Francis W. Parker School

Francis W. Parker School is an independent, nonsectarian day school in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, serving students from preschool through grade 12. Enrollment sits between 700 and 1,000 on a single urban campus. That one-campus layout lets teachers build relationships with colleagues across every age group.

The school takes its name and method from Francis Wayland Parker, a founding figure of American progressive education. His influence still shapes daily practice. Classes lean on inquiry, seminar discussion, and project work rather than fixed scripts. Teachers design their own units and revise them often. For candidates who want room to shape a course, that autonomy is the core draw.

Parker's finances give that freedom real backing. Recent filings show about $148 million in net assets and roughly $50 million in annual revenue, with fundraising up modestly year over year. In practice, that means steady salaries, solid benefits, and professional development budgets teachers actually use. It also means class sizes and staffing levels do not swing with each enrollment cycle.

Hiring covers lower, middle, and upper school classroom roles, plus world language posts in Mandarin, French, Latin, and Spanish. Admissions, advancement, technology, athletics, and student support roles open throughout the year. Most faculty searches run from January through May, so candidates aiming for a fall start should apply early in that window.

For educators who want a Chicago day school with a progressive lineage and cross-divisional colleagues, Francis W. Parker School is worth a close look.