The History of Butler School District 53

Butler School District 53 is in Oak Brook, Illinois, a suburban community located about 15 miles west of Chicago. Nestled in between business and corporate enterprise, Butler School District is called home to some 530 children in approximately 400 families.

Historically, no official date for the beginning of the district exists. However, papers on file in the DuPage County Clerk's office disclose a functioning school district early in the 1900's. Being rural and diminutive in size, the one-room school district maintained low enrollment. In 1930, a merger with District 47 occurred which was short lived. In 1947, District 53 separated from District 47 and became annexed by Elmhurst School District. Enrollment remained low primarily due to land ownership by the Butler Family.

For three generations the Butler Family owned a major portion of Oak Brook land and felt little urgency to release it for development. Due to anticipated enrollment, the family approved a new, seven-room, school building which was occupied in the fall of 1961.

Later, Mr. Paul Butler donated 8.9 acres to District 53 on which Brook Forest School was built in 1971. During that same year, Butler School District successfully initiated proceedings to form its own unit district.

The district has experienced steady enrollment in the following years. Presently, there are two schools in this District. Brook Forest School serves grades K-5 with 250students, while Butler Junior High with a population of 200 continues with grades 6-8.

For more information about the History of Oak Brook or District 53,
please visit the Oak Brook Historical Society website.