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Lake County will soon be home to a new
Coming Soon
Educare Lake County
June 24, 2024: School Design & Feedback Session
Families and community members came together in the Shiloh Park Middle School gymnasium to learn about and give their opinions on the design of a new early learning school that will serve families with children from ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The community event allowed all parties to share their thoughts and ideas about the new learning facility. Check out our event recording.
March 3, 2025: Community Information Session
The community met at Zion Central Middle School on March 3 to learn more about Educare Lake County's programming and the road toward completion in 2026. We are excited to provide more opportunities for feedback on the design of several elements and spaces and continue collaborating with the local school district, community and families who may benefit from our programs. Check out our event recording.
Program Updates
Contact Us
Email
For questions about programming, email info@educarelakecounty.org.
For media inquiries, email media@educarelakecounty.org.
About Educare Lake County
Full-day, year-round programming
Located between Shiloh Park and Zion Central Middle Schools, our early learning school will serve 174 children, ages six weeks to five years, and their families. Educare Lake County is expected to open for enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. Upon opening, our new school will feature:
38,000 square feet of developmentally appropriate early learning classrooms including six preschool-age classrooms and nine infant and toddler classrooms; outdoor play areas; community gathering and services space
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is qualified to enroll in Educare Lake County?
Educare is an Early/Head Start program for families from the surrounding communities with children ages 6 weeks to 5-years-old. All families must meet the Federal Poverty Guidelines or be categorically eligible in order to enroll in our program. Families with children who are diverse learners, or who have children with suspected or diagnosed disabilities, are encouraged to apply. All potential families will meet with our staff to determine each family's individual needs and their eligibility for enrollment. If you are pregnant and are interested in doula services through Start Early’s Healthy Parents & Babies® program, please visit our pre & postnatal services page where you can learn more about our Lake County doula services and enroll.
How will Educare Lake County engage with families, specifically the parents and caregivers of its students?
Educare Lake County will have hands-on, family-first programs available that support caregivers in their roles as parents and promote family wellbeing. The building design includes family-centric and multi-purpose spaces to include families as part of the educational experience, fostering strong parent-child relationships and providing ongoing learning and development opportunities for both parents and children.
How will Educare Lake County engage with the Zion community and its surrounding neighborhoods?
We are committed to partnering with the Lake County community to ensure this school reflects its unique needs, visions and dreams. Opportunities will be available throughout the building process for community members to learn more about the school, how they can inform decisions about the space and what this new resource will mean for them. Keep an eye on this page for ways to get involved.
Who can enroll in Educare Lake County?
Families from Beach Park, Zion, Waukegan and surrounding communities with children ages 6 weeks to 5-years-old that are eligible for Early/Head Start services.
What does "quality early learning" mean?
When communities have access to quality early education and care programs, they see stronger education outcomes, improved health among families and even reduced health care costs. In fact, data shows that when children attend quality child care programs, they are 25% more likely to graduate high school and 4X more likely to earn a college degree. At Educare Lake County, we are building on decades of research and learnings to provide families in the Lake County area a space that not only focuses on the diverse strengths and needs of each child, but also acts as a community builder and parent support system.
Find us on social media
Our operating partner, Start Early, is currently enrolling for their Waukegan (ages 0-2) and Beach Park Early Learning Centers (ages 3-5) programs, as well as prenatal doula services.
To learn more about these programs, please visit Start Early's Lake County services page.
Looking for immediate child care and prenatal services?
Sign Up to Stay Informed
Interested in learning more about our school and being notified once we're enrolling? Please share your details below and we'll make sure you are notified when enrollment applications open.
state-of-the-art early learning school
Caring and certified bilingual teachers and staff
