Donald C Parker Early Educ Center

Donald C Parker Early Educ Center, a mid-sized elementary school in Machesney Park, Illinois, part of Harlem UD 122, instructs 571 students, covering grades pre-K through K. That puts it 50% larger than the typical public school in Illinois, which averages around 381 students.

Harlem UD 122 comprises 11 schools with combined enrollment of 6,108 students; Donald C Parker Early Educ Center is among them.

Looking at the student body, Donald C Parker Early Educ Center records that White students make up the majority at 61%. The remainder comes out to 19% Hispanic, 10% multiracial, 8% Black.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 41 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 13.9:1 students per teacher. That tracks the state average closely. Around 70% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Winnebago County runs at roughly 61%, so the school's eligibility rate is above the surrounding baseline.

In the area at large, census data for Winnebago County shows median household earnings sit near $65,837, about 25% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 11%. Donald C Parker Early Educ Center is one of 94 public schools in Winnebago County (combined enrollment of about 44,103 students).

Nearest neighbor: Machesney Elem School, around 0.5 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Donald C Parker Early Educ Center.

Donald C Parker Early Educ Center operates from a residential location.

Over the past 7-year window. Donald C Parker Early Educ Center's enrollment has ticked down 4% since 2018, when it stood at 593 (now 571). White enrollment moved from 72% to 61% across the same window. Class-load math has tightened: from 15.4:1 in 2018 to 13.9:1 in 2025.

On the community side, posts here usually surface around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.