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. Tuition and fees range from $36,480 for kindergarten to $42,300 for grade 12.
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.
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.
Parker has 946 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 will include a balcony, reading nooks, a Lego table, and movable bookshelves.
Parker school formerly published Schools: Studies in Education, a national education journal featuring the narrative and analytic reflections of educators and students nationwide. The school is a member of the Chicago Independent School League (ISL).
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, 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.
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. The program's FTC team 3507 Robotheosis has won the Illinois State Championship twice (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 country come to the school to compete in a modified version of that seasons FTC Game.
Notable alumni
Paul Adelstein, actor
Jonathan Alter, liberal journalist, critic, author, and editor for Newsweek. Jennifer Beals, actress (Flashdance, Devil in a Blue Dress, The L Word). Margaret Bonds, composer, pianist, and activist. Sir Henry Channon, Member of Parliament (U.K.), diarist. Carl Diehl, All-American college football player at Dartmouth Bobby Florsheim, screenwriter Eric Forsberg, filmmaker Matt Friend, comedian Chuck Gelatka, football player Edward Gorey, writer and illustrator Justin Hall, pioneer blogger Daryl Hannah, actress (Blade Runner, Splash, Kill Bill). Sarah Haskins, comedian Anne Heche, actress (Donnie Brasco, Psycho, Six Days Seven Nights). Katharine Holabird, author Celeste Holm, Oscar-winning actress Arnold Horween, Harvard Crimson and NFL football player Ralph Horween, Harvard Crimson and NFL football player Peter Jacobson, actor Ian Keith (1899–1960), actor of theater and film who worked opposite John Wayne in The Big Trail and with directors D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille. Eric Klinenberg, sociologist and author Karyn Kupcinet, actress Amy Landecker, actress Kate Levant, artist