Chicago Ridge is a village of about 14,000 20 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. Once a popular duck-hunting spot, the town retains a country atmosphere. Recreational opportunities include the programs of the Park District. Schoolchildren attend either elementary district 122 or 127.5 schools, and go on to Richards High School (district 218) in Oak Lawn A number of parochial schools also are within the town borders. (See below for details on schools).

Transportation needs are served by area highways (I-294/Tri-State Tollway), and major local roads (Rt. 12/20, Rt. 43 - Harlem Ave., Rt. 50 - Cicero Ave.). Commuter service to downtown is provided by Metra. Travel time to the downtown Chicago station is about 60 minutes. Local bus service is available from PACE. The RTA Travel Info. Number is 1-800-972-7000.

Village Hall: 708-425-7700 NICOR: 708-756-0450

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

Fire Dept. For emergencies, 911. Otherwise, 708-857-4454

Police Dept.: 911 for emergencies. Otherwise, 708-425-7831

Public Library: 6301 W. Birmingham Ave/512 Chicago Ridge Mall. 708-423-7753/2227

Litle Company of Mary Hospital: 708-422-6200 Christ Medical Center: 708-425-8000

Palos Community Hospital: 708-460-5300 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.

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

Richards High School. 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453, 708-499-2550.

Shepard High School. 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463, 708-597-6300.

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

10835 Lombard Ave.

Chicago Ridge, IL 60415

708-636-2000

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Hot Lunch Program, Preschool Screening, Extra-Curricular Activities, Special Education, Tutoring, (Remedial Reading), Counseling, PTA, Computer Literacy, Gifted Program, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, P.E. Classes, Early Childhood, English as a Second Language (ESL).

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

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

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

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

Special Needs: Learning Disabled, Mildly/Moderately Retarded, Behavior Disordered, Hearing-Impaired*, Sight-Impaired*, Physically Handicapped*, Autistic* , Communication Disordered students (* all through the South Metropolitan Association). Speech Therapy, Counseling provided.

Extracurricular: School Clubs.

IGAP Test Scores (Average): See IGAP Scores Tables below.

Elden Finley Junior High. 10835 Lombard Ave., Chicago Ridge, IL 60415, 708-636-2000.

Ridge Central Elementary. 10800 S. Lyman Ave., Chicago Ridge, IL 60415, 708-636-2000.

Ridge Lawn Elementary. 5757 W. 105th. St., Chicago Ridge, IL 60415, 708-636-2000.

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.

10736 S. Lombard

Chicago Ridge, IL 60415

708-857-2653

Equipment/Physical Features: Outdoor Playground(s), Gym(s), Tennis Court(s), Sports Fields, Swimming Pool(s).

Parent/Tot & Children's Classes/Leagues/Camps: Arts & Crafts, Music, Science/Nature, Reading/Stories, Ballet, Dance, Cooking, Soccer, Baseball, Volleyball, Hockey, Karate, Basketball, Babysitting, Gymnastics, Swimming, Tennis.

Adult Classes/Leagues/Activities: Fitness, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Self-Defense for Women, Swimming, Tennis.

Senior Adult Classes/Clubs/Services/Programs: Bingo, Transportation, Trips.

Special Needs: Physically Handicapped, Developmentally Delayed, Hearing-Impaired, Sight-Impaired, Oak Lawn Park District Special Recreation Programs at Oakview Recreation Center, 4625 W. 110th. St., 708-857-2200.

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

Other Services: Child Care, Preschool (Saturdays).