Francis W. Parker School (Chicago)

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Francis W. Parker School
Established	1901
Type	Private
Grades	JK–12
Location	Chicago, Illinois USA
Mascot	Colonels
Newspaper	The Weekly
Website	[1]

Francis W. Parker School is an independent day school serving students from junior kindergarten through grade twelve of high school. Located in Chicago's Lincoln Park, the school is based on the progressive educational philosophies of John Dewey and Colonel Francis Wayland Parker, emphasizing community and citizenship. Francis Parker was a pioneer of progressive education. He believed that education must include the complete development of an individual- mental, physical, and moral. He was considered the father of progressive education.

Founded in 1901, Parker boasts the first official parents' association and the oldest student-run newspaper in North America, The Weekly.

Parker's student government is unique in that it is the only school in the nation where meetings are attended by the entire student body as a regular class period. One of many traditions at Parker, full participation in student government is consistent with a motto by founder Colonel Parker: "A school should be a model home, a complete community, an embryonic democracy."

Parker has approximately 900 students, and has, over the last decade, undergone tremendous physical renovation. Similarly, Parker recently announced its publication of Schools: Studies in Education, a national education journal featuring the narrative and analytic reflections of educators and students nationwide.

The Mission Statement of the Francis W. Parker School is a comprehensive statement of the principles not only of the the school community, but also of the greater field of Progressive Education:

The mission of the Francis W. Parker School is to cultivate in its students qualities of character and citizenship that can guide them through life as resourceful, thoughtful and active participants in a democratic society.

Parker aims to be a school where students and teachers thrive on their involvement with ideas and with each other. Through inquiry in the academic subjects, experience in the visual and performing arts, and participation in physical activity and community service, our school intends to inspire each student to strive for excellence and creativity in order to know the pleasures of learning and the value of contributing to the progress and improvement of society. We believe that engagement in each of these areas shapes the intellectual development, emotional maturity and moral life of the growing student.

Our vision is to create a culture in which students and teachers work together to build a humane and joyful school where trust and respect engenders in each person a disposition to question, to reflect, to sustain effort, and to act with empathy, confidence and integrity. Deliberately composed of a diverse group of people, Parker respects the individuality of each student and believes that responsibility, collaboration and intellectual curiosity develop when students are known and feel appreciated by their teachers and classmates, and are encouraged to do their best by stretching themselves beyond their own current achievements and points of view.

Our commitment is to support a community of learners where students feel free and safe and able to explore their imaginations, share who they are becoming, and know the richness of heritage, interests and passions, both their own and those of others. Our purpose is to develop citizens who, with their teachers, connect the experience of the classroom with life throughout the school, with our broader society and with the wider world.

A Parker education leads students to develop the self-discipline, independence of mind and collaborative spirit necessary to apply their values, skills, knowledge and ideas to think and act as vigorous participants in the life of our democracy. In these ways, our school strives to connect reflection with action, insight with innovation, deeds with consequences, and character with citizenship.

The Francis W. Parker School is a member of the Chicago Independent School League (Independent School League (Illinois)).