EDUCATION IN ORLAND PARK
IS TOP-NOTCH By Diane Krieger Spivak
O
rland Park offers a high-quality education for students of all ages, from pre-kindergarten through college-age at nearby institutions of higher learning. Orland School District 135 has deep roots in the Village of Orland Park, dating all the way back to 1849, where local children pursued their education in a one-room schoolhouse. Since then, the school district has grown to include 10 elementary and junior high schools, educating more than 5,000 students. All 10 schools have earned an Exemplary or Commendable rating from the Illinois State Board of Education for the 20192020 academic year. Consolidated High School District 230 includes Carl Sandburg High School and Victor J. Andrew High School. Carl Sandburg High School has an enrollment of 2,816, and boasts a 96% graduation rate and an 86% postsecondary enrollment. The school offers 293 courses and programs in academics,
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Orland Park 2021 Community Guide
career development, physical education and health, athletics and other programs and activities. Victor J. Andrew High School, in Orland Hills, has an enrollment of 2,246, and offers 289 courses and programs in academics, career development, physical education and health, athletics and other programs and activities. Andrew High School also boasts a 96% graduation rate and ranks in the top 10% of Illinois high schools. Nearby colleges and universities in the surrounding area serving Orland Park residents include Governors State University, Moraine Valley Community College and Rasmussen College. Governors State University, in University Park, offers certification, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, dual degree, and online programs, as well as majors and minors in all of its colleges. GSU colleges include Arts & Sciences, Business, Health, Education and Health & Human Services.
Moraine Valley Community College, in Palos Hills, is an original member of the prestigious League for Innovation in the Community College, an international, non-profit association that works to catalyze the community college movement. Moraine Valley is also one of 12 community colleges nationwide recognized as a national Vanguard Learning College, indicating that the college is learning-centered and actively works to advance teaching and learning at the college. It is also in the top 3% of the 2,839 two- and four-year U.S. institutions granting associate degrees, and first in multi-interdisciplinary studies (Associate in Science degree).
Rasmussen University’s Mokena/Tinley Park campus offers more than 50 careerfocused programs in nursing, business, education, technology, health, justice and design. Rasmussen University is the #1 educator of Associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN) grads in the country. Rasmussen offers programs from fully online to on-campus courses. www.orlandparkchamber.org
