Budlong Elementary School

I honestly think this school is phenomenal. I am still attending it and We had had a new principal and her name is Naomi Nakayama . Shes cares and does whatever it takes for what the child is learning. The school is not in the best shape but , your child will succeed. The teachers CARE about their children. They explain multiple times just for the student can actually GET the specific problem they are recently learning.

If I could rate this school with 0 stars, I would. Budlong Elementary has been a poorly run school for over a decade now. Previously attending this school, I know first hard how low the education system is in this school. I was transferred out of Jamieson in 4th grade & into Budlong. Most of the student body is of Latino descent & many don'y speak or understand English. The faculty doesn't put enough effort into helping these students do better in school. In 5th grade, I had a teacher who didn't teach anything essential or useful all year long. He made the lesson plans but never followed through. The rest of the time I spent here was unfortunate & ridiculous. The students here end up in low performing high schools & frankly, end up dropping out. There is no sense of community in this school & is in dire need of a new principal who will be a leader & eliminate the teachers who are non-essential. I advise parents to stay away from this poorly run school & place their children in Jamieson, Peterson, or any private schools around the area. This is by far one of the worst public schools in Chicago but hopefully, someday it will change. In the meantime, STAY AWAY.

My granddaughters attend Budlong and I am very happy with their progress. My six year old is already reading and writing her name, thanks to Ms Bunker in her Kindergarten class. It may not be the best school but the teachers are wonderful and that makes a great school.

This is quite possibly the worst school in Chicago. There is very little structure and very little nuturing going on here. As a kindergarten student our son colored every day and was sent homework for us to teach him on long weekends, because as the teacher put it, she didnt have the time to do it. Our son had a parent in the classroom everyday who knew every detail of every student from grades to personal things. She was not a teacher or even employed by the school, she was there to "help", and gossip to the other parents about the kids. This is common practice there. As for us and 7 other parents (out of 20), we could not wait for this year to end so we could get our children into a different school next year. I implore you to reconsider putting your kids in this school. My mother taught in a school for the handicap, my mother-in-law taught for over 30 years, my wife is a teacher, and I worked for years in a school and I have never witnessed a more unhealthy atmospere for young kids to grow in.
—Submitted by a parent

it is very bad school i can't wait to take my son out of it ,the staff and teachers are too bad everything there is bad
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the post from Posted November 24, 2010. My son has been attending this school since the 4th grade. I can't wait for him to get out of this school! Teachers are not that great and I don't see where they are actually teaching. Principal is the worst.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a current pre-k student in Budlong. Her teacher Mrs.Azose is outstanding! She was born to be a teacher!Her assistant teacher Mrs. Mila is great too and always very helpful! My daughter is so happy there and learns a lot. She loves her 2 teachers.Thank you dear teachers for being there for our kids!
—Submitted by a parent

We just moved here and this is the worst school I've ever seen. I seriously question my daughter's teacher's level of education--you would not believe the things she teaches them (Zigzag is a compound word?? Combining what--the 2 words "zig" and "zag"??? How is my child supposed to respect someone who knows less than her--and who yells all the time?). I'm disgusted on every level by this school. The principal is rude, and has no idea how to speak to parents or children, and it trickles down to his staff--who clearly share his ideas on children. My advice? RUN, don't walk, to the nearest private school. That's where we're headed...
—Submitted by a parent

I have been involved with every aspect of Budlong School for many, many years. I know ALL of the teachers and staff that work there. The Budlong School staff CARES about the students, their learning, and in general, the students' well-being. The staff members at this school have provided clothing for students that needed clothing. They have put together food supplies so families could have holiday meals. I know for a fact that staff members at Budlong School have paid for students to attend field trips and other special events when parents could not afford to do so. The staff members at this school have done these things and paid for it with money from their pockets. They did this from the heart, not because they wanted to be recognized for their good deeds. Budlong is a great school.

This is the greatest drade school in chicago , all my kids graduated here , teachers are very determined and very helpful . My son is graduating this year and i will never , ever forget how much you all were there for all 3 of my kids ...I will miss it ...
—Submitted by a parent

The school has great teachers, but the principle is someone who does not listen to the parents or the kids. He forms his own judgement.......
—Submitted by a parent

Budlong is a great school. My son's teacher Ms. velez took my sons' hand and practically walked him into the door of success. Im exceptianally proud of my son to have such a grand teacher. Ms. velez is pure 4 star material.
—Submitted by a parent

Budlong School, is a great place for every child. Many improvements have been made throughout the years. I can say with full confidance that Budlong had a GREAT administration and a GREAT staff who care about the students education and quality of life.

I think the quality of the academic programs are above average. Not the best, but far from the worst. While my daughter has never had music, they put on many music and dance programs throughout the year. They want and expect much parental involvement, not just at the PTA level but the classroom as well. I have a son who graduated from there who got into a good HS and is now doing well in college, and my daughter has attended since the 1st grade (we tried the local private school). Budlong is the kind of school that your kid will get out of it what you put into it.
—Submitted by Sidney, a parent

The seventh and eighth grade math program is incredible. The teacher I viewed provides challenging and fun activities in a cross-curricular method.
—Submitted by a teacher

On a positive note, I am extremely grateful to my son's Pre-K teachers, Mrs. Tina Kritikos & Mrs. Milla. Your sincere love and devotion to each indvl child is proven thru my son's educational and emotional growth while in your care. Thank you for choosing this profession and teaching my child how to use his first learning skills and thank you for reminding us that we, as parents, need to continue teaching at home. Our family will never forget you!
—Submitted by a parent

On a positive note, I have to say I am extremely pleased and grateful with my son's growth & dvlpmt in pre-k. Thank you to our angels, Mrs. Kritikos & Mrs. Milla, for guiding my son thru his first educational year. Thank you for teaching my son basic insructions and thank you for reminding us as parents, that our child's education continues at home. The love and devotion to each indvl child is obvious and sincere. We consider ourselves blessed to have had you as our son's very first teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

Budlong has recently been named to an exclusive list of 85 schools in all of Chicago that distinguishes itself as a well deserved autonomous and great school. There are only 84 others in the whole CPS (high school and elementary) who received this distinguished honor. Budlong deserves much more credit than these other listings show.
—Submitted by a former student

My friends go to this school and they always use words like worser, badder, ect. They dont know any math or history. It feels like the principal doesn't work there.
—Submitted by Eduardo Moreno, a parent

Well, I haven't had much contact with the principal but I do agree that it's a bad school. They don't care about whether the students learn or not. Their only concern is hopes to meet deadlines so they rush through materials. Also, my daughter has told me on several occasions that she has seen dead roaches in the caferteria, and during hot days she says there is no air so you can only image how hot these kids are. We relocated here from Wisconsin so we didn't know much about Chicago schools but I know that we're headed back to Wisconsin.
—Submitted by a parent