A collage of photos about living in U-46

  • School District U-46 serves families from all or parts of 11 communities across 90-square miles of Chicago's Northwest Suburbs, with school buildings  in three Illinois counties - Kane, DuPage, and Cook. Employees are not required to live within the District, but many do. Working in U-46 gives our employees the option to live in or near a world-class city, a suburban or country setting with lots of access to outdoor recreation and nature. Here are some of the many reasons that individuals love living in this area.
  • Close to Chicago The nation’s third-largest city is only an hour’s drive away. Or relax and take the Metra commuter train, with stops in Elgin, Hanover Park, and Bartlett. Once there, you’ll discover world-class museums, theater, major league sports teams, historic buildings and neighborhoods, and the picturesque Lake Michigan shoreline. When you live in the communities served by U-46, you can hop into Chicago for an evening concert or theatrical performance in the Loop, a day-trip packed with stops, or a memorable, leisurely weekend. And when you want to travel farther afield, Chicago’s O’hare International Airport is only a 30-minute drive from Elgin, and from there, the world awaits!
  • Great Outdoors When you live in the northwest suburbs, you’ll discover parks that host musical concerts, fitness classes, and movies on the lawn, as well as forest preserves with miles of bike and walking trails. You can even paddle your kayak or canoe in the Fox River. In the summer and fall, you can grab produce at a farmstand, pick your own apples, or sit down to an elegant farm-to-table dinner. The winter allows for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling - or building the perfect snowman!
  • Arts and Culture The award-winning Elgin Symphony Orchestra has its home base at the Hemmens Cultural Center, which also hosts performances by musicians, dancers, and comedians. The District is served by four great libraries - the Poplar Creek Public Library, Bartlett Public Library, Carol Stream Public Library and the Gail Borden Public Library, which received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor for these organizations.
  • Vibrant Suburbs The towns served by U-46 are rich in history and open to newcomers. Because they are home to people from so many different cultures, it’s easy to treat your palate to a new type of food. You’ll also find nightclubs, farmer’s markets, seasonal festivals, art shows, miles of walking and biking trails, including routes along the Fox River.
  • Housing Variety Whether you’re looking for an apartment or condo in a modern new complex with all the amenities, a townhome in the midst of a vibrant downtown, a historic architectural gem, or new construction in a subdivision with walking trails, the northwest suburbs offers a type of housing for everyone.