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Is anyone satisfied with Mt. Greenwood school?
Submitted by mtgreenwoodmom on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 11:27pm.
Categorized under:
Categorized under:
Are there any parents who truly feel the way Mt. Greenwood school operates is beneficial to our childrens future? Individually the teaching and auxillary staff I have dealt with have been great. However there is an air of inconsideration which seems to come from the administration. The TEAM approach poster that hangs in the hallway when you enter emphasizes a relationship of the staff and parents working together but I have seen little evidence of that encouraged. The PTO league holds meetings only during the day offering no other times and then charges $5 for a calendar regarding school events; the local school council holds 2 meetings but the information discussed is not posted anywhere; parents who put in applications to volunteer hear nothing back from the principal; teachers are intimidated by administrative prescence when communicating with parents; and why are we the only school in the area with dismissal time staggered between 1:15pm and 1:45pm? I just don't understand how a school can declare the boundary of being libel for a student until they walk in the front door of their home without allowing us as parents to watch what is happening in theirs. Has anyone had success in this area?
How is the school? I might
How is the school? I might have to move the family to Chicago for work, and have friends in Mt. Greenwood, so we were thinking of moving there.
My wife and I think Mt. Greenwood school sounds good, but could anyone provide feedback as to its quality, its student/teacher relationships, position in the community, etc.? Or would you recommend a private school instead? My daughter is 6 and my son is 5.
Thanks.
The teacher to student
The teacher to student ratios are typical. The relationship depends on the teacher and student interaction- there are a few classrooms for each grade. Most everyone uses the school for preschool and knidergarten. After that if they can afford it they go to any of the private schools- St. Christina's, Queen of Matyrs, or St. Cajetian. Another option is to also apply for the school lottery for other CPS schools in and around the area like-Clissold, Cassell, Kellog, Keller Regional Gifted and Talented and Lenart. This process opens in October and closes the week before Christmas. Give the school a try- maybe if more parents become involved and concerned some of the topics I raised will become addressed. Investigate and visit the schools though to see which feels like the best fit for your children. Their comfort level in the learning enviornment is what matters most.
I have a couple of kids at
I have a couple of kids at Mt Greenwood and find the school outstanding. I have also been to quite a few LSC meetings and fing the board quite open and receptive. The PTO is wonderful and if you can not attend the meetings you can email and ask questions. The scores are outstanding. Approx 1/3 of the school is Special Needs and is a model LRE School for the State. Beverly does not cater ( they find a legal loop hole to dump them at Mt Greenwood) to Special Needs and sends their students to Mt Greenwood for services and teaching. This way the Beverly schools do not have their scores effected. They still score higher than State standards. If you can get over the snob mentality from the neighborhood about public schools your kids will do well at Mt Greenwood. A great education with your tax dollars at work.
It sounds like you're pretty
It sounds like you're pretty happy with the school, and can get the answers you need from the PTO.
I guess I didn't know that the school was Special Needs. Does that take away from the rest in terms of resources, or does it add to the whole? And what does the term Special Needs mean exactly?
Where can I get a record of the schools test scores? Are they online somewhere, like at a government site or something?
Have you ever considered private schools?
Sounds like folks from Beverly send more of their kids to the private schools then, too? I suppose with legal loopholes they have a bunch of high-priced lawyers rigging the system?
Mount Greenwood School has
Mount Greenwood School has special education for children who have handicaps.Children who have downs syndrome and some who have physical handicaps. I was not aware that 1/3 of the population was special needs. You can find out more information by checking out the CPS website, I am not sure of the web address, I am sure you can find it by doing a search. Most of the teachers that I have come in contact with have been very nice. The uppergrades teachers are great. They truly show interest and care about the kids and their futures in high school. Private schools can be very expensive; but's it's up to what you can afford. Hope this info helps you.
I am happy. The scores are
I am happy. The scores are on the cps website. IF you separate the test Special Needs scores, the school outperformed Keller. But State and Federal test guidelines require a child with special needs to test at their age grade level not taking into account where they are at due to autism or any others. All Special needs vary and it is sad that the State ans Federal testing standards don't take this into consideration. But the school's Special needs program is oustanding and is a model LRE program. The staff is great! So all students scores are put together to get the scores. I did have a 3rd grader a few years ago and the State lost the 3rd grade tests. Many others from across the state as well. So that year Annual Yearly Progress was not made due to no scores for third grade. Several school districts sued. CPS was looking into it as it does effect funding as well. The teachers at Mt Greenwood have high expectations. It may seem a bit tough at first adjusting but mark my words, your child will get a great education. I have checked into private schools. The math and science curriculum isn't as good as MTG. I have talked to several parents at these schools ( I only checked 2 of them) and if your child doesn't fall into the right clique, you may have a hard time there. My children's education is more important to me than a status of where you went to shcool. That is just my thought, I know it may not be shared by others. Sorry if it offends anyone. While it is a compliment that Beverly wants to send their kids here, why not set up in their own schools with a Special Needs Program like ours. The PTO is always looking for volunteers. Carrie Cotillo does an outstanding job. The $5 for the calendar is the PTO Dues. Well worth it. Please take time and check the school out. I think you will like what you see.
The special needs kids
The special needs kids program sounds like a real plus for a school. Exposing your kids to an environment of acceptance and tolerance and a wider world view seems to outweigh the negatives--or perceived negatives--of lower test scores and scarce resources.
But, more on this later--I have to get back to work!
If anyone's looking for a
If anyone's looking for a link to the CPS site for test scores, here you go.
I am a fairly new resident
I am a fairly new resident to Mt. Greenwood and one of the main reasons on choosing this neighborhood is because of Mt. Greenwood Elementary School. I am a teacher and I know how important a good school is in our children's future. I researched various schools and the neighborhoods and found Mt. Greenwood to be outstanding. I am a practicing Catholic who went to Catholic school in the suburbs. I have also taught in the Catholic schools and in the public schools. Both settings offer an excellent education, strengths and weaknesses in each. I only want the best for my children and I plan on sending them to Mt. Greenwood Elementary School. You will find that no matter where you go or where you live there are political games to be played.
The fact that Mt. Greenwood school has a strong special needs program and that they are taking on additional students from other schools is just one more positive thing to say about them. So many schools either don't have the resources to care for these children or don't want to because of the extra burden special needs programs can create. This can include extra paper work, lower test scores and more stress for teachers and administration. I agree very strongly with one of the previous readers that as a community we need to stand by our school, support them and be as active as we can. This is how schools gain their strength and our children learn through our example that school and education are important and deserve our respect.
This may be slightly
This may be slightly off-topic, and I'm sure some of you saw this article in the Sun-Times in the wake of Monday's visit to Chicago by President Bush, but it's interesting nonetheless: The story mentions three Chicago teens who have been "left behind," with one of them a former Morgan Park High School student.
There there was this response.
There's been a lot of talk on this site about the benefits and drawbacks of a public education versus a private education, and even at the high school level - maybe even more so - the debate rages on. Any thoughts?
I have a child in public
I have a child in public H.S. and it all in what the student puts into his or her education. My child is doing wonderfully. Challenged and doing well grade wise. I have seen kids in private schools get passed up to 6th grade and have undiagnosed dislexia ( my spelling off, no coffee yet)They kept passing her becuase of the family name. There is no question that NCLB is a failure and has been since LBJ ( they just kept changing its name each President) Educators are not consulted at all on this program. It ultimately comes down to teachers and parents. Principals oversee the teachers and check teachers and students much more now. There is a system for it. Also it is important to get good quality teachers. Bring back some of the retireees as well. It is funny that in our area most kids do not fall between the cracks. But if you get into the inner city schools it seems more frequent. The inner city schools fight an upward battle with many of the students needing specialized services, speech, counceling etc. Their environment at home and on the way to school is challenging in some cases. Teaching isn't just teachig there, you have to be a social worker as well which cuts into basic teaching. Lack of parental involvement is another problem as well. So I ask your opinion....Why is it working here and not other schools?
We pulled our kids out of St
We pulled our kids out of St Catherines to send them to Mt Greenwood...I am very impressed with the education that my kids are recieving. We only intended to send one of our kids there for kindergarten, and ended up pulling the others from Catholic school.