School decisions are important for young families, so it makes sense to plan ahead and think carefully. For so many city-dwelling parents, a move to a Chicagoland suburb means access to school districts and programs that just make good sense. What is the best suburb of Chicago for your first move out of the city?
If you’re ready to make this move, but not completely ready to wave goodbye to a city lifestyle, the Village of Niles offers just what you’re looking for, says Katie Schneider, Community Engagement Coordinator with the Village of Niles.
“Niles is really the best of urban and suburban, with great proximity to everything, which is really important when you have a family. You’re never spending an hour in the car,” Schneider says. “Parking is easier, too, and that matters when you have two or three kids and are running to the store.”
Award-winning schools for your whole family
Best of all, the schools that are accessible to you as a resident of Niles, from preschool programs to high school, offer the choice you need. And when you join a school in Niles, you aren’t just sending your child to a classroom full of new friends, your whole family is joining an educational community.
“Preschool programs are crucial because they are the transition to your child’s formal education. Niles is a diverse and welcoming community, so when you drop your child off for the first time at a preschool, you know that your child will be surrounded by qualified and caring teachers,” Schneider says. The fact that the majority of teachers are parents with their own children in schools in the Niles community says a lot about the quality choices available here, she says.
As your family grows and you begin considering elementary schools, it’s helpful to know that Niles has multiple school districts to serve families. District 71 is a single-school district and all students who attend this district are residents of the Village of Niles. At Culver Elementary School, students in grades PreK-8 engage in enriching and challenging learning experiences.
“Culver is a great example of one of our award-winning schools here in Niles, and Culver has received an A-plus rating from the State of Illinois for educational excellence,” Schneider says.
A second — and also award-winning — district is Maine East, which is a high school district.
“As a high school district, Maine East becomes a conversation for parents eight years later when they are thinking about their child’s high school education,” Schneider says. “Maine East has one of the hardest working administrations you will experience. The scores and improvement benchmarks show this. Follow our schools and you will see that they win awards and have incredible teachers.”
As part of a diverse community, the school districts in Niles support children who speak English as a second language, “and that’s what makes our teachers so skilled and unique,” says Schneider. “It’s an incredible experience for everyone who is part of our amazing educational communities.”
Growing roots, making friends
A great school is what’s important to you as a parent, but your child may just want to know that they will live in a neighborhood where they can make some good friends. Over the last decade, Niles has benefitted from an influx of young families who are looking to establish roots and become part of a family-focused community.
Kids love to have space to roam and play, and in Niles, homes have front yards and backyards, an instant boost of green space over what’s available in the city of Chicago. An engaged and responsive park district program maintains a water park, batting cages, mini golf, baseball fields and accessible outdoor spaces for all families. In all, residents have access to as many as 10 parks, plus a fitness center with an indoor pool and water slide.
“The North Branch Trail System of the Forest Preserves of Cook County runs straight through Niles and many families can access it directly from their backyard. There’s plenty of wildlife to experience and it’s really a nice blend of urban and suburban,” Schneider says.
In addition to affordability and a high return on investment for property taxes, members of the Village of Niles want to make it easy for families to get to know each other.
“George D. Alpogianis is the mayor here in Niles and he’s a huge proponent of encouraging block parties,” says Schneider. Recognizing that families sometimes need a little nudge to socialize, the Village designed a program to give people some block party infrastructure.
“We will bring a grill and tables and tents and chairs right to your block party. We will bring them to you and set them up for you, right in the middle of your street,” Schneider explains. “It’s a really cool idea.”
Holiday home decorating contests create a fun sense of competition among neighbors and everyone enjoys voting for their favorite decorated house on Halloween or Christmas.
“The village works hard to engage residents because that translates to neighbors and friends looking out for each other,” Schneider says.
Content sponsored by the Village of Niles. Learn why Niles should be your family’s hometown. Visit loveniles.com.
