Darwin Elementary School

I have been doing volunteering work at Darwin School for the past four years. It gets better every year! I love how the Principal recognizes and celebrates school accomplishments. He has a strong sense of community and cooperation. You can visit the school s website for more information on their accomplishments. www.darwinelementary.com

I went to this school and will always remember how hard the teachers worked !

I have been working at Darwin School for three years and would not trade it for any other school. We have small size classrooms, there is a lot of fun activities planned for the students such as Spirit Week (this year returned), Talent Shows, Choir, sports teams, a store for students to trade Darwin tickets from positive behavior for fun activities. We have great teachers who are dedicated and hardworking. We are always collaborating and being exposed to new teaching practices so to improve our teaching. A number of classrooms have shown over 90% growth in MAPS testing. We have had very unique programs such as partnerships with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera, and exchange programs with schools in Italy and Chile. There are many wonderful things happening at our school daily, I would recommend interested parents to schedule a visit.
—Submitted by a teacher

My daughter attended Darwin for kindergarten, left to attend a regional gifted center for first grade and returned to Darwin to complete the last quarter of first grade. I was underwhelmed by her former schools approach to academics and the enormous class size (31 is not acceptable for 6 and 7 year olds). Darwin's class sizes are small, the students are engaged, and my daughter loves being in the dual language program. I taught K-1 for seven years and am quite familiar with Chicago Public Schools. I am impressed by Darwin's ability to engage my daughter even though she is above grade level in both reading and math. Darwin may only have a GreatSchools Rating of 3 (which is ridiculous, in my opinion), but both my daughter and I love the school, staff, and curriculum.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is a kindergardener at Darwin Elementary and we have been very impressed by the teachers, the principal and everyone involved at this school. We spent months looking for a school that offered high-quality education and after only a few months we realized we made the right decision. Our son really loves his school and we look forward to many years at Darwin Elementary.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in Kindergarten, also in the dual language program. We applied to several dual language magnet programs across the city for which he was placed on a waiting list and did not get in before I realized there is a school right in our neighborhood that has one. We visited the school and felt really good about their program after speaking with the dual language coordinator and principal, and enrolled out son right away! They were awesome about letting us enroll even though we live just outside the neighborhood boundaries for the school. We have been very happy with our decision. Our son is excelling in school and seems to really enjoy it. All of the teachers seem to really care about the students as does the principal. Our son is learning Spanish and we are excited for him to spend his elementary career at Darwin! They also have an exchange program for eighth graders and a great parent community.
—Submitted by a parent

Not only are Darwin's language immersion program, teachers and staff great, but it also has tremendous parental involvement - courtesy of Logan Square Neighborhood Association's award-winning Parent Mentoring program, a plethora of parent volunteers, and, I hear, a newly-forming Friends of Darwin group.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in the dual language kindergarten at Darwin and she absolutely loves it! She is performing above grade level in English and Spanish. Her teacher has truly gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure my daughter has every resource necessary to thrive. The teacher communicates with me daily regarding my child's behavior and academic endeavors. Additionally, the support staff (counselor, psychologist, nurse, etc.) have all been phenomenal in managing my child's 504 (medical/disability plan). I most appreciate the parent volunteer coordinator on staff for her monumental success at engaging parents in the education process and achieving Healthy School status. Darwin participates at the nationally renown parent mentor program of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association and there is always a parent mentor in my child's class of 20 students to assist the teacher. Next year we look forward to participating in the after school programming for 1st-8th graders at the nearby Boys and Girls club that partners with Darwin as well. Darwin is a community where my daughter and I are appreciated, valued, and challenged to grow. I highly recommend the school.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is a first year Pre-K student in the bilingual classroom at Darwin. Darwin has a world language magnet program that allows them to teach in Spanish through eight grade. He has really learned a lot in just the first few months and LOVES it. All the parents and other children in his class are so sweet. There are only 20 in his class and every day there is the teacher, assistant and at least one parent volunteering. Parents are always welcome in the classroom and I love that we get to know the other parents while our kids eat breakfast there together. I think this school may have had some issues in the past but it is clear they are working through them. I am glad that we took the time to take a tour, meet the teachers and learn more about the school.
—Submitted by a parent

As a teacher at Darwin, it is my opinion that the school is moving in the wrong direction. The principal at Darwin is terrible. He wouldn't even allow the student council to organize a "spirit week"! Students organized, planned, and presented options to the principal and were shot down. Then, teachers stood up for the students and one of them got fired!!! There is a new culture at Darwin that is not healthy or beneficial for anyone involved. The school has had some great teachers, but some have been fired, some have transferred, and others are just counting days to retirement. Darwin was a good school about three years ago, but the new principal has created a toxic environment for everyone in the building. You will notice that the principal has not even taken the time to complete the school's profile on this website - he probably doesn't even know about it.
—Submitted by a teacher

I have been a teacher at Darwin for over 18 years. During that time, I have seen a lot of improvement. Our scores have gone up every year for the last 7 years. We have many opportunities that other schools don't have, such as having sister schools in other countries that our students visit. Mary Beth Belda,Sped.tchr.
—Submitted by a teacher

It is the best school in the are 4, have a lot of parent involvement every year. It have a parent mentor program and have around 50 parents helping inthe school, classroom, lunchroom etc. Tell me what school in this area have such amount of parent helping in the school doing a huge difference in education........
—Submitted by a parent

I feel darwin is not a good school because there is no activities at this school for the children. The principle involvement is poor and my children didnt feel safe. Even though my children are old enough to walk by them self, i still had to be there to take and pick them up because of the unsafe activities accuring at or around the school. Itransfered my children this year to a school i felt was more caring about all its student something i couldn't get at darwin.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall this is a school in need of help. Students do not feel safe and the school officials don't seem to care much. My kids have been attending darwin for 6 years and I am not aware of these sports programs they advertise. I am very dissapointed with this school and their interest in their students. Look elsewhere !
—Submitted by a parent

Darwin is the best school that I anyone can sent a child to learn. They have the best Parent Program for parent involvemente. Every year they have about 50 parents helping in the classroom. It make a huge difference on this school. More school would like to have a lot of parent like this school have. It make a big difference with the education and security. I am proud of send my daugther to this school. It is the best. Most of the Teacher are dedicate teacher and are overqualify. It make a big diference.
—Submitted by a parent

Darwin has a few teacher who care. Teachers at Darwin do not know how to handle Special Education Students. Very little parent involvement. Concerning security issues not a safe school security does nothing they just watch. You need to get self defence classes in order to go to this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am about to become an 8th grade student at Darwin, I've been at that school all me life. I've been there since kindergarten. All of my teachers, have been the most committed teachers i have ever seen, and the 8th grade teachers, don't let me get started on how great they are! We always have monthly incentives, they are a blast! Those incentives really help with the discipline, it motivates the kids. This school, is the best, I will always love this school.
—Submitted by Cindy Ramos, a student

What is interesting about Darwin is the quality of the teachers. I am an 8th grade teacher at Darwin and have been there for seven years. The school is much improved and I would definately send my children there. To the parent of the kindergarten student, teachers here are not lazy but dedicated professionals who come in day in and day out and work like crazy to help our youth.
—Submitted by fernando ferrer, a teacher

My son started kindergarten at Darwin and he used to be very exited, but the teacher never understood him and decided to put him aside. I would never recomend this school to anyone. Very poor knowledge of educating very active and opened minded kids these days. I was there for a whole year and never saw the principle till graduation time! Overall staff is very lazy. I will do my best to have my kids in a better school.
—Submitted by a parent

Hello. I am a 7th grade student from Darwin School and I love the school. I have been there all my life. The teachers are great and helpful. The teachers are always doing their best for their students. They work hard for the kids! So I hope I said something that will somewhat make you bring your kids to Darwin. It is a good school!
—Submitted by a student