Norwood Park Elementary School

5900 North Nina Avenue

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

PK, 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 June 17, 2024

This is a gem in a wonderful neighborhood!
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2023

Our family loves this school and that it goes up to junior high!
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2023

This is a great school that supports my child love of learning! The teachers and administration really seem to care.
Submitted by parent on July 13, 2022

Great option in CPS schools. Music, physical education and Spanish specials.
Submitted by parent on May 19, 2022

This school is worth buying a house near by. Great school
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2021

I had two children go through this school My oldest child had a great education. My youngest, who is six years, younger, did not have the same experience academically and extra-curricular. Most teachers, the veterans, feel very entitled and pretend to do awesome work, but in fact they don't prepare your kids. The last couple of principals really need to get a psychological assessment as they do not understand elementary school students needs and the environment they need to have. There are very few teachers at this school who generate school spirit and go the extra to do more things at the school, like have a school play, more sports and practices, choirs, bands. Most of them are out the door and in their cars right at the bell time. In all, this school is WAY overrated and if I had a third child i would not put him/her through this school. The school has missed its mark of fundamental pedagogy principles.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2020

I enjoy attending NPS. When I enter the building the pictures on the wall and the staff show that students come first. Thank you!
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2019

Norwood is an average school. It isn’t horrible but it isn’t as good as the 10/10 rating. I wouldn’t go out of my way to attend this school.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2019

It can be a good school for the first few years, but as kids grow older, the small size backfires and kids became very mean, and the parents just did not seem to care. Now they are trying to propose to add on a bunch of preschool classrooms, when they cannot manage the traffic or the school they have now productively. And they only have enough for 2 classrooms for each grade, so I don't understand why this is even a consideration, if these preschoolers cannot continue to go into Norwood Park School?
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2018

I have a 3rd grader at Norwood; she has been at the school since kindergarten. She has learned so much at this school academically and is excelling in her school work. But she has also learned/strengthened so many other skills she needs in life; she has gained confidence speaking in front of large groups (she is painfully shy); she practices patience and respect for others and their differences; she now has clear ways to cope with the challenges that come from learning new things. Her teachers have all been outstanding and she looks up to them as role models. The principal is available to parents and sets up many avenues for feedback, and we have loved having him at the school. We feel lucky to have a wonderful school and a fantastic, caring educational staff.
Submitted by parent on September 29, 2018

As a parent of child receiving special ed services-wonderful! As parent of new gen-ed kindergardener, so far it is great.
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2016

If it was not for the teachers my children would go elsewhere (well the ones still there who have not quit or been fired). Its sad in the past 8 years how many teachers have come and go and how many principals they have had. The new principal is rude and does not know common courtesy. He talks to women differently. I have seen it first hand. In general, he never smiles and looks miserable.
Submitted by teacher on November 15, 2016

My child can't learn in this environment. Other students are causing trouble in the classroom preventing my child from learning. Teachers do not do anything to discipline since their hands are tied by the new principal. When a principal sides with children and parents over teachers on all matters, this does not lead to a healthy learning environment.
Submitted by parent on November 10, 2016

I must say that I have been VERY IMPRESSED by the New Principal. The news of Ms. Blahuta leaving last year was joyous. I was hoping we would have a new Principal that actually cared and had an open door policy. A principal that wanted to speak to parents when they came to the office. One that wasn't told "she" was too busy to see them. Mr. Coors has been unbelievable. He is out greeting the kids and parents in the morning and after school. Always visible. Shows up at local events in the neighborhood, approachable, etc. Last night for report card pick up.........I was floored. I passed by the office and the door next to the office was open. As I passed I seen Mr. Coors at a desk. I backed up to see this again and sure enough that was a door within his office that leads to the hallway. He was at his desk on the computer but my thought was WOW........1st. I never knew that door existed. 2nd, that door is open for people to come in if they wanted to. I shook my head thinking that NEVER HAPPENED with Ms. Blahuta. I smiled all the way home. We have a Principal that actually cares about the kids, parents and communicating. LOVE IT! THANK YOU MR. COORS!
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2016

I have a 4th grader and 6th grader, they have been there since kindergarten and continue to progress academically. The teachers have been wonderful and all of them have responded to any concerns I may have. Feeling fortunate to have an excellent school within my neighborhood.
Submitted by other on April 23, 2016

Originally this was a great school. The teachers and the principal were all fantastic at their jobs and regularly expressed their enthusiasm towards teaching. When we got the new principal, everything went downhill. All the good teachers would either quit or were fired. Whenever we got a new teacher that actually cared about their job, they were fired within a year. The principal is extremely rude to the students, teachers, and even the parents. There are very few of the original teachers left, and I wouldn't be surprised if they decided leave the school soon. I have wonderful memories from the time before we got the new principal. I am amazed at how bad things have gotten. It is an unhealthy environment for children and teachers, and I'm glad I'm not there anymore.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2015

The administration bullies teachers and parents. Not a welcoming place. Too much turnover. Many teachers keep leaving every year.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2014

this school has everything I wanted for my son, teachers are great, parents are friendly and involved most of all my son is being challenge !!!
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2014

We love Norwood Park school! The class sizes are small and there is a steady stream of communication between the school and families. One thing they could improve would be the price of the after school program. It is a nice program but way too expensive.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2014

I agree that the student growth scores for math on the NWEA MAP test for Norwood Park are worrisome (cps.edu). But this is a new test and I've heard from the administration at the principal's coffee and the LSC meetings that improving the math program is a top priority. Let's hope that rings true. It's sad that so many families feel no sense of community and a lack of culture and climate, but we're all in this together. We all chose Norwood Park and now is the time to work together as a team (both parents and admin) to make it the great school that I've heard so much about. There were five parents at the last LSC meeting, all from the same 1st grade class. Let's show up and show we care about making sure Norwood Park is on track for improvement and not more decline. Complaining about how much it's gone downhill won't get us anywhere. Getting involved and creating a real sense of community can only help.