“Life Ready.” That is the motto of River Trails School District 26. Prairie Trails School is a part of that district. Let’s delve into the story of this school.
Prairie Trails School is located at 805 N. Burning Bush Lane in Mount Prospect, Illinois. It is part of River Trails School District 26. The district serves portions of Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, and Des Plaines.
River Trails School District 26 aims to ensure students are “Life Ready.” The district wants its students to value relationships. They want them to contribute to the larger community. The district also wants students to appreciate individual cultures. They should respect diversity.
To be “Life Ready” means taking responsibility. It means thriving in a safe environment. It means establishing goals and demonstrating honesty.
The district provides a standards-aligned curriculum. It supports all students. Classrooms offer differentiated instruction. Teachers use assessments like the Illinois Assessment of Readiness. They also use Measures of Academic Progress and AIMSWEB testing.
Technology plays a vital role in instruction. The district has been a 1:1 Chromebook district for grades K-8 for the past five years. Elementary students engage in coding activities weekly. Middle schoolers code using Minecraft, drones, and robots.
Prairie Trails School is led by Principal Amy Veytsman and Assistant Principal Natalie Hudson. The school secretary is Mary Cannata.
River Trails Elementary School District 26 has a rich history. It was organized as the Feehanville School District in 1895. It remained rural for 70 years. The district experienced significant growth in the 1960s. In 1964, the district’s name changed to River Trails.
In 1995, the district celebrated its 100th anniversary. The community’s history is closely tied to the school district. The district takes pride in its dedicated staff. It values its well-maintained buildings.
The district has four school buildings. There is one PreK-K building. Two buildings serve elementary students in grades 1-5. One middle school serves grades 6-8. An Education Service Center houses administrative offices.
District 26 offers special education programs. It aims to meet the unique needs of all learners. The district employs over 130 teachers and specialists. Over 50% have earned advanced degrees.
Each school has a parent-teacher organization. These groups sponsor events and fundraising. They also provide volunteer services.
Prairie Trails School continues to evolve. It adapts to meet the changing needs of its students. The school strives to provide a supportive learning environment. It focuses on preparing students for future success.