Just another public school. It was great here. Some teachers were a bit ignorant, but other than…read morethat, good school!

Well this "Rement T." is clearly mistaken!!! HE DOESN'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT THIS SCHOOL!!!…read moreHe must have lied because this school has some of the best teachers around. They care about their students and are willing to help them after school if necessary. Some students actually LIKE their teachers and not because the teachers don't give them homework or what not but because the students and teachers could become friends and like what they learn cause the teachers make it relate to their own lives. The principle is very strict and awsome principle. Also the engineers do, do something!! when the AC would break down they work hard on getting it back up. Plus It's not that the principle is too cheap to change the AC but it's that it would cost a lot of money that might not be in the budget. Rement T.'s comment about the black teachers are simply racist. They actually DESERVED the job. Every student that has graduated from this school always comes back to visit their old teachers. They work hard to get us to be the best we can and taught us well enough to be ready for highschool. Also how dare he talks about park district at Haines like that. The workers there are extraordinary. They help the kids with their homework and play with them. Ms. Precious Morgan DOES work, she is like all the other workers at Park District. She would helps kids with their homework and play with them. She does not "dissapear"when there are trips. This person shouldn't be talking about this school or Precious Morgan like that when he knows so little about it. I doubt he actually worked there since i haven't even seen him there before.

From the owner: Haines School is proud and excited to announce that we did it again!…read moreLevel 1+ school Great teachers, students, and parents. Check us out at haines.cps.edu

Chicago Jesuit Academy is the best option for my child to enjoy a free faith base education…read more Students are given rigorous assignments that push them to master grade level content and beyond. All of the staff is welcoming. Teachers communicate effectively. There are multiple opportunities for parent engagement through out the year. My daughter is excited for school and I enjoy being part of the CJA community.

I absolutely love this school. The structure, curriculum, staff, parent nights everything. I am so…read moreglad I was referred to this school.

I was a student at Healy School in 1986 - 1987. My family had recently moved to the United States…read morefrom Brazil in the summer of 1986. I was a frightened and confused 5 year old and I spoke no English. My Healy school kindergarten teacher, Ms. Martinez, not only committed to giving me the foundation of an American standard kindergarten education, but also committed to helping me learn English in order for me not only to "get by", but to advance beyond expectations. I spoke Portuguese, she spoke Spanish, and together we bridged the two to lead me toward the English language. I was 5 years old, but I remember so much of my time in her classroom because she was so invested in my success. I have thought about her and her incredible impact on my life throughout the years. I wish I could thank her now, as a 38 year old college graduate, for all the care, patience, and investment she exhibited to a scared 5 year old fish-out-of-water little girl. I was very much taken under her wing. I am currently a registered nurse finishing a graduate program to become a Nurse Practitioner in May 2020. I have had many teachers over the last 33 years, but Ms. Martinez was my first and the most influential. This care and gentle guidance formed me into the successful woman I am today, and this public elementary school on the south side of Chicago should be proud of this teacher and all like her.

This school is good but it could be better. Much better. We aren't allowed to sit with other…read moreclasses at lunch or recess and the lunch isn't edible most of the time. Physical activity is highly prioritized here but couldn't care less about things like Cheerleading. Academics are okay but the way teachers speak to students is highly inappropriate and higher ups need to speak with volunteers and others on how they can speak to kids. Me and my friends were sitting quietly at recess when this monitor tells us to move down just so they can go and sit in that spot to talk about kids. When she moves us she made only 2 of us sit in a row when there was 3 and when I said we are all together she said just sit down. The teachers also need to discipline students better or less. Other kids pick on students in a jokingly manner that greatly affects them and when the teachers ignore it, it hurts

Great school. Busing to park district for after care, as well as quality after care after school…read more Family picnics, and adult friendly fundraisers, multiple dances. :

I can't speak to the actual school, but they have a gorgeous community garden that I've helped tend…read morewith Chicago Cares. A pleasant way to spend a nice Saturday morning, and it's in a cute area to boot.

Old St. Mary's is a wonderful school! The principal and teachers are excellent and the new building…read moreis bright and spacious. My children love their school and feel very comfortable and happy in their classrooms. Students have Spanish class twice a week along with music, science and gym. They get outdoors at least once a day if not twice to play.

I wish there was a 0 star rating available. This school is very strict with little children. If…read moreyour child is "normal" you'll be fine. But if your child requires even just a little bit of special attention, best of luck. They are not equipped to handle and don't make an effort to help. I guess we're not "all of God's children." Very disappointed with our experience here. The pastor is very impressed with himself and his education. There's a real sense of entitlement, pretentiousness and cliques. I would NEVER recommend this school. Although the class sizes are small with 2 teachers for Kindergarten, they do not take time for students that need some help.

Even though this school claims to be inclusive it really isn't. It's very exclusive for the parents…read moreof the community who are majority wyt/wealthy and not for kids outside of the community who come here for the "Montessori" program. Which I wish parents really got a chance to observe a real Montessori class setting as they will VERY quickly realize Mayer isn't a true Montessori school as it claims, no way it can be when it's a PUBLIC school. We had our kids in Montessori before moving to Chicago and this is is NOT what it claims to be. A lot of the teachers here need REAL cultural awareness and also confidentiality training. There is a guard that works here that definitely needs some people's skills she really lacks interpersonal skills. A few of us were in the building and over heard how disrespectful she is to the students , yelling and yelling g them to "shut up" when addressing them, unbelievable really that they would have someone like that around kids. The LSC has the principal controlled and we believe she even fears them, which is sad because she's cool and great things could happen here. It's shocking that in a school with so much $ students have such limited access to quality music, art and language programs - and how there isn't much visible pride in having a "multicultural" school. All in all Mayer is pretty lame considering everything it claims to be, just another public school. Needless to say we're very excited to be leaving and going to La Salle where they are welcoming from the moment you walk in. Anyone looking at Mayer thinking quality and wholesomeness , keep looking.

I love this school! I have been attending here for the past 9 years and have nothing bad to say! It…read moreis a Montessori curriculum until 5th grade and is international baccalaureate 5-8 grade. All the teachers and staff seem to genuinely care about all of their students. The school lunch isn't good but in CPS school what can you expect. Many of my peers attend private school and have or are learning the same thing that I'm learning in the grade behind them (so it appears we are learning just as much as kids at PS). PreK-K, 1-3, and 4-5 are in the same class. I have found this very helpful, if you are in 1st grade and are advanced you can work on more advanced work while still staying in the same class. Yes, there is some bullying but, as is at every school, unfortunately. The playground is very large and accommodating to everyone, we have a very nice, big field and baseball diamond/ "soccer field". The bee hive is so interesting and fun to learn about, our chickens are always laying new, fresh, and tasty eggs, and we even have a large garden consisting of cucumbers, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, basil, kale and more! We have an amazing sports program, our coaches are very knowledgeable, we have won battle of the books for the past 3 years out of the entire city. Our cross country team is amazing and has great training programs and practices. In fall our school has sports programs including, football, cross country, soccer, and volleyball. Our winter season consists of basketball, cheerleading, and wrestling. Our spring sports program includes, track and field and soccer.

I am so upset with the school right now. this school may be "good" but, recently I took my child…read moreto this school and they expected him to act like he was in a palace or something. They made him wear uniforms that are so uncomfortable. And if you take off your tie, you get detention. Even worse is when you go home, you can't take off your tie until you are inside. HEAR ME OUT, THEY LITERALLY HIRE PEOPLE TO GO ON THE BUSES AND MONITOR STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T TAKE OFF THEIR TIE. This school is the absolute worst. I would not dare take him here again.

I went to Skinner from kindergarten until 8th grade. I graduated twice from this school and…read morewouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else during my grammar school years. Not only did I have amazing teachers, faculty, and friends; it would such a great school. The faculty did the best they could to make the students' experience different and I think they definitely accomplished that. I would say, and I'm sure most of the people that I graduated with, would say that we absolutely loved our time at this school and would recommend it to anyone out there looking for an amazing school with amazing people teaching their children. Sidenote: I went to the school before this new one was built, but I've been back to visit and this is definitely an accurate picture of what the building looks like. It's beautiful on the inside and out.

The school over-delivers on its promises. According to the website, there are services that…read moreCambridge provides, but never delivers on its promises. The afterschool program is suppose to have engaging activites like puppetry, gym time, arts and crafts. There is no budget for the program. The teacher has to purchase materials from her own pocket. Students become so frustrated with the lack of engagement. The school promises an individualized learning plan, Spanish, drama and art. Spanish was never offered. I never saw an individized learning plan. The students do lots of worksheets throughout the day. The school also engages in practices that are not listed in the handbook. They charged parents with infractions for their students not wearing the entire uniform. Yet, this "monetary infraction" was never stated in the handbook.

Honest review of Cambridge. This review is to provide you with info I wish I had when making my…read moreenrollment decision. There is both "good" and "not so good" at that school. There are some serious issues that I hope improves. But as a parent, do your research, ask prying questions, talk to current parents if you can. Teachers/Curriculum Great, our kids are challenged and growing educationally. Many of the teachers have a real passion for these children. Their hearts are in it and it shows! Culture Absolutely love the Christian component. You'll see kids praying at the start of class as well as weekly chapel with singing and praising Facilities/Staff Administration is lacking. School is largely unstaffed other than teachers. Many times I've shown up to school to pick kids up and have found them running through the hallways unsupervised. (Teachers go home at 3:30 sharp!) I know of at least one child that was seriously injured and knocked unconscious while playing unsupervised. Not secure/safe. The door has a buzzer and intercom but there is no way to verify who is entering the school. Press the intercom, they ask "who is it" and you can say almost anything, they will buzz you in. Not safe. A camera system should be added to the school, Amazon sells them for very cheap Gym Unheated in the winter time, uncooled in the summer time. VERY uncomfortable and there are no plans to correct the climate. Parents have voiced concerns about this for years but have been largely ignored by administration. In the summer time, the kids are walked to a nearby park (sometimes through an alley!!) where they were approached by dogs. Thankfully no one was injured Leadership (or lack thereof) There is no strong leadership presence at the school. Due to several scandals involving the current headmaster and inappropriate relationships with parents/staff, the board of the school is looking to replace him. Before the scandals, he seemed disconnected from the day 2 day anyway. Some days he's approachable, other days not so. It's unfortunate, because we're all paying for a private education and should feel comfortable in approaching leadership with questions and concerns. Even when concerns are shared, there is rarely any serious follow up, we don't even get an acknowledgement of "I have received your feedback" Just dead silence No lunch served You have to provide your own lunch - but there's no refrigerator for storage and no microwave for re-heating food. (Huh?!) This isn't 1984 Communication Issues Mid-year, rumors were spread regarding a large tuition increase. Parents sought out headmaster to find out if it was true. He avoided the topic and didn't address it for almost a month, forcing parents into the school's imposed re-enrollment deadline without information needed to make a re-enrollment decision. Then the headmaster held a meeting where he condescended and sniped at the parents, dodged questions, then ultimately confirmed the tuition increase. Apparently, the school is running a deep deficit. The "Cambridge Board" (consisting of the headmaster's dad, brother and cousin) were brought in to discuss tuition and integrity issues with school leadership and plans for the future. Tons of empty promises were given by the board, with no follow through or delivery Mass Exodus of current parents In talking with several parents in passing, communication issues, scandals, a disengaged headmaster who smiles on Mondays, condescends on Tuesdays, ignores parents on Wednesdays...is a bit too much. Many committed parents who have been at Cambridge for multiple years, have refused to reenroll their kids at Cambridge. Some parents have taken their kids out of school mid-year due to so many issues. The kindergarten class lost at least 4 students throughout the year Aftercare/Ambassador's club This is nothing more than a babysitting service where kids run around the gym, watch movies and sometimes do their homework. Many times, the homework is incorrect as the aftercare staff doesn't seemed equipped to help the children adequately. Overall, be careful of what's promised. Like the rest of the parents, you'll be told of all the grand things that will be offered to your child. Some of it will be delivered, but based on my experience, much of it won't.... Be careful, go in with your eyes wide open

As our daughters wrap up their 6th and 2nd grade school years, I fondly think back to when my…read morehusband and I took our first tentative steps through the front doors of Chicago Waldorf School for a Thursday morning tour in the fall of 2013. We entered into a warm, inviting space and were greeted by friendly faces and a caring energy. What we heard and saw in those couple hours completely changed our view and understanding of what school should be. We came away with a sense of openness, excitement and newness. After experiencing one Waldorf tour and orientation, we knew at a deep level this was what "school" should look like and transferred our daughters mid-year from the school they were attending. The focus on experiential learning paired with the practice of meeting the child with a cirriculum that matches where they are developmentally is paramount to the Waldorf educational philosophy. The parent community is also a huge part of what we have grown to love about the school. It is a vibrant, energitic and fun group of people who call CWS home. My husband and I are incredibly grateful to be a part of it.

Our son, Henry, started attending CWS 8 years ago with me as part of the Parent-Child program and…read morewill be in 3rd grade next year. Our family is so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this special school community and to see our kiddo thrive over the years! It is wonderful to see the unbelievable connection to his teachers and his friends and to see him learning an incredibly diverse amount of subjects and life skills. It's a pretty remarkable thing to have a young child so jazzed both to go to school and to share almost-daily stories at home of his adventures there!