Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163 Explained

Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163
Address:	242 S Orchard Dr
City:	Park Forest
State:	Illinois
Zipcode:	60466
Country:	United States
Type:	Public
Grades:	PreK–8
Students:	1,494

Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163 (SD163) is a school district headquartered in Park Forest, Illinois.^[1] It serves sections of Chicago Heights.

History

In 2016 the district had over 2,000 students.^[2] In 2019 the district had 1,838 students.^[3]

In 2019 a board member resigned but then remained on the school board, and there was a political controversy over the board's internal management.^[3] In response to a board member using an SD163-issued charge card to pay for $5,000 of expenses, the board passed a policy regulating the cards.^[4]

Curriculum

In 2019 SD163 and Chicago Arts Partnership in Education secured a $2.3 million grant to add arts education to the curriculum.^[5]

Schools

SD163 decided to have its upper schools focus on particular concepts.^[2]

Grades 6-8

• Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts
  • In 2016 the school received its current gymnasium with stage, eight additional classrooms, and a multipurpose room. Co-principal Cheryl L. Muench stated that Michelle Obama School had a "relaxed atmosphere".^[2]

Grades 4-5

• Barack Obama School of Leadership and STEM

Grades Kindergarten to 3

• 21st Century Primary Center
• Blackhawk Primary Center
• Mohawk Primary Center

Preschool

• Algonquin Pre-Kindergarten Center

External links

• Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163

Notes and References

1. Web site: Home. Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163. 2021-07-11. 242 S. Orchard Drive Park Forest, Illinois IL 60466.
2. Web site: Denk. Angela. Park Forest middle school unveils new classrooms, gymnasium. Chicago Tribune. 2016-09-30. 2021-07-11.
3. Web site: Slowik. Ted. Southland school district under fire for board vacancy issue: 'I've been part of some shady stuff. This rises to the top.'. Chicago Tribune. 2019-05-01. 2021-07-11.
4. Web site: Slowik. Ted. Slowik: School board adopts new policy to address members' use of charge cards. Chicago Tribune. 2019-03-26. 2021-07-11.
5. Web site: Houlihan. Patty. $2.3M grant will help incorporate arts into all areas of education in Park Forest, Chicago Heights schools. Chicago Tribune. 2019-03-16. 2021-07-11.