It’s not just our beaches, restaurants, boutiques, bakeries, bookstores, theaters, museums, parks, and other points of interest that make Evanston so great. And it’s not just our housing stock that ranges from sophisticated high rises to vintage elegance and from stately mansions to classic bungalows and access to convenient public transportation too. It’s also our excellent public and private schools.
New for the 2025-2026 school year, the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 is simplifying your back-to-school preparations by covering school supplies for all K-8 students. Instead of providing parents with a supply lists, as they’ve done in the past, an instructional supply fee will be included in the annual student fees.
The reason: To ensure that every student has what they need – and to remove the burden from the busy families who previously needed to shop for the items.
The fees are $50 for full-paying students, $25 for those qualifying for reduced-price meals, and no charge for students qualifying for free meals. Online free/ reduced price meal applications for the 2025-2026 school year opened on Friday, August 1, 2025. Fees are due by the start of the school year.
As for Evanston Township High School (ETHS), the high school is recommending that students have a backpack with a laptop sleeve, pens, pencils, colored pencils, highlighters, erasers, notebook and graph paper, a ruler, and a calculator are being recommended.
Students may also want to have some pocket folders, a three-ring binder, hand sanitizer, and pocket tissues.
For math classes, students in Pre-Algebra through Geometry will need a basic scientific calculator, while students in higher-level courses such as Algebra 2 and above are encouraged to have a TI-84+ or TI-83+ graphing calculator. Students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals may rent calculators, and those in advanced classes will be loaned one by the school.
Finally, the physical education (PE) department requires all students to wear a PE uniform and use a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) band. Both items provided by the school for freshmen and transfer students.
Gym shoes are also necessary for participation in PE classes, and students will also need a swimsuit for the swimming unit. Look for the many back-to-school sales if you want to try to save money on these items.
One for thing about PE classes: They utilize ETHS-issued Chromebooks, so students should bring a charged device to class when required.
Additional or replacement PE uniforms can be purchased at the PE Office or online.
Need more information? Here are quick links to the website for all of the schools in Evanston, including private and college-level:
Elementary
- Dawes Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Dewey Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Kingsley Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Lincoln Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Lincolnwood Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Oakton Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Orrington Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Walker Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Washington Elementary School (Grades K-5)
- Willard Elementary School (Grades K-5)
Middle
- Chute Middle School (Grades 6-8)
- Haven Middle School (Grades 6-8)
- Nichols Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Magnet
- Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies (Grades K-8)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Literary & Fine Arts School (Grades K-8)
Other
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- Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center (Ages Birth-5 years-old)
- Park School (Ages 3-21)
- Rice Education Center (Grades 1-8)
High School
Private
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- Baker Demonstration School (Grades K-8)
- Beacon Academy, Montessori High School
- Chiaravalle Montessori School (Ages 2–14)
- Fusion Academy (Grades 6-12)
- Midwest Montessori School (Ages 3-6)
- Pope John XXIII School (Pre-K-*
- Roycemore School (Pre-K-12)
- Saint Athanasius School (Pre-K–8)
College
Check them out through the links above, particularly those in the neighborhoods you’re considering. I think you’ll love what you discover.
