Ford Heights is a community near Chicago Heights about 28 miles south of downtown Chicago. Recreational opportunities include the programs of the Chicago Heights Park District. Grade school-aged children attend schools in district 169. High School districts in the area include 206, 227, and 233 (Bloom Twp., Rich Twp., and Homewood/Flossmoor, respectively). *See below for details on schools.

Transportation needs are served by area highways (I-294/Tri-State Tollway, I-57),and major local roads (Governors Hwy., Western Ave., Lincoln Hwy., Crawford Ave.). Commuter service to downtown is provided by the Metra Electric Line (ME) in Homewood. 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.

Village Hall: 708-756-5317 NICOR: 708-756-5100

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

Fire Dept. For emergencies, 911. Otherwise, 708-756-6400. Same for Police Dept.

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

Olympia Fields Hospital: 708-747-4000 Ingalls Hospital: 708-333-2300

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: P.E. Classes, Special Education, Hot Lunch Program, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, Foreign Language, Sports, Counseling, Vocational Education.

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

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

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

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

Extracurricular: Sports, School Clubs.

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

Bloom High School. 101 W. 10th. St., Chicago Heights, IL 60411, 708-755-1122.

Bloom Trail High School. Sauk Trail & Cottage Grove, Chicago Heights, IL 60411, 708-758-7000.

999 Kedzie Ave.

Flossmoor, IL 60422

708-799-3000

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Extra-Curricular Activities, Sports, Early Childhood (Preschool for 3 & 4 year olds), Gifted Program, Foreign Language, Special Education, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, P.E. Classes, Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Counseling, Computer Literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL).

IGAP Test Scores (Average): See table below.

Features: Computer(s)/Computer Lab(s), Music Room/Area, Art Room/Area, Swimming Pool, Library, Gym(s), Outdoor Stadium/Arena, Cafeteria, Auditorium/Stage.

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

Curriculum/Courses: English: Speech, Composition, English I,II,III IV. Science: Biology, Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics, Geology & Astronomy, Microbiology, Clinical Chemistry, Plants & Animals. Math: Essential Math, Consumer Math, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics & Probability, Calculus & Discrete Math, Computer Programming - Basic & Pascal. Social Science/History: Western Civilization, United States History, Economics, African American History, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, French, German. Music: Chorus, Orchestra, Band, Percussion Ensemble. Business: Computer Keyboarding, Computer Applications, Introduction to Business, Applied Business, Marketing, Accounting, Business & Personal Law. Home Economics: Foods, Clothing, Interior Design, Parenthood Education, Child Development, Nursery School Practicum, Fashion Merchandising, Contemporary Living. Industrial Arts: Drafting, Architectural Drawing, Mechanical Drawing, Engineering Graphics, Computers in Manufacturing, Manufacturing, Machine Shop, Welding, Machine Tools, Intro. to Small Engines, Small Engine Repair, Automotives. Physical Education: Swimming, Soccer, Tumbling, Weight Training, Basketball, Pickleball, Badminton, Wallyball, Field Hockey, Touch Football, Dance, Floor Hockey, Track & Field. Art: Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics.

Note: Some of these courses are electives. Students earning a B or higher in some of the Business, Industrial Arts, and Home Economics Courses are eligible for articulated credit at Prairie State College. Coop. Education Programs are available in all three of these curriculum areas.

Elective Courses: Journalism, Theater, Broadcasting, Debate, Band, Chorus, Orchestra.

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

Special Needs: Learning Disabled, Mildly/Moderately Retarded, Behavior Disordered students. Tutoring provided.

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

300 Sauk Trail

Park Forest, IL 60466

708-747-2600

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Computer Literacy, Tutoring, Counseling, Summer School, Special Education, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, P.E. Classes, Hot Lunch Program, Sports, Extra-Curricular Activities, Foreign Language.

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

Features: Gym(s), Music Room/Area, Art Room/Area, Library, Auditorium/Stage, Cafeteria, Computer(s)/Computer Lab(s).

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

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

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

Special Needs: Physically Handicapped, Learning Disabled, Mildly/Moderately Retarded, Emotionally Disturbed, Behavior Disordered, Hearing-Impaired, Sight-Impaired, Gifted students. Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Tutoring, Counseling provided.

Extracurricular: Sports, School Clubs.

Rich Central High. 3600 203rd. St., Olympia Fields, IL 60461, 708-747-6070.

Rich East High. Sauk Trail at Westwood, Park Forest, IL 60466, 708-748-5800.

Rich South High. 5000 Sauk Trail, Richton Park, IL 60471, 708-747-5500.

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

910 Woodlawn Ave.

Ford Heights, IL 60411

708-758-1370

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: P.E. Classes, Special Education, Hot Lunch Program, Art Instruction, Music Instruction.

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

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

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

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

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

Cottage Grove Middle. 800 E. 14th. St., Ford Heights, IL 60411, 708-758-1400.

Medger Evers Elementary. 1101 E. 10th. St., Ford Heights, IL 60411, 708-758-2520.

Phillips Elementary. 1401 Woodlawn Ave., Ford Heights, IL 60411, 708-758-2010.

1055 Berkeley Ave.

Ford Heights, IL 60411

708-757-1393

Business Hours/Days: 7:00 AM-5:00 PM, M-F.

Enrollment (Ages Enrolled): 3 to 5 years.

Tuition/Fees: Sliding scale fees.

Program(s) Offered: Child Care, Nursery/Preschool.

Licensing/Accreditation: Full License.

Facility/Equipment: Outdoor Playground, Outdoor Climbing Structure, Sheltered Play Area, Kitchen.

Activities: Art, Music, Singing, Science & Nature, Outdoor Play, Math Readiness, Reading Readiness, Stories, Creative Movement, Field Trips.

Materials: Housekeeping Props, Art Materials, Construction Toys, Musical Instruments, Children's Books, Learning Centers.

Services: Hot Lunch.

School's Comments: Parents must be working or in school or job training to qualify for program. Center serves primarily residents of Ford Heights, but also others in the 60411 zip code (Chicago Hgts., Sauk Village, and a small portion of Glenwood, Lynwood and Lansing.)

1400 Chicago Road

Chicago Heights, IL 60411

708-755-1351

Equipment/Physical Features: Ice Rink(s), Golf Course, Outdoor Playground(s), Gym(s), Swimming Pool(s), Sports Fields.

Parent/Tot & Children's Classes/Leagues/Camps: Basketball, Music, (Singing), Baseball, Baton, Swimming, Hockey, Ballet, Dance.

Adult Classes/Leagues/Activities: Golf, Computers, Financial Planning, Pet Obedience Training, Arts & Crafts, Dance, Volleyball, Softball, Fitness, Ju Jitsu, Hockey, Basketball, Karate

Senior Adult Classes/Clubs/Services/Programs: Pinochle, Men's Group, Women's Group, Trips, Fitness, Bowling, Bingo.

Special Needs: Physically Handicapped (Bloom Township Helping Hands Group, monthly meetings held at Bloom Township Center, 425 Halsted St. in Chicago Heights, 708-754-9400. Also sponsors an exercise group on T/Th. mornings from 10:30-11:30); Developmentally Delayed (Special People Involved in Recreation Together or S.P.I.R.I.T., for those 16 years of age or older with mental disabilities, sponsors activities such as bowling).

Facilities: News & Details: Most classes and activities are held at the Recreation Center or Bloom Township High School. Dog Obedience classes meet at Commisioners Park. Registration for classes can be brought in or mailed to the Chicago Heights Park District, 1400 Chicago Road, Chicago Heights IL 60411. Note: See preschool section above for details on the preschool/prekindergarten programs.