Welcome to the Mark T. Skinner School

The Mark T. Skinner School is an exceptional community committed to helping a diverse student body achieve academic, social, and personal excellence through a partnership among children, parents, staff, and community. Many of the students are bused to Skinner from all over Chicago.

The school is located in the West Loop Gate Community on Skinner Park. It is in close proximity to the Chicago Police Academy, 12th District Police Station, 911 Building, University of Illinois, Rush Presbyterian Hospital, and various restaurants, and businesses.

History

Who was Mark T. Skinner?

Mark T. Skinner , a prominent lawyer, and civic leader, first arrived in Chicago in 1836. Here he spent the remaining fifty-one years of his life in demonstrating his interest in the welfare of the people of his adopted city.

He served this city and state as Judge of the Cook County Court of Common Pleas, City Attorney of Chicago, School Inspector, member of the State Legislature, United States District Attorney of Illinois, member of the United States Sanitary Commission, and President of the Chicago Sanitary Commission.

Skinner School in 1916

Mark T. Skinner helped organize the "Young Men's Association," a forerunner of the Great Chicago Public Library, and was founder of a Chicago school established for the laudable purpose of educating homeless boys. He was one of the corroborators of the Chicago Gas Light and Coke Company, the old Chicago Marine and Fire Insurance Company, the State Insurance Company, and director of the Galena, Chicago and Union Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.

A student report card from 1875

In 1859 city fathers acknowledged the civic contributions of Mark T. Skinner twenty-eight years before his death by naming for him the Mark T. Skinner School.