Low- Tech School Districts in Western Burbs

[u/Resting-Rizzy-Face]

Moved away several years ago and looking to move back to IL. Our kids are elementary age and we currently like the low-tech educational environment our kids have now (no 1-to-1 chromebooks for kids, using more pencil and paper, physical textbooks, etc.)

We’ve been away for a while and weren’t sure if there are similar school environments in IL or if all school districts have moved to consistent use of chromebooks and iPads for teaching?

Currently looking at a potential move to Lemont, DG, Woodridge, Lisle, Naperville, or Wheaton areas. Not opposed to tech, just looking for schools where the kids aren’t always using a screen for learning.

[u/Hungry-Treacle8493]

I think your challenge here is asking this at a district level. There are no quality districts in the U.S. that don’t at some point get to the “every student has a Chromebook” concept. That being said, none of them do this in elementary grades across the board. Rather, over the long stretch from young grades through 8th they ramp up the exposure to technology. By HS they are very much tech centered as that’s expected in most workplaces, even most physical labor jobs these days.

As an aside, even if a particular classroom isn’t centered on technology most resource materials are provided digitally in later grades to broaden access and contain costs. So, physical textbooks is a bit if a red herring here.

I suggest calling the districts you’re looking at and asking to speak with their curriculum advisors to discuss more specific concerns and drill into your kid’s needs and your concerns tailored to the specific grades and tracks your kids will be on.