Lincoln Elementary School

615 West Kemper Place

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
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 16, 2024

My child has received a wonderful well-rounded education at Lincoln. The community is fabulous, the teachers really care about their students, and the students have a lot of excellent opportunities.
Submitted by teacher on August 01, 2023

Deplorable new administration. Discrimination, sexism, racism, other inequities run rampant. Admin and some teachers provide special treatment to big donors, and shame kids who are different (race, financial, disability). We've heard atrocious things from other families, teachers, in addition to firsthand experiences. Abhorrant communication. Understaffed. No T.A.'s. Big donor families use private tutors. French program families receiive special treatment. Need to replace principal and AP.
Submitted by parent on July 13, 2023

We’ve loved the experience with our two children here! Amazing teachers, engaged families, and great opportunities for activities before jr. high (after school clubs, French, performances).
Submitted by parent on December 31, 2022

When we moved from San Francisco to Chicago 3 years ago, we chose Lincoln Park mostly because of Lincoln Elementary. We are so glad we did. We have been so impressed by the school overall. Our daughter is thriving there, the curriculum is challenging, the teachers and staff are incredible, and we have our second child starting next year. One of the greatest benefits though, in my opinion, is the community at Lincoln Elementary. The families are what make this school special. It’s the best community we have ever been a part of, and we feel so much support there. We walk to school and talk to families along the way, and the parents hang out after drop-off. I would recommend Lincoln Elementary to anyone considering moving to Chicago, or relocating to Lincoln Park. The school just achieved exemplary status, meaning it performs in top 10% of all schools in Illinois. You can’t beat that for a public school. It’s simply the best!
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2022

Not the best choice for diverse learners.They have the staff but not the right staff. Maybe this is a CPS issue but they don’t hire equipped teacher with the right expletives. None diverse learners, the school is great.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2022

Obviously, not all families will have the same experience at this school. However, our experience with the administration & "educators" at Lincoln Elementary School has been a nightmare for us. My family will have to spends thousands of dollars in therapy to try to overcome the psychological damage that has been caused by the harassment, hypocrisy, and manipulation of these "professionals".Why did we stay so long?Hoping that it would get better - it hasn't.I hope No One has the same experience.No One deserves it, especially not children.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2021

I have been very impressed with the dedication of the teachers at Lincoln. Throughout the pandemic, the teachers have reached out and helped to keep my child engaged. They are continuing rigorous instruction, regardless of the obstacles.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2021

As many have posted before, Lincoln is not what it used to be. However, those individuals have failed to look in their mirrors and recognize why. Those groups of parents moved into the neighborhood and attempted to remake the school in their images, borne of suburban life. Problematic to say the least when you had something pretty special already in existence. Those parents were grossly entitled, self-centered, disrespectful, and lazy. Add a milquetoast administrator and weak LSC leadership, and you end up regressing to the mean, albeit a relatively high mean for any school in Chicago. What Lincoln needs most are new parents who are willing to do the things previous parents did: put in the work, support the teachers, and make things about the best needs of the school. It’s sad to see that there has been a downturn, but there’s now an opportunity to excel. Hopefully, the right individuals recognize that and step up.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2021

I did not understand what institutionalized racism was until my son went to this school. My son is white and two of his friends were Black. Until the principal told him to stop hanging out with the "troublemakers". When I brought food for the class Christmas party I was stunned to find the three Black kids from my son's class sitting outside in the hallway because their homework was late. One of those kids was living out of a car and the other two commuted for hours on public transportation from the other side of the city. Yeah, maybe their homework was late. They might as well have put dunce caps on them. I was a Room Parent and asked the PTO about doing a fundraiser for a school on the South Side instead of for a school in South America as they had planned and they looked at me like I had two heads. I was told that was absolutely not possible. The academics at the school are weak. The curriculum is the standard Chicago curriculum which is two years behind the state we had moved from so my son was bored out of his mind and learned nothing for two years. It was literally the same textbooks and worksheets he had done two years earlier. On the plus side, no one got shot so I guess that makes it a good school for Chicago.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2021

LIncoln had a nice run, but like they say all good things must come to an end. After 3 kids and 13 years at Lincoln, we finally said goodbye and moved our 6th grader to private. It's hard to explain exactly what happened at Lincoln but it's no longer a environment for my children. Anyone who sat through an FOL meeting over the past 4 years knows exactly what I'm talking about. Bad enough for the Principal to quit mid-year.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2021

As a retired teacher (not CPS) and a current substitute teacher who has worked at Lincoln and in many other schools since retirement, I can attest to the extraordinary quality of Lincoln Elementary. The teachers and administration are first rate: highly competent, dedicated and committed to helping every child. The personalized attention to special needs students is impressive.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2021

One of CPS's best elementary schools. Even as a neighborhood school, it rivals--and in many cases bests--CPS's test-in selective enrollment elementary schools. The excellent staff and vibrant parent community are committed to continuously improving the school. It's no wonder so many students consistently matriculate at their top high school choice. If you can afford to live in Lincoln Park, take advantage of this gem of a neighborhood school.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2020

I should have listened to those before me who strongly advised that I NOT send my child(ren) to Lincoln.Hope to be out of there soon.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2020

I agree 100% with the post from July 21. It's easy to test high when your parents are educated and hire tutors at all age levels for their kids.. The entitlement attitude is everywhere and this school is no longer what it was when it was great. Lincoln depends on families to fund $700k in additional resources (i.e., teachers, supplies, technology, etc.). It's not the school, it's the parents... and we are all pretty tired of it. Go private. go somewhere else. You will be happy you did. Mark was great in the day. He's about to retire and no longer cares. It was a nice run but well in the past now. Look elsewhere. You'll be happy if you do.
Submitted by parent on July 21, 2020

Given the fact that most parents in this district are college educated and very invested in their children's success, the test scores are good. However, the kids tend to be entitled and express very little intellectual curiosity--getting into selective enrollment is something that is bought with thousands of dollars of outside test prep, not a result of Lincoln itself or a passion for learning. The principal and vice-principal are both extremely unapproachable (the vp often expresses out-of-proportion rage at the kids, screaming about the weirdest little things) and do not create a welcoming environment or a sense of community. The parents who run things are often the worst kind of stereotypical entitled Lincoln Park people, and they try to box out people who aren't in their cliques from participating. Your child will get a decent education for a cps neighborhood school, but it's not a nice community. Seems similar to North Shore parents and kids, not city families.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2020

Our experience at Lincoln has been wonderful. The teachers truly care about their students, and will go out of their way to help them learn. This is a great city school, with so many resources and opportunities.
Submitted by parent on April 16, 2019

Covering up a 7th grader taking pictures of a 5 year going to the bathroom in your school? Shame shame Mark. Do you protect all families from embarrassment or do you do this only for the largest financial contributors?
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2018

This is a good school, but given the fact that the vast majority of students have well-educated, achievement-oriented parents, this school should do well by default. But the fact that most parents in the school can afford to choose between Latin, Francis Parker, St Clement, etc, and they choose Lincoln, should tell you something about the quality of the school. There are some strange artifacts left over from an earlier era when they were trying to attract students: EFAC (the French classes for normal students are terrible and useless) the greenhouse (boondoggle), the IG program (would be better off just focusing on making curriculum better for all and not bringing in outside students for grades 7-8). But overall it's hard to argue with results, the students do well and have a wonderful well-rounded education. All the high-powered wealthy parents are annoying, not gonna lie.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2018

Our family has part of Lincoln for 8 years and we have 3 years left before our youngest graduates. Positives:- Clean & safe learning environment - Teachers are well qualified - Neighborhood school- Great test scores- PTA is greatNegatives:- School is not equipped for current enrollment e.g., gym, auditorium, and outdoor space(s) are too small. - Community feel has declined over the years. - Fund-raising group needs a change of leadership. It's run like a bad social club. We've all put out time in helping the school. If you want my money please smile when asking for it and please lose the attitude.
Submitted by other on December 12, 2017

School work is great.But I see something needs to be changed.First, very routined events throught the year. Bery boring. Even the same room parents almost till the graduation. I know other parents want to participate, but they are afraid to get into the 'group'. The room moms and pta keep sending out flyers but I've seen many new parents 'giving up' to participate.Second, it's all about the auction things. And adults only events. Why do parents have to mingle this way? I can't go any evening events without my kids and don't want to be there without them for 'school' events, either. I can support the school many other ways, effectively!Third, EFAC? Is this a french school? I know they are running a program for french speaking students, but hope they don't cross 'line'. The efac students performs separately on the stage for assemblies in front of the whole students and parents.Other than those, this school is great!