Ebinger Elementary School

7350 West Pratt Avenue

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

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 January 24, 2025

Hi, not only does my son (who is a diverse learner) attend Ebinger, but I myself did when I was younger too.I have no idea why there are so many comments on racism here. I am as Latina as they come and have NEVER felt racism or unequal treatment. They’ve always been very accepting and welcoming to every type of person.Their push for a safe/included/educational learning environment for my son, who is on the autism spectrum, has been absolutely great!!
Submitted by other on July 16, 2024

Oh well. I’ve been at Ebinger from preK-8, and it’s not good. The academics are quite good but the faculty, children, and parents are not. If your child is a germaphobe, don’t send them here. There is racism. The kids in each class are mostly, if not all, white. If your child is openly, or even closeted LGBTQ+, as I am, do not send your child here. Although there are some LGBTQ+ children at Ebinger, there is as much support for them as a Catholic school has to offer. Some children think of other races differently and look down upon LGBTQ+ students. There is no bully prevention. Another thing to note is that they don’t let children pick up sticks at recess, and the whole school is very mundane.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2023

My child has been attending this school since 1st grade, and is currently in 7th grade. Our family is not American, we came from another country, and English is the second language in our family. During this time, we had different financial earnings and this did not in any way affect our attitude towards our family. As I read below in the comments, parents complain about a bad attitude towards their child if he is “different”. I disagree. If we had problems or misunderstandings, the school director and teacher always found time for us and also prepared an interpreter especially for us. I always left the principal or teacher with confidence that my child was in the right school, with responsible teachers. A sufficient amount of homework, if the student cannot cope, there is a class after school when the child can do his homework. I also want to say thank you for the excursions and days of visiting museums, I can imagine how much work and responsibility lies on the teachers. Although I unfortunately did not participate in the school’s volunteer days, due to language difficulties, I am always grateful for the work they do for our children! We, parents, are also responsible for our children and their behavior, so we continue to instruct them at home to respect teachers and have a friendly attitude towards classmates.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2023

Had absolutely nothing but great experiences here for all three children.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2023

I have one child that graduated already and is in honors classes in high school. I still have two at Ebinger and I feel the staff do a great job preparing the students for the next level. I haven’t met the new principal but the teachers are great.
Submitted by teacher on January 09, 2023

Wow. When I took the job at Ebinger I had no idea how bad it would be for me. I agree with the previous posters; if you’re not a white conservative then you’re not welcome- by the overall community or the staff and admin. I was discriminated and retaliated against very quickly after being an advocate for a student. I was disappointed and let down, but I guess I should have known better than to come to an Edison Park elementary school. I have watched the double standards play out and it’s disheartening. I deserved better treatment than the way I was treated at Ebinger. This by far was the worst experience in CPS yet. The micro aggressions, gaslighting, and overall way the admin treated me was very hurtful. This school has had educators leave because of harassment and mistreatment before; seems the new admin isn’t interested in changing that atmosphere.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2022

If you are not wealthy, white, Christian, and conservative, this school is not for you. They do not promote diversity or protect the students of any background other than that mentioned above. The new principal knows how to get away with catering to the majority. She's careful and calculated, and has changed the school quite a bit. Additionally, these teachers receive less support now then they ever did so everyone's checked out. These kids are falling behind rapidly. Hopefully, the superintendent can step in before it gets out of hand.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2022

I am not happy with this neighborhood and this school . I will be pulling out my children soon. We feel that the school and the community are not welcoming just because you don't look like them. They quickly Judge you . We overheard one parent outside the school in the morning when we are all waiting to usher in our students saying " people should be within their community " . That is bad and racist . The staff responsibility is also lacking , there is absolutely lack of communication from some staff members , judging and don't care attitude especially when you are seen as a minority . The administration also does not respond to the parents concerns . I feel like this school is not equitable and it does not feel like a CPS school but rather some private exclusive school that only wants children from one particular group. That is not healthy and is a bad culture . I would like a school that is welcoming and embrace difference and allow diversity and multiculture to flourish . And I think that is the kind of healthy community all humans irrespective of color and creed will flourish and grow. The school culture needs to work hard and change .
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2021

With high hopes, our child entered Ebinger and very quickly we learned that overcrowding and staff responsibility was lacking. In an effort to understand the situation and serve our community, we volunteered at the school. Fundraisers were held and an annex was buildt however it offered no additonal space for already overcrowded classrooms (34:1, 38:1). The parents and community attempt to be supportive the overall impact is not effective. Certain staff memembers have also been involved in scandal including contaract violations and publicly disparaging the parents of students they work to educate. Over all, its is disappointing but not surprising as the Chicago Teachers Union has long held the public eye with scandal and mismanagement.
Submitted by other on June 07, 2020

Having attended this school, I can easily state that students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds are treated unfairly. As a student coming from a low-income household, I recognized that my grades, achievements, and overall academic experience was not recognized or prioritized. As a previous reviewer mentioned, the field trips, such a trip to NYC or DC are catered to the wealthier students, leaving those whose families cannot afford such expensive "field trips" behind and excluding them from an experience that is supposedly meant to celebrate the 8th grade graduating class. If you are not the child of a neighborhood politician, a highly active PTA member, or a donor, you are forgotten about and not considered an asset to the school. Most of the teachers I had were truly wonderful and memorable. Others, such as my homeroom teacher who had known me for years, did not even know my last time by 8th grade graduation (perhaps because it was not engraved in the school walls or listed as a significant donor). This is a Chicago Public School though, truthfully, I was surprised at how much it resembled an exclusive private school. Perhaps the lack of diversity in both the school and neighborhood lead faculty to forget that students of various backgrounds exist and are entitled to equal treatment in a public school. My years at this school are behind me and, while I did take away several valuable lessons and memories, the greatest lesson was that I would have to rely on myself and my mentors later in life to realize my academic and self-worth, as it never came to surface during my years at Ebinger.
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2019

I just wanted to speak on a response to the parent who stated "If you put 10 people in the room, everyone will have their opinion...either the student matches up or they don't." There seems to be a common issue with this school based on all the reviews I've read. Yes the teachers are great. Yes the school has more to offer students than other CPS schools. However if there is one student that doesn't feel like they are being treated the same way, based on the fact they are not rich or white that is one too many! That's not a problem of the kid, thats a problem of the school, and that statement that was made is unfortunately another way to ignore the problem.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2018

The education is good, and probably along the top for chicago elementary schools, however maybe it's more of a community problem that not all children are treated fairly and feel included. Not all privileges are alotted fairly. There is no diversity among staff or students.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2018

Average city school. And it is FILTHY! For all the money they raised to pay for furnishing the annex and all the extra staff to try and cover the 37+ kids in K and 1st grade classes, they could at least do a better job keeping the place clean. Also, the annex they are building will do NOTHING to ease the large class sizes as there are NO NEW CLASSES being added. It's unfortunate and concerning especially with all the new families moving into the neighborhood.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2017

Awful, I would recommend that you choose a more diverse and open school that isn't so stuck up and toxic. If you have money or political pull then your child will get whatever they want but others will fall into the cracks. The principal only cares for those parents who get help her/get her what she needs and the others don't matter.
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2017

Both my husband and I attended public schools and got a great education in them. Second, my kids spent years at Ebinger. left this past year. Ebinger had overcrowding. It does make a difference on the play ground. Ebinger employed an afterschool/recess group with people that were not very educated to work with children. With the amount of children attending the school it made keeping an eye on them more difficult. Hence, more opportunities for bullying. Despite the, "Olweus," Program, bullying happens anywhere. For the program to work bullies need to be observed. Being overcrowded with not enough supervision can make this impossible.The teachers. Good teachers and not so good teachers. This is anywhere.English Literature. Ebinger has the children writing essays and papers. However, there is no really good solid foundation for grammar skills. Example: diagramming sentences. Children should really have a good grasp on nouns, predicates, compound sentences and work at that from an early grade on. At Ebinger, despite the boasting of being an IB school, the kids that transfer from there and other Chicago Public Schools including Ebinger to our school are behind in grammar. The children wind up needing tutoring for grammar facts. At our new school the children are working on nouns, verbs, etc starting in first grade. New school has an Advanced Learners Program starting in 1st grade.New school has co taught classrooms This ensures kids can work ahead or if behind in class, get the extra help.Spanish. Children coming from Ebinger to the school we transferred to are behind in Spanish. One of my children was being given straight A's in Spanish at Ebinger. We transferred over to the new school. My child cannot catch up. Neither can other children that have transferred over. Math is made for the kids to understand. Ebinger like many schools used common core math. New York trip in 6th grade. With many fine museums here in Chicago, a $1000.00 trip for a 6th grader is excessive. Clicky school parents. That too can happen anywhere. We found it a lot at Ebinger.Not as many afterschool activities at Ebinger as in the new school.The principal at Ebinger is a good person. She is directing traffic because a lot of staff did not want to do so. It was due to mistreatment by drivers at pick up/ drop off.Safe neighborhood.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2016

Ebinger represents everything that is excellent about a school and why it's so successful..The Principal is everywhere; directing traffic, monitoring the playground, attending every meeting etc. She has an open-door policy and is extremely energetic, warm, and engaging. The teachers are dedicated, welcoming to the children, the parents, the community and to each other. The real beauty of this school is the sense of "community" between the neighborhood and the school. Teachers hold fundraisers, attend fundraisers, and donate countless hours of their time towards the school's programs. Everyone in Edison Park is invested in this remarkable school. The Men's club, the P.T.A., the Ebinger Woman's Club, the Ebinger Foundation, everyone is always working together to make this jewel of a neighborhood school the best that it can be. Instead of complaining about what isn't, everyone comes together and asks what he or she can do to make things better and help. The enrollment and test scores have skyrocketed over the past 6 years because of this remarkable relationship that is rooted in trust and respect. The obvious benefit to all of this, is that the children thrive. Illinois will eventually pass a budget and the teachers will eventually get a contract. However, no matter how long that takes, you cannot put a price tag on the dedication, and loyalty of this thriving school and this heartwarming, close-knit community.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2016

Our overall experience with this school is beyond great. This community school is a gem. The entire school creates a greater community in and out of the school building. The students enjoy coming to school, even the upper grade students. The teaching staff is supportive and attentive to the needs of their students. The administration is top-notch. Ms. Peterson-Klosa is an extremely intelligent leader who supports students, staff, parents, and community members. There is a reason why the enrollment has grown to almost double since she began as principal. Hopefully CPS will build an addition to the school soon. As Ms. Peterson-Klosa continues to lead this school to excellence, more families will be drawn to the neighborhood.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2016

This is a great CPS neighborhood school. School administration and staff are very caring toward my child. The principal is always visible. I constantly see her talking with students and parents. As a new parent, I feel welcomed and encouraged to be part of the school community. My child is performing well and is being challenged. He enjoys going to school every day.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2016

The principal is amazing! She communicates clearly and consistently. Weekly updates with all the pertinent information needed. She also has an open door policy - I have emailed her and gotten a response immediately. I love her "all access"as she allows any question during her "coffee talks" and alternates them b/w mornings and evenings so all parents have the option to attend. The teachers are engaged and invested in the school and students. The community of parents is also highly invested in the success of the school. Lots of attendance at school events and family nights (literacy, math, science fair, etc.). The experiences that are open to students is extraordinary! Starting in 4th grade they have experience educational trips to White Pines, NYC, Springfield, WDC, Milwaukee. There are student run plays, choir and band. There are after school clubs (some of them are tuition based and provided by and outside vendor: Girls on the Run, chess, violin/piano just to name a few).This school is also on track to receive full IB status! Great and rigorous instruction level. Yes classes are large here but the level of instruction is still very high and the students continue to amaze, grow and increase their knowledge and commitment. I am so lucky this is our neighborhood school!
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2016

Maybe I was spoiled but growing up in the outlying suburbs and having access to Gifted programs, arts programs, lower student to teacher ratios, etc but I think this school is mediocre at best. I think it's unfortunate that this is the "best" school in CPS. There is absolutely no sense of community, because if you are a working parent in this school, you are pretty much ostracized. The principal's lack of communication about important matters but hearing every other week about how they are trying to find a budget is disturbing. My child actually regressed while in their kindergarten program and unfortunately, due to the 31:1 ratio in the classroom, a lot of things go on that you only hear about from your child -things that should not happen. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place because catholic school is too expensive (not to mention I am not religious but would be willing to send her anyway) and this is supposedly the best school in CPS. Furthermore, the lack of diversity is ASTOUNDING. How can we teach our children to respect other cultures when everyone is rich and white?