Edison Park Elementary School

Unbelievably impressed so far. I have 2 children at Edison and feel very lucky we live in this neighborhood and can send them there. Both my wife and I are products of suburban schools in towns with excellent schools and I can say with absolute certainty the curriculum my children are receiving is ahead of what I learned in their grades. Staff across the board is superior and there couldn't be a more committed principal than Mr. Z. My only complaints are class sizes and with the parents who in some of the negative notes below are most likely the ones who never partipate in making the school even better
--Submitted by a parent

To help readers filter my review let me say my children have only been at the school for 2 years. Also, I want to add that my only other experience w/ schools are Oriole Park Elementary & the private school education my wife & I have had. Excuse my grammar as I had to play w/ words for my review to fit. Teachers: acceptable. Principal leadership: good. Parent involvement: excellent! The staff is nice & friendly w/ the exception of one staff member who always lacks professional manners. She is always rude & has a bothered look on her face as if she doesn't want to help. The security is by far the worst thing in the school. Anyone can get in at anytime and do whatever they want. They only have one, 60-ish person at the man entrance in plain clothes. After school people come in & out of all doors w/out being challenged. I always worry about the safety of my kids. I understand money is an issue, but good security doesn't cost much if you know what to do & Edison Park doesn't have a clue. I've never been a fan of 5 star ratings. I give the school a 7.5 out of 10. I think the school has a great rating because the people rating don't have anything better to compare it to.
--Submitted by a parent

I think my kids receive a well rounded education from Edison. I really love the accessibility of the teachers and principal. A sense of community and involvement is nurtured. There are high expectations for the kids along with a challenging curriculum but they have tons of fun too.
--Submitted by a parent

I love this school! From the principal to the teachers, you get professionals who care about your kids. Clean and calm with polite kids and involved parents. What this school needs is more funding to help it grow even more. I am so grateful my kids get to go here.
--Submitted by a parent

I can't say enough good things about EPE. It's our second year at the school, oldest child is now a first grader. Our child's reading and math abilities are well above average. We were worried specifically about reading and writing skills entering K. He struggled in this area and did not enjoy working at it. Less than one month into school we could see major strides. It has continued at a high level as we end the first grade, very impressed with the teaching staff. He loves to go to school to learn, socialize and grow as a person. He absolutely loves going to this school and he is well educated. Parent involvement is off the charts. The principal is an amazing person who makes this school great. EPE will be recognized for excellence in every category because of him and his endless work days.
--Submitted by a parent

I moved my two sons from a local Lutheran school to EPE 3 years ago with severe reservations about leaving a private school. I'm VERY happy to say that both of my sons, my and wife and I are more than pleased with the switch. One big downside to this school is the lack of space/overcrowding but the Principal seems to be doing a great job working with that limitation. We've had nothing but positive experiences with all the teachers and staff. The curriculum seems to be challenging but not suffocating. My third grader is doing math that I don't remember seeing until a much later age! The parent involvement appears to be close to 100% in this school, which obviously makes a HUGE difference to a successful educational experience. It is true that few of EPE'S students have gone on to the VERY few choice CPS high school's, but let's be honest, that is NOT the fault of EPE or the outstanding Principal. The ridiculous lottery system and obvious race bias is the problem. If those schools took only the best and brightest, I am certain EPE would be sending quite a few each year! Unfortunately, that is never going to happen.
--Submitted by a parent

Edison Park is a fantastic place for children to learn and grow. The teachers and administrators are smart, caring and always give 110%. To address the two negative reviews below; according to EP's state report card, 94% of the 8th grade students met or exceeded the standards last year - clearly EP is doing something right.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of multiple students at Edison Park and I work in the field of education. As a parent and as an knowledgable educator, Edison Park is a superior school. Since my children have been attending they have excelled in all areas, academically as well as social/emotional. A principal makes a school and thankfully Edison Park's principal has made it an enviornment of high standards of learning while allowing the students opportunites to particpate in programs/activites that develop self esteem and personal growth. Under the principals leadership, the staff at Edison Park is motivated to make our children succeed. I am very luck to have Edison Park as my kids school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a good example of a parent that had her child in a Catholic school. Besides the no tuition anymore and with property taxes going up each year we decided to send our child to Edison Park. We were amazed and how behind she was in MATH. At least a 1/2 year behind on what she had learned in catholic school. She is and always was a straight A student. Working a few weeks with the Math teacher she was brought up to where she needed to be and still continues the high honor roll from year to year. We could not be more pleased with our choice.
--Submitted by a parent

I am one of several upper grade parents who pulled their children out of Edison because they were not being taught sufficiently. Academically they are light years behind the other public schools on the NW side. Horrible discipline approach. So glad we made the move out. Word is spreading.
--Submitted by a parent