Francis W. Parker School (Chicago)

Francis W. Parker School
Address
Map
330 W. Webster Ave.

Chicago
,
Illinois
60614

United States
Coordinates41°55′22″N 87°38′16″W / 41.9227°N 87.6379°W / 41.9227; -87.6379
Information
School typeIndependent Private school
MottoEverything to help and nothing to hinder[1]
Opened1901[1]
FounderFrancis W. Parker[1]
CEEB code140830[2]
PrincipalDan Frank[3]
Staff265
GradesJunior Kindergarten–12
Gendercoeducational
Enrollment946 (Total; 2021–22)
Student to teacher ratio3.5:1
Education systemProgressive Education
Campus typeurban
Color(s)  blue
  white[4]
SloganEverything to help, nothing to hinder
Song"We Thy Children"
Athletics conferenceISL
MascotThe Colonel and The Eagle
Team nameColonels[4]
AccreditationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools[5]
NewspaperThe Weekly
YearbookThe Record
Tuition$40,910–$46,760[6]
Websitehttp://www.fwparker.org

Francis W. Parker School is an independent school serving students who live in the Chicago area from Pre-K through twelfth grade. Located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, the school is based on the progressive education philosophies of John Dewey and Colonel Francis Wayland Parker, emphasizing community and citizenship.[7] Tuition and fees range from $40,910 for kindergarten to $46,760 for grade 12.[6]

History

In 1899, Anita McCormick Blaine, interested in the unconventional education philosophy of Francis Wayland Parker, convinced him to establish an independent school in Chicago's North Side with her financial backing.[8]

Founded in 1901, Parker boasts the first official parents' association as well as one of the first school newspapers to be written, typeset, and printed by students: The Parker Weekly, which began publishing in 1911.[9]

Parker has 946[10] students, and has undergone considerable physical renovation between 2000 and 2009. Parker added an AstroTurf field which started construction in June 2012, and it was finished in September 2012. During the 2008–09 school year, the Auditorium was completely renovated, with new classrooms, more seating, office space and a balcony. In the 2016–17 school year, renovation began for the new Kovler family library. The new library includes a balcony, reading nooks, a Lego table, and movable bookshelves.[11][12]

Parker school formerly published Schools: Studies in Education, a national education journal featuring the narrative and analytic reflections of educators and students nationwide.[13] The school is a member of the Chicago Independent School League (ISL).[14]

Many notable figures have spoken at Parker during the school's tri-weekly assemblies known as "Morning Exercise," including Barack Obama, Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, and John Lewis. In addition, the Chicago Humanities Festival frequently utilizes Parker's auditorium for guest speakers. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Camille Paglia, and Ta-Nehisi Coates have all spoken at Parker's Heller Auditorium for the festival.

Student activities

Athletics

Parker is part of the Independent School League (ISL) athletic conference,[15] and its team name is the Colonel named after the school's founder, Colonel Francis Wayland Parker. In addition to Parker's colonel mascot, a new eagle mascot nicknamed "the Eagle" was introduced as an additional mascot as a way to better connect with younger students.[16]

Robotics

The Francis W. Parker Robotics Program, founded in the fall of 2002 has competed in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), FIRST Lego League (FLL), and MATE ROV Competition allowing students grades 6th through 12th to be on the teams.[17][18] The program's FTC team Robotheosis has won the Illinois State Championship twice[19] (2019, 2020), the team has won the Chicago League Inspire Award (the highest award given at each tournament) three times (2017, 2018, 2019), and the Chicago League Championship twice (2014, 2018). The team also runs the Chicago Robotics Invitational, a summer invitational off-season tournament in mid-July that sees 34 teams from around the world come to the school to compete in a modified version of the previous FTC season's game.

NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference

Francis W. Parker School is an annual participant in the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference, as a part of their stated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging[20][21].

The school considers it part of their mission to allow pupils to emerge "as student leaders in this challenging subject."[22] In addition, faculty members are able to attend the People of Color Conference, also put on by NAIS.

Notable alumni

Daryl Hannah
Ralph Horween
David Mamet
Mark Pincus

References

  1. ^ a b c A Brief History of Francis W. Parker School, Francis W. Parker School, 2010, archived from the original on September 16, 2009, retrieved April 4, 2010
  2. ^ High School Code Search, College Board, archived from the original on August 30, 2009, retrieved April 4, 2010
  3. ^ From Our Principal, Francis W. Parker School, 2010, archived from the original on March 22, 2010, retrieved April 4, 2010
  4. ^ a b Chicago (F.W. Parker), Illinois High School Association (IHSA), April 1, 2010, retrieved April 4, 2010
  5. ^ "Institution Summary for Francis W. Parker School", AdvancED profile, North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, retrieved April 4, 2010
  6. ^ a b "Francis W. Parker School Tuition | Located in Lincoln Park, Chicago". www.fwparker.org. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "Francis W. Parker School, Chicago". www.fwparker.org. Archived from the original on September 16, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "Building for a Long Future: The University of Chicago and Its Donors, 1889-1930".
  9. ^ The Francis W. Parker School yearbook, Volume 1
  10. ^ "Parker | Chicago | Discover Parker". www.fwparker.org. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "$5 Million New Library in Works for Francis Parker School - Lincoln Park - DNAinfo Chicago". Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  12. ^ Construction Complete: North Wing Renovation, Auditorium Renovation and Fourth Floor Addition Archived March 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Francis W Parker School
  13. ^ Francis W. Parker School Studies in Education, "The Individual and the Curriculum", The Elementary School Journal, September 1920
  14. ^ "Conferences & Affiliated Schools | Schools | IHSA".
  15. ^ Athletics
  16. ^ "Introducing the Newest Member of the Colonel Crew!". September 22, 2017.
  17. ^ "About". FWP ROBOTICS. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  18. ^ "Celebrating 20 Years of Robotics at Parker". Francis W. Parker School. October 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  19. ^ "Parker Robotics Wins Second Consecutive State Championship". Francis W. Parker School. February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  20. ^ Graines, Samantha. "Finding and Fostering Community". The Parker Weekly. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "Parker | Chicago | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging". www.fwparker.org. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "Upper School Students Participate in Diversity Leadership Conference". Francis W. Parker School. February 17, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h Akouris, Tina (February 10, 2009), "Francis W. Parker: A legacy of individual, team titles", Chicago Sun Times, retrieved April 4, 2010[permanent dead link‍]
  24. ^ Carreno, Richard (2011). Lord of Hosts: The Life of Sir Henry 'Chips' Channon. Philadelphia, PA: WritersClearinghousePress. pp. 43–46. ISBN 978-1-257-02549-7.
  25. ^ "Francis W.Parker School". Chicago Business. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  26. ^ Felsenthal, Carol (July 11, 2007). "The Lost World of Kup". chicagomag.com. p. 6. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  27. ^ Dinello, Dan (October 29, 1999) "Casting Director Puts Faces in Proper Places". The Oregonian. p. E5. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  28. ^ March 2008 Alumni e-Newsletter Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Parker Alumni Community
  29. ^ Katharine Q. Seelye, Astead W. Herndon: Ayanna Pressley Seeks Her Political Moment in a Changing Boston. In: The New York Times, 1 September 2018.