Evanston/Oak Park Elementary Schools (Chicago, Skokie: apartments, condos, homes)

[annelaurieray]

I may be moving to the Chicago area with three young kids, including one in kindergarten. Anyone have an elementary school in Evanston or Oak Park that they particularly liked or didn't like? Any other recommendations for family-friendly suburbs that are easily transit-accessible to the Loop and have good schools? Thanks.

[Bogey]

In Evanston, Willard and Dewey are quite good. Aside from the academics, I've also heard good things about how active the parents are at Dewey. Oakton school has low test scores, but many active parents. Washington school seems good, and there are other Evanston schools that I'm not familiar with.
Several schools in Evanston have an english/spanish two-way immersion program too, in case that interests you. Good luck with your move!

[homewifeev]

The really good Evanston/Skokie schools are Lincoln (Personal Experience), Orrington (Wealthiest School), Lincolnwood (Second Wealthiest), and Dewey (Very Active Parents). Both Magnet schools (King Lab and Bessie Rhodes Timberidge). Oakton has very bad racial problems. Some classes they divide based on race. Evanston has stoped considering race at magnet schools. Evanston has some diverse sections but it is pretty much very segregated. Oak Park is much more integrated. Evanston only has two schools that specifically serve the minority community. I might consider Wilmette or Skokie (around the yellow line). All the Eastern North Shore suburbs are very nice and family oriented and have easy access to Metra or CTA.

[annelaurieray]

Those are all helpful suggestions. Thank you very much!

[Ceolas]

I have a related question. My husband and I are considering a move to Oak Park, and the homes we like appear to be in the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School district. Does anyone have any thoughts on this school? I know Mann has a reputation of being the "best," but I have no idea what that means in this context. I know it's probably wealthier, but to me, that doesn't necessarily mean better. Any information on the corresponding middle school would be great as well.

Thanks for your help!

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Ceolas

I have a related question. My husband and I are considering a move to Oak Park, and the homes we like appear to be in the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School district. Does anyone have any thoughts on this school? I know Mann has a reputation of being the "best," but I have no idea what that means in this context. I know it's probably wealthier, but to me, that doesn't necessarily mean better. Any information on the corresponding middle school would be great as well.

Thanks for your help!

Mann is in NW Oak Park, the wealthiest part of town. Its almost exclusively single family homes; no/few condos or apartments.

[kindrakindra]

Acccording to a colleague's wife who works with and in all the schools in Oak Park, she describes Lincoln as a "hidden gem." The immersion program is highly regarded.

[Ceolas]

Thank you for the information on Lincoln, that's great news!!

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Ceolas

I have a related question. My husband and I are considering a move to Oak Park, and the homes we like appear to be in the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School district. Does anyone have any thoughts on this school? I know Mann has a reputation of being the "best," but I have no idea what that means in this context. I know it's probably wealthier, but to me, that doesn't necessarily mean better. Any information on the corresponding middle school would be great as well.

Thanks for your help!

Lincoln and Mann are both good. I personally may soon be looking for a home in the Lincoln school district since it's what I can afford.

However, a well-respected architect that I know lives in eastern Oak Park (east of Ridgeland) and thinks the schools there are good. The president of my wife's company also lives in southeastern Oak Park, and is fine with the schools. The eastern schools have a bigger minority population, but are still pretty good. But the biggest difference between Oak Park and Evanston is the high schools. OPRF is a much better school than ETHS.

[Nysee53]

How could you say OPRF is better than Evanston. Oak Park has never ranked with schools like New Trier and Stevenson. Oak Park and Evanston's high schools are pretty equal when it comes to statistics. Overall when people in the area hear about the schools and are asked which is better they would definitely choose Evanston, and in my opinion they would be right.