Murray Elementary Language Academy

Congratulations to our kindergarten teacher and Murray Language Academy. Our kindergarten teacher was just awarded the Golden Apple for Excellence in Teaching and it was personally presented to her by the Governor this morning. It is my understanding that the Governor had several schools to choose from, but chose Murray because of it's outstanding reputation in education. Kudos to the principal, your hard work and determination to keep excellent teachers at Murray has paid off! Perhaps the families that are moving on will be lucky enough to find schools with a Golden Apple recipient, 4 Golden Apple Nominees and 5 nationally board certified teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

It is imperative that the new LSC-2012-2014 hit the floor running to help get the school back to a great school and stop the decline in academic performance and discipline. Bringing back the upper grades was a mistake, but hopefully the new LSC can come up with strategies bring the school together. However, I will be transferring my children from the Murray at the end of the school year. The primary grade through 4th grade are strong, but after that much work needs to be done in the 5-8 area. I wish the newly elected council good luck and know they have much to do to get Murray back on track.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree, discipline can be a problem at any school. As a parent you don't just give up on your child, you commit to continue to encourage, teach and believe the best about them. Murray does the same thing. Murray has a lot to offer. Excellent Parent Volunteers, great teachers, and lots of after school programs.
--Submitted by a parent

Worth repeating: Murray is in great shape. Murray had a recorded ISAT composite score of 90.4% last year (2009-10). The composite score did drop to 88.9% this year (2010-11). The CPS performance policy calculates multiple variables of student growth. All three years under the current policy, Murray was a level one school. Murray missed the level 1 cut off by eight tenths (8/10) of a percentage point last year. This year, there are more teachers at Murray with endorsements in their respective subject areas than ever before. These subject matter experts can and do deliver a deeper understanding of the subject to upper grade students. For the K-4 teachers, the self-contain model works prefect. These primary teachers are the masters of their domain. The afterschool program now includes robotics, math team, chess, IMSA math and science, and enrichment. The school has grown over the last three years as evident of test scores, student learning opportunities and new hires. Murray Language Academy is a great school nested in a great community of Hyde Park, home of our great president, President Obama.

Murray has its good and bad, but overall, we are dissatisfied with our experiences there. Sure there is great parent participation and lots of after school activities but for its location the school has little diversity, many teachers are not challenging the students to grow academically (more homework would be good) but also there are LOTS of discipline problems. Kids are constantly fighting (perhaps not always very seriously) but still, kids cutting class, little development in gym class, etc. Credit to AP Ms. Royster. She does a great job of dealing with the discipline problems. Murray has lots of potential, but it's just where it could be yet.
--Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, due to the current leadership, Murray is now a Level 2 school. The principal is very hard to communicate with, and it often takes several days to contact him. There are several teachers who are below average and the principal does nothing about it. Several families have to pay for tutoring for their children because they don't learn the material at school. The school is in desperate need of new leadership. The principal has no knowledge of what good classroom instruction looks like, which is why the school isn't moving in a positive direction. This is the last year I will be subjecting my children to this foolishness.
--Submitted by a parent

im a murray student.... i have been going there for a while now.... ever since kindergarden. it's a really good school. the teachers are great. Our school is like a big family, everyone is support of eachother, the older kids such as my self help out with the younger kids. We are also very welcoming to new comers..... and excited to get more every year. I love murray. Murray has built me to be very intelligent and a great leader. I am proud to say that when my class graduates from the 8th grade next year from murray, i will be able to say i have taken and passed pre-algebra and regular algebra. I Love Murray. Go wildcats .... p.s. we have lots of extra curriculum activaties. Allstar cheerleading, Pom Pom , basketball, yoga, math after school,track,etc :)

To my view the way i see parents involvement and my friends' recomendations about Murray language Academy, it is a great school also for my baby.

Mr. Mason has been our principal for only two years, but has a reputation for being a math wizard who is caring and sincerely tries to please everyone (which is and should be impossible)! Kudos to Mr. Mason and AP, Ms. Royster [and their staff] for trying to accomodate working parents with afterschool programs such as yoga, cheerleading, SPARKLE, Mad Science, etc., in addition to free homework assitance. You two are the real "Dynamic Duo!"
--Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, staff and librarian!
--Submitted by a parent