North School, 1789 Rand Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016, US

Bridge View and Challenger Day Schools are two special-education schools housed in the same building, just east of the Milwaukee and Touhy intersection. The building is a two-story, brown, brick building that purposely does not have a sign, according to Chris Raspante, executive director/principal. It still bears the sign of its former occupant, Niles Elementary School South. Students are bussed to the school from all over northern Cook County, as well as Lake County, and only a few live in the Niles area. Therefore, school leaders think of the school as a place for these students to gather in their own learning community, not necessarily a place integrated into the fabric of the Niles community. "It just happens to be in Niles, but not really of Niles," Raspante explained. The school provides both an academic program and a clinical program, including therapy for the students and for their families. Students' tuition is paid by the school districts in which they reside.