Wheeling Township Elementary District 21 is purchasing nearly three acres along Hintz Road in Wheeling for a potential centralized preschool. The district has agreed to pay $890,000 for two properties at 2836 and 2840-44 E. Hintz Road. The new facility, designed by ARCON Associates, would house 25-28 classrooms, support spaces, and motor skills rooms. Estimated costs range from $30 million to $40 million, though prices are subject to market changes. A final decision on the project will be made in late spring or early summer.
The district currently serves 450 preschool students, with a waiting list of 50-100, and plans to open the new center for general, likely tuition-based, enrollment. The building could accommodate up to 800 students. The properties are next to residential areas and a KinderCare daycare. Construction is tentatively set for 2026, with completion expected by 2027.
This new facility addresses growing enrollment and space constraints at existing district sites, such as Hawthorne Early Childhood School. Superintendent Michael Connolly emphasized that consolidating the preschool program in one location would improve its effectiveness and quality.
