Donald C Parker Early Educ Center

www.harlem122.org

553 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - K

School Overview

The Donald C. Parker Early Education Center, located at 808 Harlem Road in Machesney Park, Illinois, is a specialized facility operating under the Harlem School District (District 122). The center serves as the district’s primary hub for early childhood development, focusing specifically on preschool-aged children. Its core mission is to provide a structured, supportive environment that prepares young learners for the transition into kindergarten by fostering foundational social, emotional, and academic skills.

The school is well-regarded for its emphasis on "learning through play" and developmentally appropriate practices. By utilizing a curriculum tailored to early learners, the center helps students build essential cognitive abilities and literacy foundations while encouraging curiosity and social interaction. Because it is a dedicated early education facility, the staff is highly specialized in the developmental needs of children in the 3-to-5-year-old age range, ensuring that every student receives a personalized approach to their early school experience.

553

Total Students

34.4

Full-Time Teachers

16.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Donald C Parker Early Educ Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	343
Hispanic	102
Black	40
Asian	9
Two or More	55
American Indian	4

White
343 (62.0 %)
Hispanic
102 (18.4 %)
Two or More
55 (9.9 %)
Black
40 (7.2 %)
Asian
9 (1.6 %)
American Indian
4 (0.7 %)

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:	Harlem UD 122
Phone:	(815)654-4559
Website:	http://www.harlem122.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - K
Total Students:	553
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	34.4
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (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 146

Kindergarten 407