Keshet was founded 28 years ago by a group of Jewish parents who were concerned about the futures of their children who had special needs. Today, Keshet provides community-based educational, recreational and vocational programs to children, teens and young adults with developmental disabilities. The school's goal is to enable them to participate as fully as possible in mainstream society.
Students of Keshet share lunch periods, prayer services and other activities with children attending the Sager Solomon Schechter Day and Middle Schools, all housed in the same building on Dundee Road. Keshet's administrative offices are located at 617 Landwehr Road.
Students from Glenview, Northbrook and unincorporated Northfield Township attend Field Middle School, which is led by Principal Erin Murphy. Opened in 1965, the school added a fine arts wing and auditorium in 1991. Special programs include an artist in residence, "Field Idol" competition and annual school musical.
Principal Christopher Finch heads up Westmoor, one of three elementary schools in District 28. Instruction focuses on literacy, writing and math, with additional classwork in social studies and science. Beginning in third grade, students may participate in orchestra, and in fourth grade they may join the school band. Fifth graders study French or Spanish. Unique to Westmoor is Skillsurfing, a program designed to teach social emotional literacy and prevent bullying. Skillsurfing is taught in every classroom twice a week.
Children's Learning Path Montessori School's programs are designed to encourage self-expression and allow children to learn at their own rate. The curriculum includes music lessons and Spanish classes. The school offers morning and full-day preschool, and full-day kindergarten classes. An eight-week summer program teaches drama, arts and crafts, nature walks and gardening.
Headed by Principal Corrine Hehn, Hickory Point is Northbrook's "primary center," serving kindergarteners through second-graders. As part of district 27's Project 2010, construction workers added six new classrooms, a Learning Garden and new office space to the original building. The renovation was completed in 2009.