This review is based on my attendance there for my entire Elementary School experience as a child, and the visual external appearance now.
Arlington Heights was, and still is, an all-White community. My brother and I, who are South Indian children of immigrants, were subjected to the extreme racism and bullying of the children of the 70s, which the teachers occasionally snickered at as well. My mother experienced her own form of adult bullying and being mocked for speaking with an accent (not even the teachers appreciated that she was bilingual), and eventually she quit the PTA.
I was always an exceptionally bright student, and although I was "permitted" to skip a grade, by 4th grade I had run out of math for them to teach me. In 5th and 6th grade I was relegated to being a "Student Teacher" and grading papers.
It is 2026, I hope that Poe's tolerance of bullying - of ANY kind - has changed.
My mother still lives in Arlington Heights. Over the decades, my cute little school has grown bigger and uglier due to hideous, huge, square brick additions.
All of that money and construction and not one window for the kids?
Attached to Poe was our beautiful, beloved Raven Park. Now it has been entirely taken over by a basketball court and a tennis court.
If I had any children who attended Poe, I would disapprove of Poe because their emphasis should be on education and play for all of the children equally, not just the ones who play basketball and tennis. read more