below and including those in grade eight. This school, known as Sandridge Elementary School, is headed by principal Cindy Sowles and the superintendent, Dr. John Sawyer III. The school and district were named for the geography of the school when it was initially constructed, as it was built upon a sandy ridge.