2016
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Award Winners

NBRS Badge for Walden Elementary School

Walden Elementary School - Deerfield, IL

Walden 4th graders engaged in a SmartLabTM Learning Launcher activity!

Walden 4th graders engaged in a SmartLabTM Learning Launcher activity!

Walden Elementary School serves K-5 students in Deerfield, Illinois, a northern Chicago suburb of about 18,000 residents, as well as many corporate headquarters, research centers and facilities for well-known national/international companies.

Walden provides an ideal environment for its high-achieving, 21st century learners to maximize their potential. The school is transforming its spaces and its teaching to enrich students' experiences beyond traditional lessons and learning environments.

Innovation occurs at Walden because teachers have the excitement, creativity and resources to open a world of possibilities -- academic and social-emotional -- to all Walden students. Walden staff encourage students to reach out -- explore new interests, make new friends, and gain greater understanding of others. The Walden Way, a philosophy that drives the positive and productive environment, has four principles:

Be Responsible
Be Respectful
Be Helpful
Be Safe

The Walden environment makes students comfortable -- physically and emotionally -- while learning, questioning, and exploring. New innovative learning spaces foster collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking. Walden recently installed a SmartLabTM where students create authentic projects focused on STEM and media arts, and where they inquire, explain, tackle new problems, and celebrate solutions. Innovation also comes from parents who give time and talents. In STEM Lunch & Learn sessions, girls explore science, technology, engineering and math with parents who are scientists from various disciplines.

Walden embodies the District 109 mission to provide educational experiences of the highest quality that engage, inspire and empower each student to excel and contribute in a changing world.

2016 Awardee

Walden Elementary School

630 Essex Court
Deerfield, IL, 60015-2367

(847) 945-9660

Principal at time of Nomination:
Dr. Scott A. Schwartz

Title I School

Deerfield Public Schools District 109

Suburban

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Mission

To provide educational experiences of the highest quality that engage, inspire and empower each student to excel and contribute in a changing world.

Student Demographics

  • Asian: 3%
  • Black/African American: 1%
  • Hispanic: 5%
  • White: 88%
  • Two or more races: 3%
  • ELL: 3%
  • Economically Disadvantaged: 1%
  • Application