Gray Elementary School

This is ABSOLUTELY the WORST school experience I have ever had with any of my children! My son is a "problem child" who managed to be on the honor roll at his last school. Why, you ask? Because his other school had teachers who took the time to actually HELP him, rather than berate, yell, and discourage him. He comes home in tears half the time and begs me not to make him go back! He has a medical condition (of which they have documented PROOF from a licensed doctor) and behavior problems. I don't think yelling at him and isolating him from the class is the most productive way to encourage him to do well. He is NOT doing well, but I have only been notified through written notices, which I have not received. (Why would he give them to me? He'll get into trouble!) So, when the teachers DO NOT RECEIVE a signed notice back from me, they do NOTHING! No phone calls, no emails, NOTHING! I don't know what's going on over there, but their boss (the principal, obviously) probably would be best served by making sure her teachers are DOING THEIR JOBS! The students shouldn't be told to "shut up", etc.....they cannot learn in a hostile environment like that!
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in a special needs class at Gray and over the last three years he has improved immensely and his teacher in room 211 has been nothing short of spectacular. He falls on the Autism Spectrum Disorder but is learning almost on pace with his peers. He still needs verbal and visual cues but is progressing. We are very fortunate that CPS provides these services to their students. It is a shame these valuable programs are being cut and other parents in similar situation will not benefit from these programs. My son has been enrolled at three CPS Schools since he started in the early intervention program when he was two years old. He has been in school since he was three. I am writing this in praise of the teachers, therapists and aids expertise in these programs have given my son the help he needed. I wish I can name them so that all will know how hard they work for our children. I wish I could be more involved in school functions; I am giving these school 3 stars in parent involvement mostly based on my lack thereof. We are very satisfied and blessed parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Gray is a great neighborhood school. The education you get here is top rate. Most of the teachers are amazing. The achievements my kids make every year is astounding. The curriculum is challenging but the teachers make it fun. If you want to learn more about the school before you enroll your child I would recommend going to a No Child Left Behind meeting or a LSC meeting, or visit the school to request a tour. There is virtually no bullying problem. The kids are taught from kindergarten to respect each other. I am there every day, I see happy faces going in and out of the school. The school is very active in getting grant money. Mostly used in new education technologies. There is a support staff that will pull out kids from regular class who are having trouble to work in small groups. The school has two new playgrounds, which is a great way to get to know the other parents while kids play. The administration is very firm. But that is mostly good thing. It is a neighborhood school, so they have to take in everyone in the neighborhood even some troubled families. That being said the school creates a well disciplined and safe environment. And the friends will be from the community.
—Submitted by a parent

Very few caring teachers. The office staff have no people skills and horrible attitudes. Education wide its not the best. The school has no Kindergarten graduation, what a disappointment. I pulled daughter out ASAP. Parents are not involved enough.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is horrible. Some teachers are good, but the administration is horrible. Teachers and other staff members are terrified of the principal and this has an impact on the children, especially the little ones. If you have an option, do not send your children to Gray school.
—Submitted by a parent

Im a student at Gray and I think is a really good school...But the ADMINISTRATION is HORRIBLE because I had this problems with this girls and the only thing the school could do was suspend them for the WEEKEND. I think this is administration should pay more attention to the kids. But the teacher are AWESOME!

This school is disgusting. I hated it completely. There was no student displine. Some of the teachers didn't teach my child anything. My child would come home everyday and tell me she was hungry because their foor was either disgusting, or they didn't serve her enough. It is a very cheap school. Also, the Principal and Assistant Principals have no respect for the children or the parents. The 8th graders HAVE to turn in their uniforms that us parents bought with our own money. If they do not turn in their uniforms, they are not allowed to wear whatever they want for the last week of school. There's spider webs and dead roaches around the entire school. I just do not think this school is suitable for young children and I would not recommend this school to anyone. I would rather home school my child.
—Submitted by a parent

While there are some amazing teachers at this school, the administration is terrible. It does not prepare the students for high school one bit if they are attending (or even get into) a selective enrollment school.
—Submitted by a parent

Admittedly, this school has some FANTASTIC teachers. However, the principal and assistant principals try to be intimidating to both students and parents. I had the unfortunate opportunity to have to deal directly with the principal and 2 different assistand principals, who would not even have a professional conversation with me, they just wanted to yell and try to make me feel stupid. When I wouldn't allow that to happen, the principal and assistant principals become verbally combative. I am glad that my daughter only has 1 more year to suffer under this administration. Great job by the teachers though! My daughter is a straight A student!
—Submitted by a parent

There are some great old teachers there too. A teacher doesn't have to be young to be vital and energetic!

I feel that Gray is a great school because of all of the great teachers. They are highly educated and motivated.
—Submitted by a parent

the teachers and students are kind and work hard

Gray Elementary School is a wonderful community school, part of the Chicago Public School system. Gray school has a dedicated, committed, and excellent Principal. Gray also has an energetic cohort of teachers with quite a few vital younger professionals giving their best efforts to engage their students.

The teachers and the principal are great they do what they can for the students but more parent need to get involved in the school it easy to say its the teachers and principal are no help but if parents would be involved it would be a different story they do what they can and I do know this is a great school
—Submitted by a parent

i do not like this school, the principal is disgusting and cruel, the teachers are sloppy, and the students have no discipline at all. I had to transfer my child because that school has no satisfactory at all.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that is no communication at all at the school especially with the principal and the office. I not happy with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

This really is a great school, but I worry about the administration. The teachers are wonderful, but I worry about the safety of my children because there is no active discipline at this school. Also, the principal doesn't seem to be the friendliest person to encounter.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is the best! I went there from pre-kindergarden to the end of 7th grade. My sister, mother, uncle, grandma, grandpa, and GREAT grandma all attended William P. Gray School.The best school ever! They have wonderful teachers like Ms. Widtmann, Dr. Argent, Ms. Davis and so many more!
—Submitted by Katie Rodriguez, a former student

Excellent school that is proving achievement is still possible with racial and income mix.
—Submitted by a teacher

This school is wonderful! I student taught there as well, before moving to Nevada for higher pay, and I can say that depending on the teacher, your child will have a great experience. There are some teachers who are very concerned with winning the golden apple award and may neglect what is really important, and some just want every child to be the best they can be. For the most part, every teacher in this school certainly is not making a bucket of money! They're making a living and being rewarded by students who try their best! The teachers are doing the best they can considering there is one teacher to every 35, plus parents (70) equals about 105 new people to deal with every year...and they ALL want your attention! Be nice to teachers, parents. They're only human.
—Submitted by a teacher