Original Research by School Decision on Westbrook Early Learning Cntr
Westbrook Early Learning Center in Mount Prospect serves the youngest grades, from pre-K through first grade. It is a regular public school within Mount Prospect School District 57, located on South Busse Road in a mature residential suburb northwest of Chicago near O'Hare.
The school enrolls a small student body split across pre-K, kindergarten, and first grade. The student population is predominantly white, with meaningful representation of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students; Asian students make up a small single-digit share, Hispanic students roughly one in seven, and Black students about one in thirty. No state assessment data is available for this school because Illinois does not administer standardized tests at the pre-K and early elementary grades it serves.
Mount Prospect itself is a mixed-use suburb of settled character, with a newly revitalized downtown featuring walkable storefronts and condos near the Metra station, surrounded by neighborhoods of single-family ranches, split-levels, Cape Cods and older Colonials. Civic anchors include a well-established public library, the Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line station, several parks and recreation facilities, and Busse Woods adjacent to the west. The village is notably diverse, with a substantial foreign-born population. The housing market in the area shows moderate affordability relative to national benchmarks, with median home values in the mid-range for suburban Cook County and rental costs modest but steady. The local economy centers on health care, manufacturing and retail trade, with major employers including Northwest Community Healthcare and Costco.
District 57 is in the midst of substantial change. In November 2024, voters approved a bond referendum, with the proceeds funding a new Lincoln Middle School and a significant expansion to Westbrook School for Young Learners. This expansion is driven in large part by an Illinois state mandate requiring the district to transition from half-day to full-day kindergarten by 2027-28; District 57 is publicly noted as one of the last districts in the area still offering only half-day kindergarten, so this shift represents a meaningful program change for families with young children. Construction at both schools is underway and is expected to conclude by 2027. The bond will result in a property tax increase for residents, a lasting cost consideration for families in the district.
Parents looking at Westbrook should understand that the school is currently in a growth and transition period. It is one of two elementary schools in District 57 serving early grades, and its expansion is a district priority. The school serves its immediate neighborhood and the grade band offers no state proficiency data, as testing does not occur in pre-K through early first grade. For families considering this school, a conversation with the district about the full-day kindergarten timeline and the ongoing construction would help clarify what the experience will look like during the transition years.
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