Murray Elementary Language Academy

5335 South Kenwood Avenue

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
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 September 17, 2022

Horrible school would not come here again
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2022

If this school had better teachers and better food than maybe my child would like it. My child was at lunch and she sent me a picture of these uncooked fries and cold beans. I do not recommend this school to anyone because of how terrible it has evolved. Many adults who went to this school said that they enjoyed it back then in the 1970's or 1980's. But seeing my child feel dreadful hurts. Murray, you can do better.
Submitted by other on October 27, 2018

It's good. Murray is not perfect but good. As a substitute teachers i can tell you my daughter who is in 4th grade has learned things that 7th graders I have seen have not. The curriculum is good and the students who want to learn will as they have gone to the best HS's after leaving.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2018

Anyone who says this school is good have to be working for the school. I would give this school a 0 if i could. The teachers in this school absolutely do not help their students. I'm a parent of students attending this school and in each grade teachers are uninterested in reaching out to the parents and my kids have not learned anything new. The staff is horrible and unprofessional including the principal. They will not be returning next year. So many parents remove their kids from this school.
Submitted by parent on November 28, 2015

My son loves Murray. We were concerned about the large class sizes and our child being able to adjust in a public school. The staff really makes the effort to personally know each child. My son is thriving under their instruction! I look forward to my youngest son attending next year. Thank you Murray teachers, staff, and parents! You really have made this experience a pleasure so far!
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2015

LOVE Murrays! The teachers and the staff members, including Ms Cooper and Ms Dixon make our family feel like we are a part of Murray's family. Thank you Murray!
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2015

I'm amazed at how much the teachers are doing for the children. My son attended kindergarten with Ms. Alvarado and her 2 assistants. He had a great time and has made a lot of progress in academics and behavior, and he kept saying he's going to miss his teacher. I think this school is great, the staff led by Mr. Mason are very supportive, and the parent-teacher partnership is there all thru out the year during my son's kindergarten. I would recommend this school and also recommended for more parents to get involve. I assisted for half a day and I can say that was a lot of work. The teachers definitely needs help. And if our vision is bring up good persons out of our children, we need to support our children's teachers. They invest a lot in our kids and they deserve the respect and support they can get.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2015

Murray is a terrific school. The school was rated Level 1+, the highest CPS rating a school can earn. The staff is nurturing and parent friendly. The parents are involved all aspects of the school. No school is perfect. Perfection is reached when all parties work together for the students. Aspects of perfection are visible at Murray. And there is still room for growth, no doubt. The school has hired some great new teachers in the middle school. I am still excited about this school, and its vision for improving learning for all students.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2015

They do have 2 after school program options: Right at School and Nichols Park is attached to the school. Both the Principal and new Assistant Principal are very engaged with the school and the students. Everyone seems very responsive to challenges and I've seen many positive changes this year. The PTO and LSC are very informative and inclusive to all parent involvement.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2015

Keep your child out of this school. The children act they are in a gang. They are disrespectful and violent. The rating in this school are not true their test scorches are down because all the A student are going to different school because the behavios and the violence in the school. Please keep your child out of this school... If the call you to enroll your child please decline.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2014

My daughter recently transferred into the 6th grade. I have to agree their is a behavior problem at this school. The assistant principal and principal are never around to address any of your concerns. I worry about my daughter safe here. There are no after school problems the teachers or principal monitor the kids after they are dismissed. There is a lot of favoritism by the assistant principal my daughter is being challenged but the behaviors with students and attitudes of the some of the teachers are extremely questionable. I just praying she can make through the school the next 2 years. I hope fully I will see improvements.
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2014

The Assistant principal at this school is the one that I see handling everything. She is a little to friendly with the staff and teachers so whenever you have a problem with one of them she does not say to much to them. There is nothing wrong with being friendly and nice to your staff but you have to let them know that you are not friends and are their superior. My experience with the school is the teachers don't like to call you. It takes them a while to email you and they are not to personable to the parents. Some of the staff are to worried about gossip between each other yet they are teaching the kids to be good students. You hear so many children cursing and talking about how they don't approve of their teachers. There are no afterschool programs and the programs that are offered you have to pay for. If some of these things were addressed this school would be so much better.
Submitted by parent on December 08, 2013

I regret that I transferred my daughter to this school. There are major discipline issues here!
Submitted by parent on November 28, 2013

Overall, a very good school academically. The school curriculum is solid, the student population is diverse. This is a K-8 foreign language magnet CPS school located in Hyde Park. The teachers are knowledgeable and principal is good. For a CPS school standard, Murray is a good safe, academically sound, school. They offer many sports & activities for the kids. Murray test scores remain high. So far, all our graduates have been selected to attend the top public selective enrollment high schools, noble network schools and private catholic high schools. My son is in his final year here and all nine years, here have been positive.
Submitted by other on November 25, 2013

THEY DO NOT HAVE SAFE CROSSINGS MISSING STOP SIGNS AND BUS PARKING IS ALLOWED OVER CROSS WALKS
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2013

Murray Language Academy is one of the best schools for students in grades pre-k to 4th, and then it becomes very problematic. The principal has made some questionable choices for faculty in the upper levels and not provided adequate mentoring for new faculty. Very Very disappointing.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2013

We have been at Murray from Kindergarten through 8th grade now. Murray is a wonderful family involved and family orientated school. Murray keeps you informed about everything going on in and out of the school. Murray has strived to offer the best education possible to ensure our kids are successful and prepared for onward movement. Like most schools, Murray has suffered due to budget constraints and has to cut back on educational tools and events. Although this is our last year at Murray, I would love to see such a dedicated school rewarded before we leave. "We are Murray and we are one!!"
Submitted by other on August 26, 2013

I am so excited that my granddaughter is starting kindergarten here! i love the language emphasis, the great reputation, the diversity and that her teacher received her training from the University of Chicago.
Submitted by other on November 21, 2012

Murray continues to improve. For starters, the 2011-12 ISAT composite rose from 88.9% to 90.2%, awarding the school a Level 1 rating of Excellence based on the current CPS Performance policy. (Much can be said constructively about the teaching community and its commitment to grow through improved instructional practices and curriculum improvements) Parent involvement has increased. 8th grade graduates were selected to CPS Selective high schools. (This was the first graduating class in 9 years) Murray was selected for a Jeep Commercial, showcasing its beautiful building. The school has received many capital improvements, including a technology infrastructure update. The World Language department has strong leadership. Misconducts have waned due to a new Behavior System of CHAMPS.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2012

Congratulations to our kindergarten teacher and Murray Language Academy. Our kindergarten teacher was just awarded the Golden Apple for Excellence in Teaching and it was personally presented to her by the Governor this morning. It is my understanding that the Governor had several schools to choose from, but chose Murray because of it's outstanding reputation in education. Kudos to the principal, your hard work and determination to keep excellent teachers at Murray has paid off! Perhaps the families that are moving on will be lucky enough to find schools with a Golden Apple recipient, 4 Golden Apple Nominees and 5 nationally board certified teachers.