River Grove is a village of about 10,000 12 miles west of downtown Chicago. Recreational opportunities include the Forest Preserves along the Des Plaines River and the offerings of Veterans Park District. Grade-school-aged children attend districts 84.5 and 85.5, while secondary students go to East Leyden High, District 212. Triton Community College, with an enrollment of over 20,000, is located in River Grove. (See below for details on schools).

Transportation needs are served by area highways (I-90/Kennedy Expwy., I-290/Eisenhower Expwy.),and major local roads (Grand Ave., First Ave.). Commuter service to downtown is provided by Metra. Travel time to the downtown Chicago station is about 30 minutes (express). Local bus service is available from PACE. The RTA Travel Info. Number is 1-800-972-7000.

Village Hall: 708-453-8000 NICOR: 708-547-6400

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

Fire Dept. For emergencies, 708-453-2121. Otherwise, 708-453-9539 (Same for Police Dept.)

Public Library: 8638 Grand Avenue. 708-453-4484

Loyola University Medical Center: 708-216-9000 Oak Park Hospital: 708-383-9300

Westlake Community Hospital: 708-681-3000

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

3400 Rose St.

Franklin Park, IL 60131

708-451-3000

School System Statistics: See table below.

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

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 P.E., Special Education, Guidance, Library.

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

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

Extracurricular: Sports, Band, Chorus, School Clubs.

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

East Leyden High School. 3400 Rose St., Franklin Park, IL 60131, 708-451-3000,

West Leyden High School. 1000 N. Wolf Rd., Northlake, IL 60164, 708-451-3000.

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

8931 Fullerton Ave.

River Grove, IL 60171

708-453-1266

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Early Childhood, Special Education, Hot Lunch Program, P.E. Classes, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, Foreign Language (Grade 3 & up), English as a Second Language (ESL).

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

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

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

Curriculum: Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Music, P.E., Foreign Language, Technology (Computers), Environmental Education (emphasis at the middle school level). Additional courses at the middle school level are Home Economics, Industrial Arts, and Entrepreneur Education. Advanced Courses open to qualifying students include Pre-Algebra (7th. Grade), Algebra, and Biology (8th. Grade for both).

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

Special Needs: Learning Disabled, Gifted Students. Tutoring (Title 1 Reading), Resource Services, Counseling, Speech Therapy provided.

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

2650 Thatcher Ave.

River Grove, IL 60171

708-453-6172

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Early Childhood, Special Education, Hot Lunch Program, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, Preschool Screening, English as a Second Language (ESL).

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

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

Personnel: Teachers in academic curriculum areas, plus P.E..

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

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

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.

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.

800 N. 17th. Ave.

Melrose Park, IL 60160

708-343-5270

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

Parent/Tot & Children's Classes/Leagues/Camps: Music, Dance, Ballet, Gymnastics, Arts & Crafts, Cooking, Hockey, Basketball, Tae Kwon Do, Self-Defense, Swimming, Baseball.

Adult Classes/Leagues/Activities: Fitness, Swimming, Tae Kwon Do, Self-Defense, Arts & Crafts, Basketball, Pet Obedience Training, Tennis, Racquetball.

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

Special Needs: Physically Handicapped, Developmentally Delayed, Hearing-Impaired, Sight-Impaired.

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

Other Services: Preschool, Babysitting.

Editor's Note: Areas South of Grand Avenue and West of River Road are within the Veterans Park District boundaries.

2000 Fifth Ave.

River Grove, IL 60171

708-456-5886

Cernan Earth and Space Center, located on the Triton College Campus, is a Planetarium that offers a variety of programs and exhibits to the public. Facilities include the Dome Theater, where laser shows and films are shown, the Space Hall, with various exhibits and memorabilia, and the Star Store, with astronomy books, magazines, telescopes and more. Programs and Special Events include the Monthly Skywatch, Children's Workshops, Guest Lectures, and Field Trips to Yerkes Observatory.