St. Benedict Elementary School

I have 2 daughters in Elementary School. Very strange what the previous reviewer stated. We've always had a great communication with the teachers and they all are quick to reply to any emails/questions we have. My daughters are more than happy at the school. There is a lot of homework for my 2nd grader. There are different levels within the classroom (normal, advanced, etc). My 2nd grader is in the advanced group and the level of work is very demanding. We are somehow involved in the parish but do not donate any extra $ and the level of attention we receive from all staff is absolutely wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent

I wish I had a crystal ball because I would not have sent my daughter to this school. The curriculum is not wonderful. If you have a smart child but don't have the money to donate they won't even look or help your child. The teachers never reply to your emails. If your child has a problem with another student they don't care.
—Submitted by a parent

I am in 8th grade here. I think it is an absolutely wondeful school. The curriculum is wonderful. There is a lot of 1 on 1 with the teacher.

We transferred our son to St Bens after being disappointed with his kindergarten experience at Bell, and we are so happy with our choice. Small classes, excellent curriculum, responsive, flexible teachers - it's a wonderful school.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has been at St. Ben's for the past seven years. Two years of full-time preschool and now in the 5th grade. He has excelled tremendously and has gained considerable social skills. This truly is a community of advanced teachers, stellar administration and parents who only want the best education for their children!
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in preschool at St. Ben's, and we couldn't be happier with his experience there. His teacher is absolutely outstanding. I cannot believe how much he has learned this year - academically AND socially. His classmates are a diverse group of children with commited, involved parents. I cannot say enough wonderful things about his teacher and experience this year.
—Submitted by a parent

Parents worry about the future of their child/ children. Education and a moral foundation are the building blocks for our children to acheive their goals. St Benedict is that foundation. The staff is second to none, the programs avialable are many and the challanges they provide are wonderful to the growth of our children's minds. The history of the school and the deep roots this school has in this community are a badge of honor each child carries with then now and forever. There will be disagreements and discontent at times but this school is second to none for that reason. This school is constantly changing to meet the demands of the diagreements and dicontent issues. This school is constantly progressing forward. This school is the best for the foundation of our children and their futures.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Benedict Elementary School is a Professional Development Partner with DePaul University of Chicago. The resources that the partnership bring to the school are great, including the Phonics/Guided Reading Programs which add order, comprehension and Systematic thinking to an already excellent curriculum. This is a cutting-edge bonus that makes the school so great. The sense of community is something that my family has not seen elsewhere. It truly is a gem of a school, parish and people!
—Submitted by a parent

My Kindergartner, as a new student to the St. Ben's community, has had a very positive experience in making the transition to a new school. We previously had been at a Montessori for three years and never felt comfortable there. My child developmentally, socially, and acedemically has made drastic improvements at St Ben's because of the compassion and experience the teachers and administration has for its students. Recommendations were made on how to make our child's transition go smoother. Suggestions included a 5 week transition to Kindergarten summer camp, visits to the classroom, meet-and-greet's with other students. To net it out, there are many opportunities to communicate with the teacher(s) to monitor progress and get involved. The after-school programming is excellent, fostering additional oppportunites for your child to create a bond with their classmates. It's a nurturing place for your child and a great FIRST experience to starting their school years.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Benedict Elementary School is a Professional Development School in partnership with DePaul University. It was chosen because it is a model school impacting student learning at all levels.
—Submitted by a teacher

From the first day at pre-school, my child wanted to live at school. She loves learning at St. Ben's with all her heart. Every year is the best year ever. The 4th grade class is a great group of friends that all care about each other. All of her teachers so far have been the perfect fit for my daughter. Life is a tough place. At St.Ben's your childs learns the skills to manage life. And make life long friends !
—Submitted by a parent

St. Benedict has been a wonderful place for my daughter and I have been impressed with the small class size and the attention she has received. The teachers are very responsive and work so hard to support and challenge the students. The numerous extracurriculars are a big plus, too. We are very glad we are a part of this great community.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been attending St. Benedict Elementary School for several years. Over the past five years, the school has gone through an amazing transformation -- the principal has initiated many impressive programs, the teachers are caring and creative, the children are friendly, the climate is inviting and welcoming. There are so many ways to be involved at the school, and the kids have access to many wonderful extracurriculars. The school has initiated a portfolio program for all students which is helpful for parents to see how their child has grown and improved. The middle school students use laptops in their classrooms. The school has a great partnership with DePaul University. If a family is looking for a school to belong to, this is it!
—Submitted by a parent

I was a Chicago Public School Teacher for 14 years. I have a Master s Degree in Early Childhood Education. I have three children, two dogs and a husband. My daughter is in fourth grade and my son is in kindergarten at St. Benedict. I am currently at home with my toddler. I know there are many choices of schools in Chicago and I know how overwhelming that choice can be. We looked at over a dozen schools for our daughter. We choose St. Benedict School for so many reasons. First and foremost we are a community at St. Ben s. The staff and parents help each other educationally, spiritually, and in times of need. The small class size gives my children the opportunity to flourish and express themselves as individuals. The teachers are very educated, caring, and compassionate. They have high expectations for our children and provide a curriculum and atmosphere in which our children can succeed. There are so many extra curricular activities at St. Ben s! My children are involved in Girls Basketball, Bitty Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Art Club, and Girl Scouts. These are only a few reasons why we chose St. Benedict. The only way you will know if St. Benedict is right for your child is to come and see our school.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been at St. Ben's for over 5 years now, and the experience has been wonderful for all of us. St. Ben's is a DePaul University Professional Development Partner school, which has brought in amazing resources for both the teachers and the students. There are 15 children in my daughter's class, and in addition to the very experienced core teacher, a student teacher from DePaul is in the room as well -- that's an incredible student/teacher ratio. The new 'portfolio assessment' is such a great tool, I was really able to see how my son improved over the course of the year. This, in addition to the fact that the teachers are very open to discussing individual needs (both accelerated and developmental) are much more meaningful than just numbers on a report card. This entire school cares about my children and their education.
—Submitted by a parent

We believe that St. Benedict Elementary School is the best school our children could be in. The class size is amazing! Each child gets a great deal of individual attention. The innovative and exciting programs (lap top technology, portfolio assessments, interdisciplinary projects) all demonstrate the forward thinking of the principal and the quality of the teachers. There are so many extracurricular activities available for students, from athletics to art and music to student council, that our children are getting fantastic opportunities outside the classroom. There are many ways for parents to get involved, too and most parents choose to be very active in the school. St. Ben's provides a wonderful environment for our children and we strongly recommend it to parents looking for a great school and a great community.
—Submitted by a parent

School has the capability to be a good school but administration doesn't welcome any constructtive critisism. Kids are safe and do alot of crafts but there is so much they can do to improve the school but dont. Not sure why.
—Submitted by a parent

Schools offer a great number of new programs which strengthen the already in-place curriculum, including Spanish for grades K-7; New portfolio assessment for grades PK-8; Physical Education classes for grades PK-8; An additional Preschool classroom; Music classes for PK-8; $1000 family-friendly discount on tuition for two or more children in elementary school and one-on-one tablet PC initiative for 6th grade students (next year to expand to one more grade. School nurse; full-time reading specialist, and reading assistance program. 2007-2008 School Year Preview includes new Guided Reading practices for K-5, including building library of reading materials for classroom support of this program (in addition to current library); New Phonics program for K-2; New math program pilot.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Benedict Pre and Elementary schools have surpassed our expectations, including the level of academic instruction, curriculum, discipline, guidance, parent involvement and an overall sense of strong community. The school's partnership with DePaul University has tightened the already small student to teacher ratio. Specialized instruction in Spanish, Music, Extra Reading, Religion, Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Computers offer our children a great balance and overall outstanding quality education. We're proud of the work our teachers deliver and feel our kids are in the best school for them.
—Submitted by a parent

St. Ben's is a gem of a school. My children have attended from pre-school through 2nd grade. The small class size allows the teachers to really focus on academic excellence. The connection with DePaul University is not only beneficial to the school, but is the cutting edge of progressive and excellent education. Imagine university professors working hand in hand with the elementary school faculty, student teachers in the classroom, all working to create an interesting, innovative and excellent learning environment. The DePaul partnership is in place from pre-school through the elementary and high school. The principal is fantastic. The sense of community is best described as a small town in the big city -- all are truly concerned with your child's well being. We are very happy with the school.
—Submitted by a parent