Oak Park is a village of about 54,000 9 miles west of downtown Chicago. The town has a longer history than most suburbs, having been in existence for over a century. Recreational opportunities include the Park District's programs and the Children's Museum of Oak Park. Grade school-aged children attend one of district 97's 10 schools, while secondary students go to Oak Park-River Forest High School, district 200. (See below for details on schools).

Transportation needs are served by area highways (I-290/Eisenhower Expwy.), and major local roads (Washington St., Harlem Ave.). Commuter service to downtown is provided by Metra or the CTA's Elevated train. Travel time to the downtown Chicago station is about 20 minutes. Local bus service is available from PACE. The RTA Travel Info. Number is 1-800-972-7000.

Village Hall: 708-383-6400 NICOR: 708-547-6400

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

Fire Dept. For emergencies, 911. Otherwise, 708-383-6409

Police Dept.: 911 for emergencies. Otherwise, 708-386-3800

Public Library: 834 Lake. 708-383-8200 (Main branch); 845 Gunderson Ave., 708-386-4751 (Maze Branch), 255 Augusta Blvd., 708-386-9032 (Dole Branch).

Loyola University Medical Center: 708-216-9000 West Suburban Hospital: 708-883-6200

Westlake Community Hospital: 708-681-3000 Oak Park Hospital: 708-383-9300

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

201 N. Scoville Ave.

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-383-0700

School System Statistics: See table below.

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

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

Accreditation: Yes. State Board of Education, Regional Accrediting Agency (North Central Association of Colleges & Schools or NCACSS).

Features: Music Room/Area, Gym(s), Computer(s)/Computer Lab(s), Science Lab(s), Library, Auditorium/Stage, Swimming Pools, Fieldhouse, Outdoor Stadium/Arena, Cafeteria, Art Room/Area, Writing Center.

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

Curriculum/Courses: Basic Math, Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, Creative Writing, Journalism, American History, World History, Government, American Studies, Consumer Education, Physical Science, Earth Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Band, Chorus, Art, P.E./Gym, Health

Elective Courses: General Business, Introduction to Computers, Keyboarding, Word Processing, Investments, Speedwriting, Desktop Publishing, Computer Programming, Fashion Merchandising, Accounting, Bookkeeping, Management, Microcomputer Graphics, Journalism, Creative Writing, Journal Writing, Expository Writing, English Literature, American Literature, Humanities, Contemporary Literature & Composition, Debate, Oral Communication, Dramatic Arts, African History, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, African-American History, Philosophy, Human Behavior, Social Problems, Asian Studies, Global Studies, European History, Astronomy, Aviation Science, Microbiology, Health, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Latin, Etymology, Band, Chorus, Orchestra, Music Literature, Foundations of Music, Guitar, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Art History, History of Film, Graphic Design.

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

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation, Summer School.

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

Extracurricular: Sports, Orchestra, Band, Chorus, School Clubs.

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

970 Madison St.

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-524-3000

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Foreign Language (Fee-based, K-6); part of regular program (grades 7-8), Music Instruction, Choral (grades 7-8), Art Instruction, P.E. Classes, Computer Literacy, Early Childhood (4 year. old PreK, fee-based - 1/2 day), At-risk PreK is available - no fee if eligibility requirements are met, Special Education, Counseling, Summer School (fee-based) - designed for enrichment, not remedial; Hot Lunch Program, Band, Orchestra (Elementary - meet weekly; Junior High - meet daily); Foreign Languages (elective in Junior High, fee-based for K-6), PTA, Extra-Curricular Activities, Sports, Gifted Program, English as a Second Language (ESL).

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

Features: Music Room/Area, Gym(s), Library, Cafeteria, Art Room/Area, Computer(s)/Computer Lab(s), Auditorium/Stage, Outdoor Playground (Grades K-6).

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

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

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation, Summer School.

Special Needs: Gifted/Talented students. All categories of Special Needs students. Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Counseling provided.

Extracurricular: School Clubs, Sports, Band, Orchestra.

District Schools:

Emerson Junior High. 916 Washington Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3050.

Percy Julian Junior High. 416 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3040.

William Beye Elementary. 230 Ontario St., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3070.

William Hatch Elementary. 1000 N. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3095.

Oliver W. Holmes Elementary. 508 N. Kenilworth Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3100.

Irving Elementary. 1125 S. Cuyler Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3090.

Abraham Lincoln Elementary. 1111 S. Grove, Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3110.

Longfellow Elementary. 715 S. Highland Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3060.

Horace Mann Elementary. 921 N. Kenilworth Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3085.

Whittier Elementary. 715 N. Harvey Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-3080.

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. *P.D. indicates Park District programs. Resident rates are quoted.

218 Madison

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-383-0002

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

Parent/Tot & Children's Classes/Leagues/Camps: Ice Skating, Hockey, Arts & Crafts, Music, Reading/Stories, Dance, Ballet, Gymnastics, Modeling, Soccer, Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Cheerleading, Bicycling, Tae Kwon Do, Science, Horseback Riding, Cooking, Tennis, Babysitting, Computers, Theater, Softball, Swimming, Bowling.

Adult Classes/Leagues/Activities: Ice Skating, Hockey, Arts & Crafts, Pet Obedience Training, Financial Planning, Fitness, Dance, Yoga, Aikido, Tennis, Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Flag Football, Gardening, Swimming.

Senior Adult Classes/Clubs/Services/Programs: Fitness, Dance, Golf, Crafts, Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Chamber Music Ensemble, Yoga, Film Appreciation, Swimming, Bridge, Euchre, Pinochle, Bingo, Trips, Tours, Newsletter, Bowling.

Other Services: Preschool.