A Greeting From Central Principal, Pete Gatz

Welcome to Central School! Central School is a kindergarten to Grade 5 school of approximately 400 students located in Riverside, Illinois and is part of School District 96. Central’s staff is committed to working collaboratively with parents and the community to best meet the needs of our students. Students receive Common Core State Standard driven innovative instruction that engages students in thinking critically.

As you will observe from our website and a visit to our school, Central Elementary is a lively and exciting place for learning. We understand that students develop at different rates and have different needs.

Central School has a strong tradition of parent involvement. One way parents can stay involved at school is through the Central School PTO. All parents of Central Students are part of the PTO. There are many opportunities to be an active member and I encourage you to become involved. The Central PTO supports programs at school such as Cultural Arts, fundraisers, community partnerships, school clubs, and service projects.

Central School is a fantastic place for learning because our staff truly puts the students first in everything we do. It is my pleasure to serve as principal of Central School and to work collaboratively with parents and staff to continue to make it a great place to learn.

Sincerely,

Pete Gatz

Central Elementary

Central Elementary

Principal Welcome 2026-27