Mcdowell Elementary School

1419 East 89th Street

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
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 May 05, 2018

Great experience interacting with staff members as well as parents and students
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014

McDowell is a wonderful school offering great curriculum and amazing teachers. However, the office staff can get a little irritated at times and express themselves in an unpleasant manner. Office staff, principal included could benefit from sensitivity training.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2014

I think that children that may misbehave for ANY reason and have trouble turning that around are constantly penalized. There's no way a 3rd grade student should have to sit facing the wall by the door unable to see the teacher or the ActiveBoard from December until June. There's also no way there should be a shouting match between a family and staff. I work at a school and I know that my child(ren) will and do misbehave, but to be treated the way that they were and to be surrounded by constant negativity is horrible. The worse part about it is that they had some of the highest test scores in the school. I would never recommend this school to even my worst enemy. I would suggest others that may be considering this place to take a look at the schools standard test scores and evaluate the fact that most of the children are scoring at standard or below in almost every area.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2014

My son has been there since Headstart and I've loved it up until this year when the principal I've grown to love, turned sour. She's showed absolutely zero compassion towards me as a parent when my son was disciplined for misbehaving along with some other fellow students. I had no issues with his punishment. I asked her if the punishment would be the same across all the students and she immediately gave me attitude and told me that any other person besides my son isn't of my concern. That led me to believe that my son was the only student targeted in the entire matter at hand. I'm glad my son is in his last stretch there. His last day can't get here fast enough. I love his teacher though. She's awesome!
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2014

That sounds wonderful that you have known this teacher for 14 years! You can be married to someone or work with a person every day and not know what will make a person do or say something to certain individuals. I am far from disgruntled I only told the truth. An as a matter of fact I did find a EXCELLENT school and a WONDERFUL new teacher! You see the behavior changed when my child was removed out of the school and area. My son is not special needs and far from it. He has excelled at a rapid rate beyond where he was academic or socially at Mcdowell. So I'm a firm believer in God and he removed my son from a environment where my son felt threaten and I was a threat because I'm a parent who spoke up!!!
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2014

I have known this teacher for 14 years. She is an excellent teacher dedicated to her children. In the disgruntlement of your review, I hope you find a facility that can deal with the behavior of your child who needs special attention. McDowell has producuced great kids and they will continue to do so.