South Elementary School

This School was one that i had to send my daughter to because we are military and it was the closest location. I figured what harm could it do its only kindergarten boy was i WRONG! Stay away from this school at all costs this school was bad for my daughter, they were not organized, teaching a preschool curriculum in kindergarten, the principal was rude and so was the secretary. My daughters things were constantly getting stolen and they were complaining that my child was violent and out of control but it was the lack of supervision and other kids bullying her. If you have a kindergartener in this area i reccomend howard a yeager!
--Submitted by a parent

I love this school! I read these comments before I enrolled my son into a private school in Libertyville. I pulled my son out after the teacher kept suggesting that I take my son in some kind of therapy. I then enrolled him into this school, and all he talks about is his teachers, what he's learned, and etc. I am very happy with this school despite of the negative feedbacks it has gotten. True enough, this district is struggling, but the school is doing what it can. Since my child has come to this school, he has learned all his numbers, letters, and he even reads now! That is within 2 months. My son used to have a phobia with numbers!
--Submitted by a parent

My children have complained about the school since shortly after starting, the teachers don't listen. My first grade son fell down and cut his knee on the way to the bus and the teacher made him get on the bus still bleeding. My son constantly complaines about being bullied and teacher says that he is not bullied and blames me for him not liking her.
--Submitted by a parent

I read with dismay the comments from previous years. There IS change at South School. We have an outstanding faculty: dedicated teachers who take the time to help students. A new principal has instilled new rules that have had a calming affect on students. Students are reminded daily of their responsiblity to learn. We have a newly elected School Board. We have a Security Guard who keeps watch over our students. We have many extracurricular activities: Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Flag Football, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Tutoring, Chess Club to name a few. Our test scores have met AYP for the third year in a row and are climbing. We still have monetary porblems, it's what happens in any economically depressed region. As a parent, YOU can solicit change. Go to School Board meetings, meet with the Principals and teachers. YOU can make the difference. Stay here and make changes instead of moving away.
--Submitted by a teacher

Due to our transfer from CA, my daughter started second grade mid year. Her school in CA was great or at least I thought. Her teacher took the time to catch her up with concepts not learned in CA. It is the last day of school and I am shoocked by the increase in my darughter's academic progress. Her teacher had high expectations and concern for all students, woking one to one if ncecssary. Her confidence and self-esteem has grown and she looks forward to attending the third grade at South. I know that part of my happiness with South is due to the creative, strict, caring, and motivated teacher she had. I guess if are going to attend the school do your research on teachers. Finally, the school's staff are very friendly and take the time to remember your name and face after only
--Submitted by a parent

We are a military family and that can be hard enough for kids to go through without the school being a hindrence also. So I am sad to say I agree with those that have gone before me. So I am now seeking another school for both of them. The other children in the school are unruly. There seems to be no real control over them either from the school or from their homes. It was always explained to me that not everyone raises their children the same, but I would have hoped that they would have instilled a little common decency. Do not send your children here. It has set mine back and now we are having to pick up the pieces and try to give them back some confidence.
--Submitted by ADE, a parent

Hard working teachers w/ not many resources. Economically depressed area.
--Submitted by a parent

I am the librarian for South and a military parent. I truly appreciate the concerns of DoD families. However,WE should be mindful that school SD#187 is part of a community that has struggled for many years. We aren't a DoD school that receives tons of U.S. dollars. Our teachers work with what we're given. I've seen creative teaching/learning ideas with minimal funding. We've stretched our wallets beyond repair. We sacraficed the former larger library space for the kindergarten wing. We converted an unfavorable building plan of the new addition into two viable libraries. I take no offense to a walking field trip to the public library (next to the police station). They're part of the community. Staff members have sought and received donations for a $60,000 playground. I'm proud of our efforts. Investing is the answer here,not vouchers. DoD families instead of complaining on-line, you could have joined the PTO.
--Submitted by a staff

This school has been a big disappointment. Our children, 2nd and 4th graders, are not native english or spanish speakers and their educational needs are not being attended to. It is shocking how little the educators at this school assist my children's needs. Their has not been any attempt to set educational goals for the children as required by the no child left behind act. I am completely dissatisfied with this schools lack of effort in meeting the ESL special needs of my children.
--Submitted by a parent

I would sadly have to agree with the comments listed before mine. We are a military family, so other than to go deeply in debt, we can't afford to send our children to private schools, and this area doesn't offer vouchers. My son has had nothing but problems since entering this school and has never had any problems before. I believe the teachers and staff at this school are extremely overworked and undermotivated. No playground or equipment for recess is just sad. If they can walk these kids 2 1/2 blocks to the library, why can't they walk them across the street to the playground at Yeagar? My kids are frustrated and I constantly have to fight with them to go to school, and that is just sad. School should be interesting, fun, envolving, and also educational. It seems like these educators are just trying to shove as much book knowledge into the minds of these children as possible and can care less about anything else. I think the military base here should offer vouchers for our military families to go to private schools, so we don't have to get mixed into the sad educational system in district 187.
--Submitted by AJ, a parent