McDade Elementary Classical School

McDade Classical School is one of the best schools on the southside of Chicago. I have subbed at this school a few times, and they have an excellent administrator, faculty, and staff. The administrator and faculty care very much about the children and their well being. They have an advanced curriculum and the teachers love for their students learn new and exciting things. The school is small, but they offer so much to the students that attend there. I am honored to have been a cadre substitute for this school. McDade explifies excellency in a city where some of the schools have been stereotyped as some of the worse in the country.
--Submitted by a parent

I love McDade!!! Yes, you do get the warm, cozy feeling when you walk through the doors. The academics are great, the free extra-curricular activities after school are wonderful, the winter and spring festivals are awesome...I could go on and on....the PTA, the principal, etc. Yes, there are a lot a textbook teaching, but that's what classical is. McDade is not classified as a 'gifted' school, so, no, critical thinking is not a big focus. We got around that by completing our own critical thinking exercises and puzzles. My only concerns are that McDade only goes to 6th grade and there is no diversification. On the other hand, I am proud that these little black children on the southside of Chicago are scoring just as high or even higher than their more diverse, counterparts. I don't think there is another all black school in the city that can boast this.
--Submitted by a parent

Environment = plus. Small, caring, functional Academics = standard public education. The 'Classical School' distinction is lost on me. There are no Classics here. Just standard-issue, big corporation textbook studies. There appears to be little integration between subjects and teachers, and the quality of instruction is poor to adequate. 4th grade mathematics is solid, but even here we find a great focus on ISAT and not much concern with critical thinking. The idea that this is a 'select' public school either is absurd or the standards of education have been so degraded that we have little hope as a society. Core knowledge in fundamental subjects is absent. A love of learning, creativity, and critical thinking are not being fostered. What we have is a kinder, gentler alternative to the totally disfunctional neighborhood schools that have historically been the other option for those not going the private route.
--Submitted by a parent

This school s absolutely WONDERFUL! It has a great small-town, family feel. The parents are so involved they sometimes have to be turned away because so many volunteer. The teachers and administration are very dedicated and accessible. They really take their time with the students and give always give parents honest feedback. The students are expected to work very hard and the results are excellent. It's a perfect example of how public schools should work with the cooperation and dedication of parents, teachers, administration, and students.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a current Mc Dade parent and both my children attend and LOVE it!! I can not get them to leave the school. The environment is safe, the teachers are caring, committed and wonderful. The only problem I have is that French is given beginning in kindergarten and my child has been taking it for 6 years now and still cannot hold a fluent conversation nor knows the french alphabet.
--Submitted by a parent

I will have to say that Mcdade is a wonderful school the teacher and staff are wonderful and the PTA is out of this world. I am grateful for all the things my daughter has learned in the five years she has been there. However, my only issue with the school is the issues I've had with my daughter being bullied. The children are very much about image and appearance. A wonderful school but socially my kid was very un-happy.
--Submitted by a parent

I am an alum of McDade as well as my older sister. McDade provides an absolutely first rate education and excellent teachers. I have a BS and MBA from an excellent midwestern private liberal arts college and also a JD from the University of Chicago. My sister who also attended McDade is currently an Assistant Vice President at Chase and attended Depaul University. The education at McDade is as good or betther than at most private schools.
--Submitted by a former student

The academic program at McDade is exceptional. The instructors and management have developed an outstanding program focused towards high standardized test scores as well as overall development. Students have a very welcoming and relaxed work environment. Music, arts, sports and other activities are supported by faculty and parents. Parental involvement is outstanding as well.
--Submitted by a parent

McDade Classical school is a fine example of a classical or magnet school. The overriding concern is ensuring that the students have all of the necessary resources to not only achieve, but to excel. The standards and the expectation level remain very high, as reflected by the achievement level of the students, in line with it's long-standing tradition of excellence. The class sizes remain manageable (about 25 per class), the staff is always availiable, the parental involvement remains high. In short students at McDade know that they belong to a culture of success, and their sense of pride allows them to embrace and extend that culture.
--Submitted by Booker Miles, a parent