Morgan Park Academy

2153 West 111th Street

Chicago, IL 60643

58 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 04, 2023

MPA has really spiraled downward. The education now is not where it was 20-30 years ago. The focus of the school seemed to drift away from education. Bad behavior is also tolerated and really disrupts learning.
Submitted by other on June 09, 2023

This school cares about your child until they enroll...My student ranked in the upper 90 percentile nationally in math before transferring to MPA. My student now ranks in the 30 percentile nationally in math. Ask the school how many 8th graders passed the state exit algebra exam! Instead of preparing students academically, they will try to convince them to stay at MPA for high school, where they will just keep progressing students no matter how much they actually know.Most of the students are significantly behind the national average because the school will not test children using traditional state exams. Many parents discover how far behind their children are after having them tested outside of the school and are now paying for tutors in addition to the school's high tuition.The school sells you on all of its amenities (broadcasting room, 3D printers, kitchen, wood shop) but your child will likely never experience these things because they just keep saying that they aren't offering them currently. Can't use covid as an excuse forever!Many incidents of racism, bullying, fights, and children of staff acting entitled. School isn't proactive in addressing such issues. The head of finance is the most unprofessional person ever! She and the school need to be audited. Constantly charging bank accounts without advance notice for things like a "tech fee" despite there being no technology teacher because the wonderful tech teacher quit (like many of their other certified teachers who suddenly left this school year). School is always asking for money through "fundraisers" but the funds raised/collected never seem to go to actually fixing up the school or hiring qualified teachers. Bottom Line: Many staff members just are not qualified for the positions they hold and the school is declining as a result!
Submitted by parent on January 01, 2023

Her child has been enrolled in me Upper School in the experience has been excellent. This is a college prep High School and academics is the priority. However, there are plenty of activities and sports for students to participate in. College counselor is remarkable. She works to find the best fit for each student for college. The principal and assistant principal are veteran employees of the school who have a good knowledge of the student body and the school. They are and consistent when they work with students. The faculty care about each student individually and strive to reach each student. This is the hidden gem of the south side of Chicago and is the best private school on the south side.
Submitted by other on November 29, 2022

I went here as a student through 5th to 8th grade, and after the pandemic, the school has just been slowly spiraling downhill ever since; the school is hiring faculty that are less and less qualified for their job, and the few remaining qualified teachers are starting to leave. Not only that, the school’s circular is downgraded in quality, and there is a hostile environment of ostracizing non-Black students and blatant racism ignored by the faculty. To add onto it, the school’s infrastructure is crumbling and the high school principal is awful at her job; she is the reason the school is going downhill. This place used to produce Ivy League graduates and complete with schools like Culver Academy.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2019

Morgan Park Academy is truly a special place. Our family loves it here. My two sons are in the Lower School and are thriving with the small class sizes, the diverse make up of students. They benefit from daily PE classes, daily outdoor recess on 20 acres of green space and play structures, daily world language classes (French, Mandarin, and Spanish taught on rotating trimesters), 3 art/music specialties weekly, tech/programming/coding/STEM in the newly renovated "Makerspace." We've been here for 5 years now and can't imagine a better environment for them.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2019

The teachers are knowledgeable and engaging. They are always available when the students require extra help. The small class size encourages involvement from the student body. I love the fact that diverse cultures are always celebrated in the school. My daughter has been at this school since first grade and loves being part of the school community. She truly enjoys traveling the world during the Global Learners Week.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2019

I love this school. It has provided an excellent learning expedited for both of my children. It caters to developing the students using their strengths. The global experience is priceless and worth the investment.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2019

It's been a very positive experience. They have great facilities and very good teachers. Their Art -Music and World Language programs are the best in the area. My child has many friends and seems very happy.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2018

I realized Morgan Park is really good at pretending. Good Luck.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2017

They have been amazing at building my child's confidence while providing him a nurturing, inclusive atmosphere. The collaborative effort of the faculty allows my child to develop and uncover his passions. My child went from liking school every day at our previous school to loving walking in the door at MPA. The play-based curriculum and Wilson reading curriculum allowed my child to grow and read beyond current grade level. This school provides so much movement for students through daily gym and recess. Our family is pleased with the robust language program as three languages are taught throughout the year (French, Spanish, Mandarin).
Submitted by other on April 18, 2017

Lack of communication from lower school staff and principal. Repeated discussions per my request were ignored. Save your money.
Submitted by parent on November 16, 2016

It's a wonderful school. Great academics and a diverse student body that respects one another.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2016

My son is a senior this year and transferring to MPA was worth the investment. He is visiting colleges which I thought he would never want to do. I am so proud of how he has matured. He seemed to have developed a great relationship with Mr. Drahazol in upper school and Mr. Malcolm in middle school. Being a single mother positive male role models are hard to find. Thank you for filling in the gap
Submitted by other on October 11, 2016

I am a grandparent and have watched my two grandchildren flourish since being at MPA. My daughter speaks highly of the teachers and administration who work hard to support the things the kids care about i.e, sports and theater while providing a nurturing educational environment. If there is one thing I would say needs improvement is parent involvement. I attended the back to school picnic, sports events, Christmas decoration, and almost every event the Parents Association sponsors and there are the same handful of parents at these events. Maybe the parent complaining above may have had a better experience if she had been in partnership with her child's teachers
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2016

My daughter came to MPA in 3rd grade. She was bullied and came home daily feeling depressed, unheard and unsupported. Despite several discussions with the teachers, no solution could address this very serious problem within this school. I didn't want to change schools because I was too amazed at the pretty campus and the low student:teacher ratio. However, while I thought the diversity would have a good influence on my child, it had the opposite effect. My child became angry, bitter and ultimately became what she faced everyday- a bully- and she was ultimately expelled from the school because as the Dean expressed, "MPA faculty and staff don't have the emotional skills to appropriately handle students." While they do have a counselor for the children, my child told me she didn't trust the current one they had because she seemed to gossip about the children to the other teachers instead of trying to help. Not mention, while the student population is diverse, most, if not all, of the teachers are white and without the "emotional skills" to healthily teach diverse populations. My child was able to go to a public school and SOAR! She is on the honor roll, in several school activities, high test scores and is possibly starting a debate team in her school. I was initially heartbroken and terrified about my child going to public school (and having to pay over $10k/ yr for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade and of course I didn't get refunded anything after they kicked my child out of school). However, it was the best thing that could have ever happened to her. MPA, while some teachers are truly special, as a whole, has much room for improvement. Do not be fooled by the campus appearance!
Submitted by student on July 05, 2016

I am a student (class of 2018) at MPA and overall it's great. Academically, it's suitable it goes at a nice but strong pace. Teachers, almost everyone here is great, I don't know much about the lower school since I came to MPA in my 7th grade but all the teachers I have had are great, especially Mr. Malcolm who is the 7th grade science teacher, the passionate person about MPA and teacher you will ever meet and Mr. Radulescu who is the perfect math teacher, he explains in depth and always makes sure no student is ever falling behind, his door is almost always open if you need help. Sports, I won't lie if you're looking to win in sports don't go for it, but if you're looking to build connections and gain new schools sports are the best. I went into freshman year, never played soccer in my life, and I learned all the basics I needed before the season actually started and since then I have been working and fine tuning them, I also play tennis, made it to the varsity as first single, also as a freshman. Sports here are great for new skill sets and learning fast. I see that parents here are talking about horrible the teachers and how parents don't talk to each other, that's a lie and I don't know how they have come up with this stuff. MPA is a tight net of interaction, if you're a parent and want some help go to the activities like Academy day and go to the sports games, you'll be surprised of how much can talk, if the experience is when you're picking up your kid the reason could be they want to go home because they just got off of work and are tired, nothing against you as being "new" or something, people are tired. And if your kids are having trouble because of their peers then I'm sorry but at MPA you usually find those few people that become life long friends. If your son's or daughter's peers seem weird or treating them differently and they're in the lower or lower middle school then they're just awkward and it'll get better. MPA is a good school, there's here and there little things that bug me but it's a personal preference like the small nature of the class of 20xx, I like bigger schools but that's personal preference. If you're thinking of sending your kid here, do it it's a great school, I wish I could say more but I'm running out of room. ~Diego
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2016

My daughters have had a wonderful experience. My eldest is now in college and feels so well prepared with all the experiences she had in high school from the critique she had on her projects and papers to the out of the classroom experiences she had around the world. So happy I chose this school for the education of my children.
Submitted by parent on April 07, 2016

If I could rate this place in negative stars, I would. If you want your child to feel ostracized & bullied by the TEACHERS, by all means spend your money here.
Submitted by other on March 27, 2016

The school is doing well and the programs are expanding. I just read on Facebook that one of their high school teachers is a finalist for the Golden Apple. The last review is simply not true. Not sure where that is coming from... They are always renovating something. I feel like the tuition is high, although the indexed tuition made it possible for us to afford it. We wanted a good education and we were not interested in the local catholic schools. Small class size, very good teachers and they have a theater with a good performing arts program. We feel like it is worth it.
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2016

Don't let the landscaping and campus fool you. School is failing and they are in financial trouble.