Washington Academy

I feel I made the best decision possible for my children as they were in need of a challenge in school. The teachers and staff are wonderful and engage my children on a daily basis. Is there a diverse culture at this school...? Yes! And I love that they get to meet people from different background and learn from each other. They are learning to be leaders in a new technological world and are challenged to make a difference - not to just deal with things the way they are. Problem solving, thinking, and learning WHY are just some of the reasons Washington Academy is succeeding. Another reason is the increase in parental involvement and awesome support from parents, staff and the community. Great choice for parents wanting their kids to be challenged and have hands-on learning!! The uniforms are just a bonus ;-)
—Submitted by a parent

Way to many non-english speaking children in that school. I thought this is America were the language is English!!!!! Washington Academy is regressing. My child is in 5th grade and learing the same math she learned in 4th grade. They have failed the AYP the last 2 or 3 years. I don't know how changing this school to a magnet school will help bring up the AYP. I believe this is how the district is getting more money by claiming it is a magnet school. This is no where near a magnet school!!! The only way to improve is to have english speaking children allowed in the school or make this school a HISPANIC ONLY SCHOOL.
—Submitted by a parent

keep in mind the dates of these reviews. Now this school is an Academy. I don't know how it is now, but my child has to go there because its our district. I don't like the hours, but I still dont know if I like the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I sent my sons to the At Risk program at Washington. I felt lucky to get them in. Classes were well run; caring teachers; and I knew the director from elsewhere. However, the building is run down, the population largely non English speaking, and it is one of the largest elementary schools in the state -- you are a number only to the office and bus driver, etc.
—Submitted by a parent

I personally believe that Washington Elementary School is one of the best schools a child can attend in northern Illinois. Besides the issues of traffic and population, this school is excellent. I had 2 daughters who attended this school, one completed kindergarten through 5th grade and the other started at pre-school and ended in kindergarten. The reason for this was because we had moved, so my youngest daughter had to transfer within the district. Let me just say that Washington had awesome teacher support. Every teacher my kids had strived for parent support, which made my children, along with others, prosper. Because of this school, my kids are now exceptionally talented.
—Submitted by a former student

This school had to many children and not properly staffed to meet the needs.
—Submitted by a parent

I can't stress enough how impressed I am with the faculty at Washington Elementary. I have two special needs children and everyone went above my expectations to make sure their needs were met. They worked very hard to create an academic program that would be appropriate for both my daughters and they've excelled since this has been done.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that a lot of parents that complain aren't involved and making changes. The principle is extremely open to parent feedback. He seems to really care. He truly is looking for the future, doing all he can to make Washington the best it can be. He (and the teachers) can't do it alone. There are over 1,100 students at that school, but hardly any parents involved. I think that the school is great. They do their best to cater to the parents, if you aren't being heard, then you aren't being seen. HOWEVER, there is one bad point that needs to be addressed desperately. That is the traffic, before and after school. Again, a lot of this lies with the parents. I would love a circle drive in the front. Until that happens, parents need common sense. Go with the flow of traffic. Drop-off and Pick-up on the school side.
—Submitted by a parent

this school is not bad but they put too much undo pressure on the young kids(1st-3rd) to remeber things that even h.s. students get reminded about. ex. homework
—Submitted by a parent