Lincoln Prairie School

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Lincoln Prairie School is a primary and middle school located in Hoffman Estates, Cook County, Illinois. It opened in September of 1999 and initially served students from pre-kindergarten to seventh grade. In its second year of operation, the school expanded to include eighth graders. As of August 2006, the principal is Mr. Jake Chung. The most recently available statistics, from the 2005 school year, show a total enrollment of 384 students, which is expected to change very little in the coming year. The school's colors are hunter green and tan, and the mascot is the prairie dog.

[edit] Philosophy

Lincoln Prairie is distinguished from the rest of the District 54 schools by its unique philosophy, which results in a unique admissions policy as well. Unlike the rest of the district, wherein geography determines which school will be attended, students from across District 54 are eligible for admission to Lincoln Prairie. Because the school is much smaller than comparable schools in the area, admission is determined by a lottery held in the spring before the coming school year. Siblings of current students are automatically admitted. Children are eligible for a transfer out of their current District 54 schools at any time.

The School's curriculum is designed to give students real-world experience in working in groups on various projects. As such, few textbooks are utilized, and group projects are instead heavily emphasized. To foster social development, a multi-age system is used as opposed to the traditional K-8 grades. Kindergarten and first-grade students are grouped together, (known as the K-1s), as are the second- and third-graders (2-3s), fourth- and fifth- graders, (4-5s), and sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders (6-7-8s or, more commonly, Middle Level). According to the official website, the school is "focused on the original Greek meaning of school – "discussion" – an exchange of ideas and thoughts among learners".^[1]

[edit] PDT

One of the most distinctive elements of the LP curriculum is known as Project Development Time, or PDT. These special classes meet twice a week for 4-12 weeks to offer groups of students the chance to intensively study a particular subject of their choice. Past subjects have ranged from stagecraft to criminology to the history of Japan. PDTs generally have the intent of completing a project, be it making a PowerPoint presentation or preparing one aspect of the school play.