Giant City Elementary School

The school is in need of a good mixture of male and female teachers to meet the needs of the kids. More female teachers than male teachers are in the school. This would help in matters of discipline.
--Submitted by a parent

For years I thought Giant City was the best school to have a child in. This year has shown me otherwise. If you are not among the rich and elite your child does not matter. They let teachers go that push kids to be the best they can be because during sports these kids still have work to do and if its not done they are ineligible to participate. Kids can do things to teachers and other students and its lets go because these kids parents that are rich and on the board. We are trying to sell our home and move out of this district to get away from the politics the board plays. Some of the board members have no children in the district anymore and its like they do not care about anyone elses children they all stick together like glue and if you go up against them your child suffers for it.
--Submitted by a parent

This school encompasses kindergarten through 8th grade, all housed in the same building. Kindergarten through 4th grade is considered elementary school. Fifth through eighth grades are considered middle school. I have a child in elementary school and one in middle school. With regard to the elementary school, I have very few complaints. The teachers are responsive to parents and thoroughly engaged with the students. My oldest had a wonderful elementary school experience and my youngest is having a great time in elementary school, as well. Unfortunately, the middle school leaves much to be desired. Academically, the middle school teachers are not nearly as strong as the elementary school teachers. The math and science programs are weak, with math bordering on pathetic. Homework is ridiculous. I am not at all opposed to homework if it reinforces the classroom lessons, but in many cases the homework assignments appear to be 'busy' work. If I had an option for a good private school in this time, I would pull my kid out of the middle school.
--Submitted by a parent

The rating is not of the people, per se, (there are plenty of good people at GCS), but of the quality of our experience there. Instructional systems (esp in beginning math, reading) are not selected based on sound data (even in these days of "evidenced based practice"). Art has been eliminated from the curriculum. Genuine curiosity about events and people in the world is missing (e.g., the Gulf oil spill, the inauguration of the first black President are recent events that were not substantially brought into the classroom despite their relevance to core subjects). Homework is laborious, often emphasizing worksheets and even memorizing facts about books that are never actually read. Substantive outreach to parents is lacking,e.g., conferences between parents and teachers are structured to involve only the child's homeroom teacher, not the teachers of core subjects. The burden is on the parent to pursue anything more.
--Submitted by a parent

The school is very family oriented and the academics are outstanding. I am very pleased with our school and proud to be a part of such a great community.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school. My daughter has attended K-4 so far and we have been very pleased with the faculty and staff at this school. The parents are great as well. I wouldn't want to send my kid anywhere else.
--Submitted by a parent

This is by far the best Elementary School in the Southern Illinois area. These kids are bright and the teachers are wonderful. I would not want my child to go anywhere else.
--Submitted by a parent

The only elementary school in southern Illinois (and one of only 37 in the entire state) to win the Bright A+ Award of academic excellence in Illinois. Caring, attentive and hard-working faculty and staff. The school is small so it really feels like a true community where everyone is watching out for each and every child. In addition to academic achievement, discipline and common courtesy matter in this school. Absolutely the best.
--Submitted by a parent