HS Board

School District: 59

Grade levels: k-5

Built:

Is it still standing? Yes

Is it still a school? Yes

History

We have very little information in our files on this school, anyone with materials related to the history of this school is invited to share them with the Historical Society.

School District: 21

Grade levels: K-5

Is it still standing? Yes

Is it still a school? Yes

History

Robert Frost School has been one of the most progressive schools in the area in its work with the diverse community in Mount Prospect. In 1997 they began organizing picnics and games with local police departments; in order to make the children comfortable with police officers and make information available on the services offered by the law enforcement agencies. In 1998 it underwent a major renovation, creating more multi use spaces and became the first school in District 21 to offer a bilingual program, serving students whose first language was Polish. In 2000 the school began hosting an annual Mexican Fiesta, to celebrate the diverse cultural history of the students and make the Latino families in the community feel more included and a part of the school system.

School District: 26

Grade levels: 5-8

Built: 1965

Is it still standing? Yes

Is it still a school? Yes

History

River Trails Middle School was named through a “Name the School” contest, which was won by 6th grader Lane Johnson. He wrote: “Many schools are named for people, but after a time their greatness may fade or even be forgotten, but a school with a name taken from nature…will never fade or be forgotten for nature is everlasting.” The school was built towards the end of the baby boom, although it has since felt the fluctuations in populations. During the baby boom, many schools were built to house the rapidly growing population, but as the population aged in the 1970s and ‘80s, many of these schools were demolished or consolidated. For example, in 1981 the Feehanville School was closed and the 5th and 6th grade students were transferred to River Trails, along with the bell from Feehanville’s cupola, which is now displayed in front of River Trails. With rising student populations in the 1990s school districts have found themselves short of space and missing the schools that were closed. Additions have been put onto the River Trails School in 1968, 1971, and 1991. However, these additions were not enough to hold the increasing population of students. In the late 1990s the school was forced to buy trailers to use as classrooms, as the population of the school had surpassed the space.