Live Your Best Life in Niles

Supporting students and guiding them on their journeys is a priority in all Niles schools. Kids in Niles attend schools in elementary and middle school districts 63, 64 or 71 and high school districts 207 or 219. Browse Niles Elementary School District 71’s awards and rankings here.

Every district is focused on providing individualized support and resources for students to succeed in life, whether they continue to four-year college, community college, trade school or a career.

“If you ask Niles residents what they think of the village, don’t be surprised to hear, ‘We love Niles,'” says Katie Schneider, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Village of Niles. And it’s no surprise. After all, residents go out of their way to take care of one another. The supportive community paired with free recreational activities and access to the outdoors makes Niles an easy place to raise kids.

Explore the village’s new bike and pedestrian trails. Find the Bunker Hill Forest Preserve (rated five out of five on Yelp for hiking and scenic views), one of the 25 parks and the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, maintained by the Niles Park District. Residents enjoy the community garden, rain garden and pollinator garden. A Green Business Award program encourages businesses to reduce waste and conserve water and energy, so residents know that when they shop local, they’re also promoting good environmental practices.

Close proximity to everything­ — work, shopping, daily essentials, family entertainment and outdoor recreation — is essential for busy parents. It’s easy to get around and make stops at Patel Brothers, a national Indian grocery chain; H-Mart, a Korean superstore; and Jerry’s Fruit & Garden, a long-standing, family-owned fresh produce market.

Niles is home to 170 restaurants, and people flock from nearby cities and even bordering states to sample authentic Korean cuisine, Polish eats, Greek dining and more. Looking for a bakery? Niles may have more per capita than any place around, including family-owned Oak Mill Bakery, Niles’ go-to cake shop for special occasions.

In Niles, the government — from Village Hall to Police to Fire, the Teen Center to the Fitness Center, Family Services to the Senior Center — cares deeply about its residents and works hard on their behalf to keep making Niles better.

Niles Family Services employs 25 licensed social workers to provide assistance — in multiple languages — for residents, including mental wellness programs, an emergency hotline, addiction programs and more.

Lovers of arts and culture — or Instagram users looking for a great photo op — can’t miss the Leaning Tower of Niles, a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Village’s Arts & Culture Advisory Council makes sure that art is central to life in the community, including its recent mural project at outdoor locations. Niles prioritizes artistic expression in the community and makes it easy to access an array of museums, exhibits, public art and cultural events in Niles, the city and neighboring communities.

According to Chicago Parent, “families love Niles. It’s close to the city with first-rate schools, homes with room to grow, arts, culture and a community that cares.”