Franklin Park is a village of about 18,500 14 miles west of downtown Chicago. The town contains a large number of electronics manufacturing firms, including Matsushita. Residential development consists of mainly single family brick houses. Veterans Park District serves the community and elementary districts 81, 83 and 84 educate grade school-aged children. Secondary students go to East or West Leyden High Schools, District 212. (See below for details on schools).

Transportation needs are served by area highways (I-294/Tri-State Tollway, I-90/Kennedy Expwy.), and major local roads (Mannheim Rd., Grand Ave.). Commuter service to downtown is provided by Metra Milwaukee District West Line (MD-W). Travel time to the downtown Chicago station is about 25-35 minutes. Local bus service is available from PACE. The RTA Travel Info. Number is 1-800-972-7000.

Village Hall: 708-343-4000 NICOR: 708-547-6400

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

Fire Dept. For emergencies, 911 Otherwise, 708-671-8262

Police Dept.:For emergencies, 911. Otherwise, 708-671-8200

Public Library: 10311 Grand Ave.. 708-455-6016

Loyola University Medical Center: 708-216-9000 MacNeal Hospital: 708-795-9100

Westlake Community Hospital: 708-681-3000 Oak Park Hospital: 708-383-9300

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.

9750 Fullerton Ave.

Franklin Park, IL 60131

708-455-4230

School System Statistics: See table below.

District-Wide Programs: Special Education, Early Childhood, P.E. Classes, Art Instruction, Music Instruction, Hot Lunch Program, Before/After-school Care (through Small World Learning Center, for grades K-5, at Passow and South Elementary Schools, 708-455-8181 and 708-455-5678, respectively, for information), English as a Second Language (ESL).

Features: Gym(s), Music Room/Area, Art Room/Area, Library, Auditorium/Stage, Cafeteria, Outdoor Playground (Grades K-5).

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

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

Extras: Hot Lunch, Field Trips, Transportation.

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

Hester Junior High. 2836 Gustave St., Franklin Park, IL 60131, 708-455-2150.

North Elementary. 9500 Gage St., Franklin Park, IL 60131, 708-678-7962.

South Elementary. 9750 Fullerton Ave., Franklin Park, IL 60131, 708-455-7960.

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.

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.

9560 Franklin Ave.

Franklin Park, IL 60131

708-455-2852

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

Parent/Tot & Children's Classes/Leagues/Camps: Dance, Arts & Crafts, Theater, Football, Soccer, Cheerleading, Karate, Bowling, Fitness, Reading/Stories, Music, Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics, Ice Skating, Ice Hockey, Ballet, Swimming, Softball, Baseball (Both softball & baseball are Park District Affiliates. 708-678-3585 for info. or to help coach).

Adult Classes/Leagues/Activities: Dance, CPR, Fashion/Appearance, Pet Obedience Training, Computers, Women's Self-Defense, Financial Planning, Arts & Crafts, Softball, Floor Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Touch Football, Fitness, Ice Skating, Swimming, Ice Hockey.

Senior Adult Classes/Clubs/Services/Programs: Fitness.

Special Needs: Physically Handicapped, Developmentally Delayed, Hearing-Impaired, Sight-Impaired, Member of West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA), 2915 Maple, 708-455-2100.

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

Other Services: Preschool, Child Care, Summer Day Camp.

Facilities: News & Details: Most classes and activities meet at the Franklin Park Community Center, 9560 Franklin Avenue.