Newberry Elementary Math & Science Academy

This is a great school with a caring, approachable and intelligent school principal. The negative comments about her have me baffled. I met with her recently to discuss some concerns that I had about my children. She responded to my request immediately and was very responsive to my concerns. I was blown away with how much she actually knew about my children on a very personal level! The teachers are approachable and seem to work very hard to help the students to learn. I couldn't be happier with this school and am thrilled to be sending my youngest to kindergarten in September!
—Submitted by a parent

The school has a great reputation only because of where it is located. By far not impressed anymore. They should not have changed the prior principal. The new principal was the asst. principal and by far has no people skills and seems like she's just there to collect a paycheck . She seems checked out and should not have been given the Principal role. Sometimes roles as such can give you a power trip and have no positive outcome. Mr. Collins (asst. prinicpal) is great! Overall academically I am extremely disappointed with Newberry. My student is in 8th grade and I can not wait until this is over! They don't challenge the students to their full potentail it's sad how it's their last year and it seems that they are not learning anything this year. The only teacher that seems to care and go the extra step is the Math teacher Mr. Greenburg. I have another child that I did not enroll here and is being challenged to her full potential where she's at now.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is not what they say they are they cover up so many things just to keep the status they have, they care if about the fundraiser this is a public school not a school of rich kids. The only only one that seems to care about the students is Mr. Collins.
—Submitted by a parent

I think this is a great school. It's small so students get sufficient attention to help them academically. There are some after school activities as well.
—Submitted by a parent

Good school, good teachers - Principal is openly catty and a little of her goes a long way, but the Vice principal seems to be keeping it together so far. I expect great things under his leadership.
—Submitted by a parent

great school.very smart kids.but to say the truth i really really don't like the way the school keeps asking for money.it teaches children a bad thing for greed.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent and dedicated teachers, strong and approachable school administration, challenging academics, diverse student body-a gem of a school!
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of both a second grader and kindergartener and I can say that I have been so pleased with the new leadership and the quality of teachers. My sons are learning a great deal and are definitely on bare with our private school friends. The one disappointing thing is this roll coaster ride that is the level of involvement from parents. It can vary widely despite efforts to rally parents to help. The school is great, I think it is just unfortunate that parents take it for granted.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very pleased with this school. My daughter came here from a very good private school. Last year was her first year here and she adjusted very well to fourth grade. This is her second year here and I'm please with her academic progress. The teachers here challenge her to reach higher. Her transition from a private to a public school has been assisted by the undertanding prinicple and staff. The diverse community is well represented here a Newberry. I will continue to support the extra cirirriclium as well as the fundrasiers to help them to pursue thir goals.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been here since kindergarten and is currently in the first grade. I think the schools academics are wonderful. The other day she was helping a friend in 2nd grade at another magnet school do homework on subtraction and word problems. She understood and was able to explain her answers. I find that to be OUTSTANDING! While the work my seem to be challenging, I do believe she will on or above level with the rest of the world. She's learning to tell time and count money already and her reading is above average. The science class and lab are wonderful. My daughter has been teaching me about plants that I didn't know existed. Thank you Newberry!
—Submitted by a parent

I agree that it is amazing that the campaign to revamp the playground has been successful! Congratulations to the principal and the Friends of Newberry for accomplishing this goal in such a short amount of time!as a parent I hope to see the overall parent involvement increase and be made up of a more diverse group of people. I feel that the current staff and administration values parent support and it would benefit the school to see more parents get on board.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a soon to be 1st grader- all I can say is "WOW", Friends of Newberry /PTO has raised over $500,000 to redo the school's playground, parking lot and other beatifications (i.e. lighting, planters). They launched their campaign September 2010 and exceed their goal, and broke ground in July. The new leadership from Principal Foley-Acevedo and Asst. Prin. Collins was amazing. Their constant focus on bringing our school to the next level was nothing less than amazing! Pretty impressed with the school on a whole, but just like every other school- parent involvement needs to improve.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a 7th grader, and speaking on behalf of many parents, I feel the upper grade teachers are all wonderful, including the science teacher. This teacher has been particularly supportive and motivating to my child. Considering the lack of discipline by the current administration that has become an issue at all grade levels, these teachers have alot more to deal with, and it is unfortunate that uninformed parents such as the previous review, may not be involved enough with the teacher or school to really understand what is going on.
—Submitted by a parent

Great School! Great Educators! My oldest graduated from newberry and my youngest still there. I'm thrilled with the leadership of our new principle Mrs.Acevedo. She has added some new afterschool sports and activities for the children which have been wonderful. Mrs.Acevedo has her own children at Newberry which right there say's alot! She is vested in our school! I have been there for a while and I can see a new life in the teachers and staff! Only one teacher I feel needs to be replaced and that is the 7th & 8th grade science teacher. She is unmodivating/uninspiring.
—Submitted by a parent

good school over all they are diing much better with sports. a bit to much money asking fromparents. getting better wit the children and making them feel better. but needs to make sure the teachers are nice to the kids and fair

Newberry is a good school to go to. reading the other comments people say i can dissagree when they say dont send your kids to that school. i am a student at this school. the teaching is very good. it meets the levels. may not be the most AMAZING school ever but its a good school the sport programs are much better. and i do agree that they ask for a bit to much money. every teacher has there way of being. but im a student here i have been here since 2nd grade and i can say that im proud to be a student here. i have seen this school try to better. and they are improving. im very happy that they are trying to make us feel better here at school. overall i love newberry.

Newberry academy is an outstanding school. It is one of the most diverse schools in Chicago - both socioeconomically and racially. It has a great culture of academic achievement, an excellent teaching staff that works collaboratively to challenge students and strong adminstrators setting the direction and vision for the school. The school's test scores reflect this focus on achievement. I am very pleased to have my children attend Newberry.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is an advanced Kindergartener and is currently taking on first grade responsibilities and I am very satisfied with the challenge.
—Submitted by a parent

A+....the teachers and staff are top notch and love what they do! It is a happy place for the students. And so many ways to get involved as a parent.... They even have an all day pre-school with a highly experienced teacher with two teaching asst.
—Submitted by a parent

Newberry Academy is a nurturing environment with a truly committed principal, dedicated teachers, and devoted parents. When a child, parent, or member of the community enters the school, one of your first impressions is the sense of warmth and care which people in this school have for the students they serve. Teachers at Newberry tutor children before and after school, children are involved in clubs and sports galore, and parents have plenty of opportunities to get involved in school events whether they be during the school day or after school hours.
—Submitted by a teacher