Marquette Elementary School

One of Chicago's worst schools and nobody cares. Whenever I go to that school as a substitute teacher, the principal is not around. She is always in her office and everything is left to the assistant principal and the other office staff.
—Submitted by a teacher

I graduated from this school i was in the IB program and the teachers were great some of which i had were mrs.g mrs.williams and mrs.sweiss they helped me a lot some of the best teachers ive had! my brothers still continue to go to this school and ive have seen a great fall from when i went there it seems like some of the teachers dont care enough while others are simply okay. They need better security, there is always something going on like a fight or some kid getting in trouble because he brought something to school that he want suppose to.

Best school in Chicago ! My siblings and I attended Marquette West from preschool to 8th grade. We had the best learning experience you could ever get. I had Mrs. G and Mrs. O'Malley when I was in the IB program and with their help I was very prepared for highschool. The teachers really care about students and they want to help them succeed.

I believe this school needs alot of work starting from the teacher/parent communication to the security. I transferred my kids from a catholic school due to money issues. But I wish I didn't because the communication is not there.
—Submitted by a parent

There are great teachers at Marquette like Mrs. Pienta, Mrs. G, Mrs. Williams, Mr. Hidalgo, Mrs. Carver, Mrs. Allison, Mrs. Rodriguez, Mrs. Berenger. I have several children who have or are attending the school. Unfortunately, the school has been in a great decline the last couple of years. The principal is non existant, ask the kids. They don't have any regard for him or ever see him. The assistant principals are either extrememly unprofessional like Ms. Reed or do not have good follow through like Mrs. Cunningham. Not so sure about the other assistant Mrs. Delahuarta. Yes, parents have to be accountable for their children, but the school needs to set the standard for the students to work toward. I wish I could afford to move from the neighborhood to switch schools. Just glad that many of the teachers still work very hard despite the way the school is run.
—Submitted by a parent

I want to reply to the parents that wrote the previous responses. This school is filled with passionate teachers trying to make a difference. The assistant principles are great at what they do. There are many parents that work hard for the school and the students. The biggest problem in this school is that many parents do not handle their kids at home and give excuses for their child's behavior instead of trying to correct it.
—Submitted by a parent

I really deeply disdain this school. I don't think kids look forward to going to school everyday. Like the parent before me said children can get detentions for not having their shirts tucked in. On picture day kids must go in uniform, most of the staff and kids agree that thats not fair knowing that we are the ones paying. One of my childs teachers just sits around on the phone computer or texting all day long. I think that the best eighth grade teachers are Mrs.Pienta and Mrs. Banks they really try their best to help us learn. Im sorry but we need major changes pronto!
—Submitted by a parent

Marquette is a terrible school. I have had children enrolled in this school for the past seven years. There has been a steady decline in the quality of education there. The teachers don't seem interested in teaching. A child can recieve a detention for not having their shirt tucked in. While other students are disruptive and aggressive and there's nothing done about it. Mr. O'Toole doesn't get his hands dirty when it comes to taking charge. He seems content to sit in his office, while Mrs. Cunningham or Ms. Reed deal with issues affecting the school. Mrs. Congemi has also had to take charge of issues that have not neccessarily fallen under her job description.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has a wide variety of programs and a committed principal who is always seeking additional resources for the students.
—Submitted by a parent

I wish that some changes did not have to happen at Marquette the last years. My daughter bennefited from being in caring connections program with mrs scanlon. She's in 8th grade this year and wheres the program wheres mrs scanlon. Does the principal or vice pricnipal for the older students get involved with whats going on for them. It doesnt seem like they care. Thank God that Ms. Majoree is still there.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a teacher for 34 years and at Marquette during the current/previous administrations. I was impressed with the quality of the programs at this school. I taught in the SFA reading program and the IB program. These programs were instituted by the current principal, Mr. Paul O'Toole, when he was the Asst. Principal. Upon becoming principal, he expanded these programs and initiatated others. These programs are alot of extra work for us teachers, but raises student achievent and attracts dedicated teachers. I read some undeserved negative criticisms about Marquette at this web-site. Venues such as 'Great Schools' do provide important information. Keep in mind that these 'critiques' are mostly written by anonymous individuals. This anonymity is necessary to obtain honest feedback but can also promote unfair 'attacks'. I am retired without hidden agendas. My only motive for writing this is to reassure parents that Marquette is a fine school.
—Submitted by Ed Tannheimer, a teacher

My daughter went from being on the honor roll all four quarters to getting her first 'D' and not having a clue as to what she has learned. There is also no respect for authority from the students. The school focuses on reading but there is no teaching. I enrolled my child in tutoring when school first started, and all they did was play games and watch the teacher talk on her cell phone. Although, my child has only been here one year, I was totally unsurprised when I learned the school was on probation.
—Submitted by a parent

I really like the school. It has programs for advanced kids and afterschool programs for kids who need extra help. I never heard of a school before where the assist. principal will visit your house. My daughter was failing after 3 months and she started having behavior problems and the assist. principal visited to find out what she could do to help. That impressed me with Mrs. Burton. My son is in preschool and he is using the computer. My daughter never got that in her old preschool. My daughter received brand new designer eyeglasses for free. She learned another language in the choir there. My neice is in Mrs. McBrearaty's class and she is the best teacher ever. The school is really large, but the people are nice and they have a lot of parent information meetings to let you know whats going on.
—Submitted by Chloe Jackson, a parent

The school have wonderful programs and some good teachers, I would like to see better security for our children.
—Submitted by a parent

My son just graduated from Marquette and had it not been for the school social worker Mrs. Lisa Majorie, and the Principal Mrs. Burton, he may have left school before ever reaching 8th grade. The school always had a lot of activities for him to get involved with and my son did make good grades, but he needed confidence and counseling and they both provided that. He started skipping class, and they came to my home often to check on him over 3 years. That is dedication. We never doubted their concern, and because they cared so much he wanted to do better and he did. He is in high school now and it is partly because of their care and concern and I thank them for that.
—Submitted by a parent

I would like to thank Marquette school for preparing my son for high school. Most children was unprepared for the responsibilities that they were about to face. Thanks to Marquette he was prepared. I have a sixth and seventh grade children there now also my youngest will start in the fall. I have no worries that my children will not meet their requirements for next year, the teachers and principal try their best to work with your child. They always stress (which I believe) that the parents and the school have to work together. Im not saying that my children has an immaculent record in school, but having the principal or the assistant to call my home to try to find a solution to an incident that happened at school I feel that they are trying to make sure that marquette is all that an elementary school should be.
—Submitted by Y RHIONE-WILLIAMS, a parent

I just want to thank all the teachers and administrators at Marquette for the success my daughter is having in school as part of the IB Program. Her future is bright because of her start at Marquette. I also want to specifically mention Ms. Schwarz, Mrs. G and Ms. Scanlan for the supportive roles they have played in her education.
—Submitted by a parent

there is a fair asistant principal name of ms burton. she care about all the students and try to work with the parents.she listen to the kids and a good role model . my son had her when she teach 5 grade and my niece had her in 6 and they scores jumped up 2 yr. now she in the office and still friendly and she is nice too. she always have time to see anybody who need help. the school is lucky she is there. she help our kids.
—Submitted by lindsay thomas, a parent

My child attended such school in 1998. She had a great experience due to the great teaching techniques of Mrs. Delintko her 7 and 8 grade teacher as well as Mr. Forst her constitution teacher. If the school continues to employ teachers with the same qualifications as the above mentioned the school will exceed in the Chicago Public School System.
—Submitted by a former student