Evanston Schools

We love the Evanston schools. There are pros and cons to all - private included - but overall, we've had a great experience. And lots of my friends went to public school here and are well accomplished, many having gone to Ivy League schools. Test scores are really just an indication of diversity. The Evanston schools with higher test scores are those in North Evanston, which is wealthier and whiter. There's a pro and con to that situation as well. The curriculum is the same across the board and I hear good things about all schools and have friends with kids in all of them. The only school that people have some issues with is Oakton. For awhile there was a not so great principal and then a series of interim principals so it lacked direction. The population is more diverse than other schools and for some that was an issue in the classroom as well as with after school playdates, etc. On the other hand, I know people who love that school and their kids have thrived. It probably wouldn't be my first choice, but I'm not super informed about it. All other schools I would gladly send my kids to and personally would house hunt in any of their districts. Good luck! I think it's a great, diverse, interesting place to live.
PS: good preschools to check out: School for Little Children, Cherry Preschool, Total Child, Chiaravalle Montessori

Hi there! I have three children and the third is an October birthday starting Kindergarten in 2012 also! Our oldest is in 4th grade. We live in the Dewey district but go to King Lab. I have been quite pleased with the Evanston schools and love King Lab. It is a K-8 magnet school with an arts focus. There are kindergarten information nights coming up soon. You could attend some of these and get a good idea of what the school, teachers, were like. Check out www.district65.net for times, etc. Best of luck. We love Evanston and moved from the city 8 years ago.

Also check out greatschools.org. The site has not only test scores, rankings, etc. but also reviews by parents and others. It can be a helpful piece of the information search for schools. Good luck!

Hi A.,

My children don't currently attend the Evanston schools, but I grew up in Evanston, and my parents, siblings, and I all attended the Evanston public schools. We had very good experiences (my most recent data is from the high school, from which my youngest siblings graduated 4 years ago). I attended Orrington Elementary School and loved it. The only negative thing I can say about the high school is that it's huge. Otherwise, I had great experiences there. They offer challenging academic classes and there are lots of wonderful extracurricular activities. I highly recommend giving the public schools a try.

Best,
R.