Blue Island is a town of about 21,000 18 miles southeast of downtown Chicago. The village has a mix of residential, commercial and industrial development. Recreational opportunities include the Park District's programs and Showcase Theater, a community playhouse. Most grade school-aged children attend school in district 130, the remainder attend district 132 or 147 schools. Most secondary students go to Eisenhower High School, district 218. (See below for details on schools).

Transportation needs are served by area highways (I-94/Calumet Expwy., I-294/Tri-State Tollway, I-80, I-57), and major local roads (Dixie Hwy., Crawford Ave., 159th. St). Commuter service to downtown is provided by the Metra Electric Line (ME) and the Rock Island Line (RI). Travel time to the downtown Chicago station is about 38 minutes (express). Local bus service is available from PACE. The RTA Travel Info. Number is 1-800-972-7000.

City Hall: 708-597-8600 NICOR: 708-597-0110

Commonwealth Edison: 1-800-334-7661 Ameritech (Phone): 1-800-942-8163.

Fire Dept. For emergencies, 911 Otherwise, 708-597-8601 (Same for police).

South Suburban Hospital: 708-799-8000 Christ Hospital & Medical Center: 708-425-8000

Olympia Fields Hospital: 708-747-4000 St. Francis Hospital: 708-597-2000

10701 Kilpatrick Ave.

Oak Lawn, IL 60453

708-424-2000

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Computer Literacy, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, P.E. Classes, Band, Chorus, Sports, Gifted Program, Counseling, Foreign Language, Hot Lunch Program, Extra-Curricular Activities, Special Education, English as a Second Language (ESL).

Features: Art Room/Area, Music Room/Area, Computer(s)/Computer Lab(s), Gym(s), Auditorium/Stage, Outdoor Stadium/Arena,

Library, Cafeteria.

Personnel: Teachers in academic curriculum areas, plus Art, Music, P.E., Library, Vocational Education (including Computer Science), Special Education, Guidance, Social Work, Gifted/Talented, Nurse.

Curriculum/Courses: Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Art, Music, P.E., Vocational Education.

Honors/AP Courses: Math, Science, English, Foreign Language, Social Science, History.

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

Extracurricular: Sports, Orchestra, Band, Chorus, School Clubs, Theater/Drama.

IGAP Test Scores (Average): See table below.

District Schools (Blue Island only):

Eisenhower High. 12700 Sacramento Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-597-6300.

All IGAP Test Scores are from the '97/'98 school year.

12300 Greenwood Ave.

Blue Island, IL 60406

708-385-6800

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Early Childhood, Tutoring, Hot Lunch Program, Special Education, P.E. Classes, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, Computer Literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL).

Features: Gym(s), Library, Auditorium/Stage, Cafeteria, Computer(s)/Computer Lab(s), Music Room/Area, Art Room/Area, Outdoor Playground (Grades K-5).

Personnel: Teachers in academic curriculum areas, plus Art, Music, P.E., Special Education, Library.

Curriculum: Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Music, P.E.

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

Extracurricular: Band, Orchestra, Sports (through park district), Chorus.

Extracurricular (Middle School): Band, Orchestra, Sports (through park district), Chorus.

IGAP Test Scores (Average): See table below.

District Schools (Blue Island only):

Kerr Middle (Old Main Campus). 12915 Maple Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-5959.

Kerr Middle (Whittier Campus). 13043 Maple Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-6170.

Kerr Intermediate School. 12320 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-6630.

Greenbriar Elementary. 12015 S. Maple, Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-2915.

Lincoln Elementary. 2140 Broadway St., Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-5370.

Paul Revere Elementary. 12331 Gregory St., Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-4450.

Whittier Elementary. 13043 Maple, Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-6170.

Horace Mann Elementary. 12320 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-6630.

Greenwood Elementary. 12418 S. Highland, Blue Island, IL 60406, 708-385-3399.

Editor's Note: Annual tuition quoted in this table is for one child, Full-day Kindergarten (if available)/Grades 1-8 for Elementary Schools and Grades 9-12 for High Schools. For Catholic Schools, annual tuition quoted is for parishioners. For other denominations, annual tuition quoted is for members (whenever there is a difference between member/nonmember tuition). Any school with an asterisk (*) offers before- and/or after-school care. While we make a reasonable effort to maintain accuracy, we don't guarantee that all information is correct.

Editor's Note: Tuition quoted is the weekly rate for full-time care. Codes in parenthesis: I for Infant, T for Toddler, 2 for Age 2, P for Preschool (Ages 2-5 or 3-5), K for Kindergarten, SA for school-age. For part-time preschool programs (2, 3, or 5 mornings or afternoons per week), the tuition quoted is monthly, with 2x, 3x, or 5x in parenthesis to indicate the number of days per week for each program. While we make a reasonable effort to maintain accuracy, we don't guarantee that all information is correct. For any categories that are blank, please call the center for that information.

12804 Highland Ave.

Blue Island, IL 60406

708-385-3304

Equipment/Physical Features: Outdoor Playground(s), Gym(s) - Rented from local schools, Tennis Court(s), Swimming Pool(s), Sports Fields, Basketball Court(s), Batting Cages.

Parent/Tot & Children's Classes/Leagues/Camps: Tennis, Softball, Ice Skating, Swimming, Arts & Crafts, Ballet, Dance, Basketball, Music, Reading/Stories, Golf, Wrestling.

Adult Classes/Leagues/Activities: Tennis, Golf, Softball, Fitness, Dance, Swimming, Ice Skating, Yoga.

Senior Adult Classes/Clubs/Services/Programs: Trips, Senior's Group.

Special Needs: Physically Handicapped, Developmentally Delayed, Hearing-Impaired, Sight-Impaired, Member of Southwest Special Recreation Association (SWSRA).

Special Services: Adapted Materials, Remedial Help, Adapted Equipment.