Winnetka Public Schools-District 36 history

In October 1859 The Winnetka Public Schools opened its first classes in a building at the corner of Elm and Maple Streets, on what is now the Village Green.

Buoyed by that bold spirit this band of citizens committed to that goal, forming Winnetka's first school board in 1892.

Student body outgrows Walnut St building; moves to Academy Hall until 1899.

New Trier, founded in 1901, serves approximately 4,000 students and maintains a student to teacher ratio of 14:1.

School opens January, 1913.

Until 1915 the children in the northern part of Winnetka received their elementary education at Lakeside School, a two-story frame structure at the corner of Burr and Tower Roads that was subsequently closed.

By 1918 both Greeley and Hubbard Woods Schools were opened and the land was purchased for the building of Skokie School.

In May, 1919, they hired Carleton W. Washburne as the superintendent of schools.

The Skokie School was the District junior high school beginning in 1920.

The Winnetka Historical Society was founded in 1932 and currently owns and operates two historic buildings in Winnetka.

In 1939, Superintendent Carleton Washburne called upon a firm of young, progressive architects, Perkins, Wheeler, and Will to collaborate with the famous Finnish architects Eliel and Eero Saarinen, and to draw up a plan for a new type of school.

Visitors have come from all parts of the world: staff members have lectured, taught, and demonstrated Winnetka techniques here and abroad." (Moss, 1954).

Since 1959, children have attended "Adventures" to explore such topics as model rocket building, creative dramatics, and pet care.

The Skokie School was closed in 1978, but certainly not forgotten.

In 1990 Crow Island School was designated a National Historic Landmark.

The south half opens to 5th graders in 2000.

All of the District's schools have been included on the Illinois State Honor Roll for Academic Excellence since 2005, Academic Excellence Awards recognize schools that have sustained very high academic performance over at least three years.

Carleton Washburne School has had several additions and renovations throughout the years, the most recent addition dedicated in 2009.

According to the Census, there were 4,102 households in Winnetka in 2010 and the average household size was 2.97.

Winnetka was named "one of the best places to live" by 24/7 Wall Street in 2020.