Ridge Early Childhood Center

www.d142.org

245 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - K

School Overview

Ridge Early Childhood Center, located in Oak Forest, Illinois, is a specialized educational facility dedicated to the foundational development of the community's youngest learners. Serving as a hub for early childhood education within the district, the center focuses on creating a nurturing and structured environment tailored to the developmental needs of preschoolers. By emphasizing play-based learning and social-emotional growth, the school aims to prepare children for a smooth transition into primary school, fostering both academic readiness and essential interpersonal skills.

The facility is designed to support diverse learning styles, often incorporating early intervention programs and inclusive practices to ensure all students receive individualized attention during these critical formative years. With a curriculum centered on exploration and discovery, Ridge Early Childhood Center serves as a vital resource for Oak Forest families, providing a secure setting where children can build their confidence, curiosity, and love for learning under the guidance of specialized early childhood educators.

245

Total Students

13.0

Full-Time Teachers

18.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Ridge Early Childhood Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	122
Hispanic	83
Black	25
Asian	7
Two or More	8

White
122 (49.8%)
Hispanic
83 (33.9%)
Black
25 (10.2%)
Two or More
8 (3.3%)
Asian
7 (2.9%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Forest Ridge SD 142
Phone:	(708)687-2964
Website:	http://www.d142.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - K
Total Students:	245
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	13.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 108

Kindergarten 133

Grade 1 4