Original Research by School Decision on Early Childhood Facility
This Early Childhood Facility in Round Lake serves pre-kindergarten students only, with no enrollment data currently reported. Because the facility operates only at the pre-K level, state testing results and other academic metrics tied to K-12 grades do not apply.
The facility is part of Round Lake CUSD 116, a district serving the interconnected Round Lake Area communities in north-central Lake County. Round Lake itself is a predominantly residential village founded as an ice-cutting industry town and organized around a downtown anchored by a Metra station on the Milwaukee District North line, located roughly miles from Chicago Union Station. The four-community Round Lake Area shares a library and school district while maintaining separate municipal governments. The village has grown steadily, driven by suburban family housing development; a substantial share of the housing stock was built relatively recently, and median household income falls into a range suggesting an affluent growth pattern. Residents commute to Lake County employers across sectors including life science, advanced manufacturing, finance, distribution, and logistics, or to Chicago via Metra or highway.
The district has undergone structural changes in recent years. Effective fall 2024, Round Lake CUSD 116 restructured its elementary grade model from a traditional 1-5 setup to a Partner School model and returned students from Pleviak, a shift that directly affects which building elementary-age children attend and how grades are organized. The district also implemented a 1:1 device program providing iPads to all K-12 students. For 2025-26, the district is adopting i-Ready for K-8 math instruction and VAST Learning for high school math, representing meaningful curriculum change across the district's pipeline.
The district faced a budget forecasting error discovered in the 2024-25 school year, addressed through administrative reductions and staffing adjustments over several years. This may affect class operations and staffing availability as the district stabilizes its finances.
Housing in Round Lake's immediate zip code is moderately priced for the region, with home values showing modest year-over-year appreciation and median rents reflecting affordability that favors renting as an option for many families. The area remains actively developed with commercial sites still marketed for retail, restaurant, entertainment, and senior housing uses, signaling continued growth and change in the community.
Because this facility serves only pre-K, parents seeking information about elementary, middle, or high school pathways in the district would need to look beyond this entry to schools serving higher grades within Round Lake CUSD 116.
See more original research from School Decision →