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Education
The Aim is Excellence
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Palos Heights is served by four school districts noted for high quality programs and instruction. The four districts are Palos Community Consolidated School District 118, Palos Heights School District 128, Community High School District 218, and Consolidated High School District 230.
District 128 operates two elementary schools and a junior high school. District 118 also operates two elementary schools and a middle school. The district’s Palos East elementary is situated within the city’s boundaries.
Both districts emphasize the educational basics of reading, writing, and mathematics, augmenting these with athletics, art, and music. They also both provide special education programs for gifted students based on language arts.
District 218’s Alan B. Shepard High School serves Palos Heights and several neighboring communities. Students can choose from more than 200 different courses, including advanced placement courses, foreign language, computer programming, computer-aided design, robotics, graphic design, and desktop publishing. In addition, students can participate in a full roster of sports.
A wide range of extracurricular activities are available, including instrumental and vocal performing groups, drama groups, academic competitions, student government, various clubs and special interest groups, as well as student publications.
District 230’s Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. Located in Palos Hills, serves students living on the west side of Harlem Avenue. It also offers more than 200 courses designed to meet the academic needs of college-bound students and the training needs of career-oriented students.
Several private and parochial schools in Palos Heights offer alternatives to public school education. Among the schools are St. Alexander Catholic School, Palos Evangelical Lutheran Elementary School, and Chicago Christian High School. The latter offers the full range of college preparatory, business, and technology courses.
The aim of excellence is achieved in the schools of Palos Heights. Trinity Christian College purchased Navajo Hills Golf Course and remodeled the clubhouse and began a two-year liberal arts instruction program. The college grew steadily and by 1968 was offering baccalaureate degrees. Today, the 60-acre campus has grown considerably and has a student population of nearly 1,400.
Trinity Christian College awards both bachelor or arts and bachelor of science degrees. In addition the college offers professional studies, and a wide variety of internships with area businesses and organizations available to the students.
Palos Heights students can readily commute to Moraine Valley Community College, in nearby Palos Hills. Moraine Valley serves the local residents through classes, seminars, lectures, concerts, plays, and other activities.
Moraine Valley awards associate in arts and associate is science degrees in business, liberal arts, and sciences to students who transfer to nearby Governors State University or to a four-year institution to complete their degree work. It also awards degrees in applied science and certifications in other different fields. Governors State University is a regional university located in University Park and branch facilities in Homewood and Orland Park. The university complements community colleges by providing only the final two years toward a bachelor’s degree. It also offers master’s degree programs as well.
Moraine Valley Community College’s Center for Contemporary Technology houses business and industrial training programs and works with area business and industry to tailor education and training to match local needs. Its Procurement Assistance Center provides technical assistance to companies interested in selling goods and services to federal and state government. In doing so, it help create new jobs and retain existing ones.
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