Norwood Park Elementary School

Great experience !! Dedicated teachers! My son loves Mrs Davis, very carring, experience teacher. We very happy with our decesion about transfer.
—Submitted by a parent

I do so hope it's like Prescott. Their numbers keep going up and up and up and up...If you don't like it you should leave. Your negativity helps no one.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow! How could this school be so low in reading and get an award from the state board of education? For three years in a row! Just like infomercials, the principal uses numbers to sell uninformed parents a bill of goods that promote her agenda. As far as the teachers being crybabies, HA! There are new teachers in almost every classroom and the complaints they have voicedSO FAR are THE SAME as the established teachers from last year. AND it is only October! These are the people SHE hired! The new name for Norwood Park should be PRESCOTT NORTH. I predict there will be a crop of new teachers in every grade each year until the principal leaves or is fired.
—Submitted by a parent

State of the school? The population has decreased dramatically in size due to parents leaving and pulling their children out. Below grade level on a newly introduced assessment to the school that had never been given previously. Miraculously, almost all of the students gained two plus years in less than a school year. The beloved principal supported a wonderful staff instead of running them out. Bullying, intimidation, and self absorbtion is not integrity.

Norwood Park School WAS an excellent/wonderful/amazing school. With the recent mass exodus of teachers, administration, students, and families moving out of the neighborhood because of the decisions of principal, I have to wonder if some of these other reviews are from people wearing rose colored glasses or from the principal herself. Change is fine but there is rarely success in turnover just more turnover. She has proven that she can fire and torment people until they leave, but she has yet to prove that she can retain a great teacher. I wish we had a principal that cared more about children, than advancing her own career.
—Submitted by a parent

Since the new principal has come to Norwaood Park Elementary the atmosphere at the school is not the same. My youngest child is starting third grade in a school that is no longer the "great neighborhood school" that it had been for the past 10 years that I have had children there. Private schools are starting to look like a better option although I hate to do that to my third grader who had great experiences with the first and second grade teachers (who are no longer there). It may just be better in the long run. I sure hope that CPS board members take notice and see that teachers make the biggest impact on children and when a principal can't make decisions that are in the best interest of the kids, then the whole school/community suffers.
—Submitted by a parent

This used to be an amazing school with amazing teacher and an amazing principal. All of my children have attended Norwood Park until this year. I am saddened at the changes happening at Norwood Park. It used to be a family centered school where the principal took an interest in all of the children and supported his teachers while keeping high expectations. However, my children say the new principal does not know even know their names. Almost the entire staff has left. What a tragedy.
—Submitted by a parent

I drove pass the school today. My first impression, what beautiful plants surround the school grounds. I am a gardener. It looked like a miniature college campus. Change is good when you support change for progressive education. Traditional education must also be taken into consideration., "If it is not broken, it does not need fixing!" Both progressive and traditional education must be embraced by the community, principal leadership, teachers and students. We want students to embrace change. Change occurs all the time in their lives, from a baby to adult , moving from one grade level to another, from elementary to high school, from high school to college. We all need to support change, support the principal, support the parents and teachers, and especially support the students as they transition their school life with a new pricnipal or new teacher!!

Before parents start tearing down our school and our Principal they should make an effort to become informed. Though NPS is a good school we are not #1 in CPS. In fact we didn't even make the top 50 in the Chicago Tribiune 2011 Top 50 Elementary Schools. How is that you have any idea what is going on in that building between teachers and the Principal? Were you included in their private personnel discussion? Have you been asked by the Principal to help her run the school? Have you even questioned the inappropriateness of that teacher crying to the children in her class using them to outrage you? Are you not outraged by the rumors that fly around our community by people in and outside the building that have no basis in fact and impact our kids? When did the adults become more important than our children?
—Submitted by a parent

I have just been notified by my 5th grade child (who was in tears) that her teacher has been fired. How unprofessional of the principal (shame on you) to notify teachers with a letter during school hours. Not just that, how dare you ruin the structure of the #1 CPS Elementary school. Are we going to be surprised that our middle school children are no longer coming, you don't note 6-8 in your letter on your page. I've never loved any teachers more than at NPS and wish you could let us know what is going on because this affects our children. You come in and revamp the entire structure of the school??? Not a good way to start your first year
—Submitted by a parent

This school is not going ahead in a good direction. Special ed in the middle grades is not good. I dont think my child has learned a thing this year.
—Submitted by a parent

They are not tolerant of other ethnicity nor special needs children. My son was ostracized and continually labeled a bad kid namely by the principal when they were suppose to be supportive and trying to work with him via his IEP plan. He's autistic on top of having 4 other disabilities and they were not understanding at all, they just wanted to be rid of him. Thankfully I was able to find a special needs school that truly worked with him and he has made it to his high school sophmore year.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school! Great staff and teachers. New principal is (so far) maintaining standards of excellence set by former principal. Very lucky to have this gem of a school in CPS system. The school is not a year behind in its curriculum (see review below). Only downside is parental infighting. A new group of parents has displaced another parent group. Unfortunately the new group is beginning to show signs of becoming like their predecessors. It's shameful behavior from both sides. Fortunately this problem is not affecting the children and their grade school experience.
—Submitted by a parent

The school''s curiculum is still a year behind private and suburban public schools. As far as being out of touch, you are excluded unless you donate substantially to the 'foundation.' A large donation amount is is also a ticket for special treatment. It can also be a free pass for kids that would be expelled anywhere else for their behavior! cps, open your eyes and take a look at nps!
—Submitted by a parent

The negative reviewers are clearly out of touch with what is going on at this school. As a parent and an educator this school by far exceeds a typical elementary school. This school utilizes it's fund raising dollars in a exemplary way that benfits the students and teachers on a daily basis. The resources and programs available at this school are completely unlike any other Chicago Public School. The children are engaged in their learning and have acess to technology, fine arts programs and P.E. as early as pre-kindergarten. The one and only problem is that only 60% of this school's families participated in the annual appeal. This money is crucial in estabilshing and maintaining programs that funding from CPS alone would not allow. A message to those who reviewed this school negatively: Come out to see what's happening at NPS!
—Submitted by a parent

Norwood Park is a great school, it has great teachers and a fantastic Principal. We love it. Jim, Anna & Christine Cornwall
—Submitted by a parent

The school has deteriorated over the past few years.
—Submitted by a parent

My two daughters are in grades 4 and 6 at Norwood this year. I am extremely happy with the school. My children love the kids, the teachers and the principal. They have been challenged and have grown this year under the leadership of Norwood Park. I would highly recommend this school to anyone! The teachers are helpful, and even though the class size is large, this school proves that it is not the size of the class, but the control of the class that allows for teaching! Great Teachers! Great kids! Great parents! Great school!
—Submitted by Jen Mironas, a parent

I have one child attending Norwood. I am not happy with the curriculum. As far as parent involvement inside the classroom I don't feel welcomed to do so. Remember-Just because a school is located in a high priced real estate area, that doesn't automatically make it a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children are just beginning their school experiences. This school seems exceptional and we are so pleased with every aspect of the school so far. I have heard about and seen many great teaching approaches being utilized in this school. Many dedicated and good teachers!
—Submitted by a parent