CICS Wrightwood

8130 South California Avenue

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

charter

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 12, 2018

Just all around dissatisfied CICS Wrightwood has changed for the worse. I can remember being so excited about CICS Wrightwood.
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2014

My son currently attends. On the good side, the school is very clean and well maintained. The teachers are great, and they are serious about doing their jobs. The kids, no matter how young or old, are very friendly. The staff is very hands on. For example, every morning before school, and every day after school, the staff stand outside in designated posts, where they greet the children and parents as they come, as well as make sure all the kids are safely inside. The bad side of things... The administration lacks a lot of leadership ability. There is a significant turnover rate with both teachers and administration, but I'm not sure why. Also, whenever I have had a question or situation come up, no one seems to have straightforward answer for me. I have even been given wrong information on several occasions, as have other parents I know. The BIGGEST problem is the class sizes. CICS generally touts a 16 to 1 student to teacher ratio. However, Wrightwood has 28 children in each class, with only one teacher and no extra help. They blame lack of funding, but they could easily solve this problem with student teachers who are not compensated. The teachers often seem overwhelmed.
Submitted by other on September 10, 2014

This school is a horrible school most of the teachers there won't even help the whole class with their work I raise my hand and the teacher looked up , saw my hand , and started to do something on his phone . The phones are another thing . The teachers are always on their devices . I believe that students should have their phones during school , because what if its a fire and the school has our phones what are we going to do with those burnt up phones that the school has................ Nothing like I thought . The teachers have no sign if respect for the students . One Time I had to go to the restroom really bad , because it was about 3:00 and I haven't went to the restroom all day and school starts at 7:50 and so I asked the teacher if I could go it's an emergency she was like * no you should have thought about that before you walked out the classroom yesterday * but I wasn't at school the day before because I had a funeral to go to . She said : if you use the restroom in my chair I will suspend you so I walked out of the class to use the restroom that is why I think Wrightwood is a horrible shool
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2014

My son has attended this school since kindergarten and is now in 7th grade. He is doing well and I feel he will be ready for high school. The parking situation for after school pick up could use some help but overall the school is organized and keeps me informed on upcoming events. Most of the events are scheduled too late making it difficult for me to attend. If these events were scheduled for say 1hr after the school day...you may see more parent turnout. Asking someone to come back 3hrs after they just left...well...think about it. It's not going to happen. Overall, I like this school and would recommend it. My daughter is starting kindergarten and I really can't see any schools that measure up.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2013

As others have said, the school day is long. Which is fine if you give an adequate amount of free time. Which this school doesn't. There are no robust activities as advertised by CICS. Students are reprimanded too quickly and harshly.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2013

Overall, this school could use a few new teachers and teacher assistants. I absolutely love The Junior Academy Teachers! (You guys rock!) but the Disciplinarian needs to take a few course on how to communicate with the parents and students. I love Mr. Lewis! He does a fantastic Job with the students and interacting with the parents.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2013

CICS Wrightwood is a great school for their child to attend. The teachers actually communicate with the parents, either positive or negative. The staff is very involved in each childs education, from the officers, Administration, lunchroom staff, to maintenance. Our child has been attending here since kindergarten. We are pleased with her growth intellectually and socially. The Principal, Mr. Lewis, and both Mr. Dolan and Mr. Goodwin are very open to talk to and respond to parents and students needs in a timely manner. I hope that they continue to pull out of the future generations, the success that I see now.
Submitted by other on March 20, 2013

I really love my daughter going to this school.She has learn and gain allot over the pass years.She been going here sense 2nd grade. She is now an the 8th grade now.She is looking forward going to High School.But she also would tell me that she dose not want to leave.This school has made a better person today.Thanks to Ms.chase.You have made my daughter a better person.I'm glade she has a person like you an her life.Thank you for having the time to talk to her.She lives with her grandma,but her grandma really don't pay attention to her that much.But as a mother,I can tell she really likes you.She always telling me and her family about you.How wonderful and kind are you.As a mother she always coming home with a smile.She says you put a smile on her face everyday.I hope when she leave this year,you guys are still connect to each other.She really needs you,as she go far an life.But thank you so much Ms.chase.
Submitted by parent on March 07, 2013

Dean of Students really enjoys his job. As the Dean of Students, he ensures students learn in a safe environment and disciplines promptly when students misbehaves. This is definitely the function of the Dean of Students. Robbing children of the internal feeling of joy is not the job of the Dean of Students. Having an expression on your face of satisfaction when you ve successful made a child feel unworthy, unwanted or bringing misery to a group of children just because you have the power is not the Dean of Students job. Building character and respect doesn t involve breaking a child spirit during the disciplinary process. CICS needs a Dean of Students that not only provides a safe environment, but also a person with the ability to feel empathy, build confidence in the students and a feeling of self-worth.
Submitted by other on July 11, 2012

Hello Parents! Interested in Putting My Child in This School, however, curious about the curriculum. Is there anyone here that can inform me about the curriculum used for fourth grade? Just Moved Here from California and I am trying to make the best decision for My Princess! Thank You!
Submitted by parent on June 12, 2012

I really love the school, my daughter has learned so much and advanced tremendously in learning how to read and write novels and projects. She had learned more than I would have known, and I owe it all to the the school and Ms. Brockman.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2012

I enrolled my child at this school because I liked the way the school felt. I liked the fact that there were more seasoned teachers at this school. My child was here for the early primary years, a time when there is optimal growth and deveolpment of a young sponge-like mind. The cirriculum I felt was lacking, the school days too long, not enought time for lunch (15 mins.), and too much homework. The school will call you for the smallest infarction, I feel that's too rigid for smaller children. I'm not a teacher, but I do know children, and smaller children need breaks, or ways to burn off energy, I honestly do not believe that you can house children in a building for 7 1/2 hrs. and expect them to be quiet, sit still and remain focused on their schoolwork ~ REALLY!!?? I didn't like the fact that you have to make an appointment to see the principal, too many days off, like two half-days back to back, and not enough extra-cirricular activities. I opted to pull my child from this school and place him in private schooling, for smaller classes, a more challenging cirriculum, and a full 45 mins. for lunch and a break before returning to studies. I'll pray for the rest of you remaining.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2011

CICS Wrightwood is a very good school. It starts with the vision of the school which is administered by the administration, and implemented by the committed teachers and dedicated parents. The school's success in its Junior Academy program (7-8 grade) is the culmination of parental involvement and the curriculum at the early childhood and elementary level.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2011

I would rate CICS Wrightwood as average with the potential to be one of the best schools in the area. Due to limited parent involvement this school will possibly remain the same and never reach the full potential. There are some great teachers staffed but they need to push students beyond the normal curriculum presented in textbooks. The Director runs a rigid, structured program that could use a lot more flexibility. He needs to be more acceptable and willing to try new ideas. Lastly, the school day is tooo long for students to only be given 20 minutes for lunch, no recess, one day per week of gym and limited extracurriculum activites. Having such a long day with no breaks will not help children retain materials taught. It will only exhaust them and result in unfocused, non-cooperative, talkative students. My child's school day is 30 minutes less than more work day plus I get a 1 hour lunch. Some things need to be changed ASAP.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2011

Wrightwood is a good school. My son has attended since 5th grade. Now he's in 8th grade. Yea!! The teachers are very involved with the parents.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2011

My daughter has attended CICS Wrightwood since kindergarten. Overall I'm satisfied with the school, I just wish that the class sizes were smaller. I love that they teach the students to take responsibility for their own actions. Wrightwood is a newer school, but I definitely see the changes made yearly to improve.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2011

Really Good School !!!! My daughter has been a student at this school for three years now and I am more then pleased with this school. The principal, staff, and fellow parents all care about the children. I am a parent that works a normal 9 to 5 and I don't have the support system needed to pick my child up at the end of the regular school day, but thanks to CICS-Wrightwood After-Care program, which allows student to stay after school until 6pm, I am able to drop off and pick up my child without changing my work schedule. Overall, I think this is one of the better schools CPS has to offer.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2011

Wrightwood is a great school with overall great staff. As a parent I am active in the PTA and maintain communication with my son's teachers. I would like to see more parent participation.
Submitted by other on February 14, 2011

Wrightwood has been my granddaughter's school since kindergarten. She has excelled all 5 years of her enrollment. I give the school 5 stars for having excellent, qualified teachers, a strong principal who is effective and caring. The academics are stimulating and competitive. The afterschool programs are fun and encourage wholesome fun and personal growth of the students.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2011

I appreciate the way the grades 6-8 are set up to be a junior academy. The school's staff all genuinely care about the education and welfare of the students. Overall I have been satisfied with this school .