North Park Elementary School

2017 West Montrose Avenue

Chicago, IL 60618

40 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on October 24, 2024

I am thrilled to recommend NPES to families as it is a place that really centers and cares about children. As a small, independent school it is able to be responsive and nimble and I have seen so many excellent additions to the program in recent years. This is truly a gem of a school in a challenging chicago landscape.
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2023

We are SO happy we started at NPES. My daughter came in as a new student into 1st grade and everyone (including her fellow classmates, teachers/staff, and all the parents) were so welcoming. She looks forward to going to school every morning and loves her school! You can definitely tell all the teachers and staff are commited to inspiring the kids and help them do better. The communication is great between teachers and parents, and they always are willing to discuss any concerns. The administration is phenomenal- they strive to make everyone feel inclusive, involved, and part of the NPES community. I am amazed by the strong education program and differentiated learning. There are so many fun and easy ways to become involved in the NPES parent community which I think is so important as well. We are grateful to be part of NPES, and happy to have made the decision to come here!
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2023

Our daughter has been at North Park since Kindergarten and she skips into school every day with a big smile on her face. The school staff are warm, and welcoming and bring their expertise to ensure the kids are engaged and supported through their educational journeys. I know they are setting kids up to be successful, questioning, kind, and involved high schoolers, community members, and beyond. We feel lucky to be part of the NPES family.
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2023

We joined NPES three years ago, and I have not regretted that decision once since then. The school fosters a welcoming and supportive environment for students of multiple abilities and learning styles. We have been thrilled with the socio-emotional support NPES offers and the head of the school engages directly with parents and caregivers when there is a concern. The extra curriculars are engaging and vary in topic, so we feel our child is getting well rounded exposure to so many different skill sets- strongly recommend this school to anyone considering it!
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2023

A family could not ask for a better school or education for their children. The level of engagement schoolwide is equal to, if not better than, any school in the area. It is a smaller school that really packs a punch, preparing our children for high-school and beyond.
Submitted by parent on December 01, 2023

So happy we made the choice to send our kids here. We've been at NPES for 6 years and it's been great - particularly under the current leadership. The school cares and the kids can tell. It is a warm, welcoming environment where kids have opportunities to grow and pursue their interests in a safe and supportive environment. The families are wonderful too and the school really encourages parent/caregiver involvement, so that contributes to the community feel. The administration and staff are constantly striving to learn, create new programs, and provide enhanced learning opportunities to students. And if there are ever questions or concerns, everyone's door is open and they work as a team to help. It's also a more down-to-earth vibe than some private schools we visited, which I really appreciate. If you're curious, go to an admissions event and take a tour hosted by some of the impressive 8th graders - you'll receive a warm welcome and get a good feel for this wonderful school!
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2021

We have two kids in the lower grades, and are big fans of the school. It's such a nice community, the teachers seem to really care, and our children are so happy. I love that the way in which what my youngest child is learning (penguins) is different than what my older child learned (dino focus). The teachers react to the kids' interest and adjust the curriculum so they stay interested and have a voice. I wish there was more diversity among the teachers, students, and parents.
Submitted by student on June 02, 2017

I graduated very recently and this was the best experience of my life. I never had troubles with my teachers and they were easy to talk to. They changed my life in ways I can't explain. They were all supportive and helped me reach my goal and I am now attending my high school of dreams. I was there since kindergarten and the improvements they have made make the school so much better. Whenever there was a problem the teachers were educated and made fixing them easier. I was never once bullied, never saw anyone bullied, and never bullied anyone because they taught us about respect and other life skills. Love you North Park and thank you to my parents for sending me to this amazing school!
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2016

My child is in her first year at NPES having transferred from another small private in Chicago. Having left a school with an administration that simply didn't understand (or seem to care) about persistent and pernicious bullying, North Park's welcoming, warm and respectful culture was a godsend. Our child is again enjoying school, happily learning and forging what I can see will be lasting friendships. From the engaged and engaging teachers to a comprehensive curriculum (music, art, and drama on top of core subjects in Humanities and STEM classes), we think that NPES is a tremendous value--tuition here is less than half what comparable private schools cost--and a place we are happy to call our new school home.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2015

North Park Elementary School = Dynamic Principal, Distinguished Teachers and Staff, Dedicated Parents and Families, and Passionate, Motivated Students.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2015

NPES is an absolute gem. Our son was in the first pre-school class three years ago, and his experience has gotten better every year. Our daughter is in the kindergarten, and is thriving as well. The teachers go well beyond what you might expect, and take a personal interest in every student. Their communication with parents is top notch, and the community as a whole takes an interest in all the kids. There is a great sense of a shared mission. We couldn't be happier with the experience, both socially and academically.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2013

North Park's recently opened preschool is a wonderfully energetic environment where the students and the teachers collaborate to learn. From movement to outdoor exploration to quiet time reading to creating beautiful artwork, not a day goes by where my child isn't excited to go to school. The learning takes place in small groups and engages all of his senses. My son's favorite part of the day is when the 8th grade volunteers come in and work on a project together. All of the teachers are hands on, positive role models for the kids. We are so excited that North Park has a preschool now!
Submitted by other on May 23, 2013

As a fellow student, I know that there is a small bullying issue, however it was always overcome and overpowered by the rest of goodness about NPES. The student-teacher relationships that are developed are remarkable. The academics prepare you perfectly for high school, allowing you to test out of some classes most freshman take. My one complaint is that as a boy I felt discriminated against, but besides that it is overall a great school, and I am happy I went there for all 9 years!
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2013

This is generally a good school and reasonably priced for a private school . Just...don't disagree with the system...
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2013

I urge all parents to compare the costs of every private school when investigating your options. The "bag of money" comment below simply isn't true. Yes, the school built a new, excellent playlot and installed new technology in the classrooms: that's called investment. NPES is still half the price of its nearest non-Catholic competitors.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2012

If you want to attend, be sure you have a bag of money with you. Don't be fooled into thinking this is different from Parker or Latin. They are making huge pushes for very expensive things (like the playlot that cost hundreds of thousands!). It's not what we expected when we came here just a couple years ago. We were presented a more "neighborhood" type of school. All private options now seem to be the same.
Submitted by parent on May 14, 2012

I'm sorry, but to the parent who writes, "I can tell you from experience that there is not a bullying problem at NPES." This is YOUR experience and just because you have not had this problem does not mean others have not. The problem does seem to lie in the fact that this DOES happen, but the school does not make it known and does not address it as a full school issue. Trust me, IT HAPPENS. I wish it did not. My whole family wishes it did not. It would make things so much better in our household. And, as we've unfortunately found, this IS NOT one child's issue. Look around and see how many families have left. Ever wonder why? It's not always just about not being able to fund their child's education. This is an issue; it's not just "your kid's problem of not fitting in."
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2012

I STRONGLY suspect that the same parent has submitted multiple reviews that deal with the issue of bullying. My youngest child is a 7th grader, and I can tell you from experience that ther is not a bullying problem at NPES. I am actually really, really surprised at how well the 7th grade girls get along. I suspect from the multiple reviews that this bullying issue is personal to this one child. It is true that the school does not have the resources to deal with kids who have significant social, learning, and behavior issues, but no private school does. (this is why one of my older kids went to public school.). The focus of the school is on providing an affordable, excellent education to gifted and mainstream kidss, and they do a good job with this.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2012

I have a love/hate relationship with NPES. Lambasting anyone with the old line of, "if it was so bad, why didn't you leave?" is the exact problem with NPES. When you see the documented educational success rate and know teachers give 110% effort, you want the best for your child(ren). There are some really wonderful parents who do wonders for the school, but at times there is a cruel, unfriendly and cliquish element. When bullying happens at NPES, there is a lot of talking the talk without addressing hard reality. They teach character lessons, but with real situations, the staff fails, especially if parents aren t high financial contributors. Those who comment that bullying is addressed have not been in the principal's office. They have not had to have difficult family meetings about whether to change schools or consider a move. It's a shame to think that maybe NPES believes families with problems can be replaced with others willing to pay tuition. It's time the staff really addresses this national problem in their own backyard. Stop denying and help families who love the teachers and program and just wish their child could get an even break.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2012

Thank you to the previous poster for asserting what has also been my experience. To claim that the school does nothing about bullies is essentially false. I have had two children at the school for many years and any time there was an issue with another child, the teachers responded rapidly. I think people who are claiming this are possibly confusing what they view as dissatisfying outcomes with doing nothing. It is always challenging to verify and document claims of bullying, particularly since bullies are usually smart enough to behave badly out of earshot of adults. It is open to debate whether the school does enough to document or verify claims, but that is not the same as doing nothing. I believe they are strongest at handling physical complaints, verbal abuse is much harder to establish, since often it is only the victim or one other child who hears something. Having said that, I believe they are doing their best with the utmost good intentions. And I have to say, just because people defend their school based on a good experience (just as some slam it due to a bad one), it doesn't mean we're all in a cult, that is, frankly an offensive generalization.