Riley Comm Cons School

A small school, so if you want to be involved as a parent you can be. When an issue arises, it is very easy to talk to the decision makers and get an answer to your questions/concerns. Class sizes are pretty small in most grades (< 20 kids/class), a full range of extracurricular activities is offered, and the test scores bear out what we have witnessed in the classroom - teachers/administrators do care. On the downside, because it is relatively small, it cannot offer the wide variety of additional classes (e.g. foreign language) that may be found at larger schools. However, we are more than happy to take the trade off of a school that does feel like a community vs. one where kids could get lost in the shuffle.
--Submitted by a parent

Small school with lots of personal attention!
--Submitted by a parent

It is Old school' in the best sense of the word. Parents are involves, teachers are excellent and the class sizes are relatively small. They consistently rate 2nd in the county.
--Submitted by a parent

I really do not think this is a great school. Some of the teachers are good but not great. I feel they really do not think about the child as a person.
--Submitted by a parent

Nice small class sizes with individualized attention.
--Submitted by a parent

I think my child may be attending a different school than the others are writing about. I have not found the school to be all the things they say it is. We have a past Superintendent that left under suspicious circumstances, higher taxes the school is paying for a part time superintendent at a high, high rate for 1 building with less than a 300 student enrollment. Instead of paying for a superintendent we should be putting the money into classrooms you don't have to go outside the building to get to. I do think the Principal is doing a great job. I hated to see her leave the classroom as good teachers are hard to come by. Riley has some good teachers just like every other school. Nothing about this school is what I would consider special or above average.
--Submitted by a parent

I attended Riley from Kindergarten through 8th grade. I feel it was a geat experience and if I lived in the area I would go out of my way to have my children attend this school. When I attended high school in Marengo I was acutely aware of the leadership qualities my peers from Riley possessed in comparison to those from other grade schools in the area.
--Submitted by a former student

As a parent, I feel my two children who have graduated from Riley received a well-rounded education. I still have two children at Riley who enjoy the teacher attention and the extra-curricular activities. The sports programs are excellent! The music program is also excellent. Art is well received by the children. The atmosphere at this school is extremely warm and caring. It is comforting to know that your children are in a safe, warm, and caring environment where they are learning at such high standards. I do not feel that my children could ever be left behind at this school. The teachers and support staff are all that a parent and student could ever hope for. The Riley/Marengo community is truly blessed to have such a wonderful resource at their disposal. Let's just hope it doesn't get disposed of by taxpayers and the state of Illinois.
--Submitted by a parent

My child loves Riley school and the teachers. I have nothing but wonderful things to say. Even our bus drivers are outstanding. The parents and the community are involved. My husband has had a job offer in another state but we have instead decided to stay in the area just so all three of our children can attend this school. They do expect parent involvement when it comes to educating the children. Be prepared for homework every night.
--Submitted by a parent

I attended this school a while ago and I found it to be the best experience of my childhood. The teachers are all caring and concerned and the overall atmosphere is amazing. When I have children, I will move back to Marengo just so I can send them to Riley.
--Submitted by a former student