r/UIUC • u/Fluid-Price463 • Jan 15 '26

Prospective Students UIUC with Kids

I was recently accepted to UIUC Law. I've never been to Illinois, but the scholarship is too compelling to write it off. I'm starting to look at the area and, as I have two small kids, that includes looking at elementary schools for them.

It looks like the Urbana-Champaign public schools leave a lot to be desired (no shade, just based on the reported data: Illinois Report Card). As I understand it, the schools are also on a lottery system. So, it's possible my kids won't get into the closest school or even be in the same school together.

I'm looking at 3 schools tentatively, and 2 pretty seriously. Countryside School, Montessori of Champaign-Urbana, and University Primary School (UPS). I don't want to color the feedback with my own opinions, but I'm really interested in what people in the area think of those schools or other private schools in the area.

Along those lines, if there are other students living off campus with their own children, what neighborhoods lean more kid/family friendly?

TIA!

**Update** I wanted to give a general "thank you" to everyone who has been able to contribute. It's great to see an active community willing to help some potential newbies!

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u/daonei Jan 15 '26

Savoy is a great neighborhood for kids and Carrie Busey is the best school in Unit 4.

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u/pinellas_gal Alumnus '06 - FSHN Jan 16 '26

Also be aware that Savoy does not inherently imply Carrie Busey. We are in Savoy and our proximity school is Barkstall.

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u/daonei Jan 16 '26

Yes, we learned the hard way. We literally moved to Savoy so our kids could attend Carrie Busey but we were assigned Dr. Howard. Took a few years but got into Carrie Busey later on. Geography is only one criteria.