Clinton Elementary School

I came to school for the Open House the other day. It was very nice to walk around to visit the school. The school looked clean and so nice with the colorful decoration in the classrooms and hallways. After meeting with my daughter s teacher, Mrs. I in the classroom, I gave her 100/100 points. What a great teacher!!! I have no idea how she can handle 30 little kids in her class by herself. She is doing a wonderful job. My daughter loves her and loves to go to school. Thank you for everything that Principal, Mr. Cesario, teachers, and all staff are doing to make the school a better place for our children. Thank you again for the effort you put into this.
--Submitted by a parent

Clinton School is a gem of a neighborhood school. The school climate is one of high academic expectations while at the same time addressing the individual needs of each student. Focus on the social/emotional learning of students results in a calm atmosphere where students feel safe and where a sense academic competence can be instilled. The administration maintains an "open door policy" and is accessible to parents and students. There is a feeling of being a part of a family with whom all student's best interests are in mind and which includes all faculty and staff. This school gets it right and will only get better every year.
--Submitted by a teacher

Having personally experienced the transformation of Clinton, I am thrilled to be part of s school that has a dynamic and visionary principal, and an outstanding faculty that brought to fruition Principal Cesario's innovative programs. Clinton teachers are true practitioners of Differentiated Instruction, Response To Intervention, and Project-based learning. And barely a day goes by, without an improvement or upgrade to further facilitate student growth and learning. Clinton is a "Community School" with a fully staffed resource center that serves parents, arranges student enrichment programs, and offers students and their families a continuum of support services. Clinton faculty and students joyfully reflect the culturally diverse community in an atmosphere of respect and cooperation. But don't take my word. Go see for yourself. Clinton is a hidden gem with a brilliant future.
--Submitted by a teacher

Clinton school is an excellent school. My child currently attends Clinton. There was a "dark period" where Clinton was under horrible leadership. Since the new Principal, Mr. Cesario, has joined the staff, the school has done a 360. I would recommend this school to anyone in the neighborhood. It is an excellent education with an excellent atmosphere. I am so happy we are here.
--Submitted by a parent

Principal Cesario has done wonders for Clinton School and the neighborhood. The overall atmosphere of the school is cheerful and upbeat. The halls reflect student artwork and murals painted by adult volunteers. All of the staff seems to get along, and come to work on a daily basis, devoted to student success. There are several before school and after school programs focusing on academics and social-emotional learning. There are several counselors available at any time to talk to students. In addition, Clinton school is now a Community School, focusing on improving not only the school, but the community by offering ELL programs for the parents, the "abc's of homework," and other programs which allow the parents to also become involved. Clinton also offers Music and Drama to the students. There is an outside dance program, and various programs which other schools, highly rated schools, do not have. It is sad to read the horrible reviews from the past years. Clinton is a really great place and I am confident that our parents and students are happy with the successes Clinton has accomplished under the new leadership.
--Submitted by a teacher

I taught at Clinton for over 20 years and reluctantly retired because of what I considered outrageously poor leadership on the part of the then principal and local school council. A once great school became a 'toy' of a few and the children and staff were the victims. Since then the principal has left. I hope new leadership can rebuild a once great school.
--Submitted by a parent

Aside from the teachers,who are trying the best with what they are given, i do not have many great things to say about the school itself. The violence, lack of discipline and guidance is absolutely atrocious..... it is extremely chaotic, with little organization. The neighborhood is great, being the most diverse in the city and this spills over into the school which is wonderful. If they would implicate this true gift of such great diversity into the curriculum, it would be such an advantage to both the students and faculty, as well as the community. I feel bad for the students attending this school, they are really being shorted on the education they should be receiving... which is sad. I know many wonderful students from this school and i do not want to discredit them in any way, its just the school itself is such a disappointment.
--Submitted by a parent

The school environment and administration make Clinton a miserable place to be. The school is too over-crowded. There are 2 buildings with minimal comminication between them. The staff is so poorly treated and disrespected by administration that most are burnt out and miserable. There is very little parental support, discipline, and communication. Do not send your child here and definitely do not accept a job here!
--Submitted by a teacher

This school is overcrowed, employees in office are not helpful my son didnt even get his progress report, when you want to talk to princaple not availble they dont even have funding for my childs your sibling to attent (pre-k)
--Submitted by a parent

Clinton is in one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the city of Chicago. It has potential but is not there yet. There is an unfortunate lack of Physical education and extracurricular. More so than most schools in this NCLB world. Science is not daily either. I was a little shocked. They use Open court reading to prep for th etest but there is little encouragement for the students to excel past these low standards. The teachers are involved and care about the students, they are given little support or encouragement to push the students. Overall, the education my son received was serviceable, but I want more for him than mediocrity and merely passing the test.
--Submitted by a parent