Science & Arts Academy

1825 Miner Street

Des Plaines, IL 60016

24 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 03, 2023

SAA has been a great environment for my two (very different) children. I love the holistic approach to learning and focus on the whole child. Accelerated academics and opportunities for differentiated learning are provided, but the arts and social emotional development are also an important part of the curriculum. The teachers and staff are warm, welcoming, and excited about their work. I am always impressed by not only what my kids are learning but also how they are learning. The after school program also provides a great variety of extracurricular activities that my kids really enjoy.
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2019

It is an amazing place. I feel good about how prepared my daughter is for high school in terms of school readiness and self confidence.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2019

Excellent and life changing for our gifted child. She is finally challenged and learning
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2018

We had a great experience with the school. The school is made of dedicated teachers and staff, heavily involved parents, and smart kids. If your kids are learners, and you as parents are worried that your kids may not get enough education at your local school, go give SAA a try. For us the tuition, the 50mins each way drive each school day is worth it.
Submitted by other on January 07, 2017

My son has excelled at this school. Nothing but positive experiences with teachers and great kids for him to form relationships with. This year his math teacher suggested he move into another math class that was working at a faster pace. We couldn't believe the difference and how much our son enjoyed being challenged. We love this school!
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2016

SAA is an exceptional school. The teachers and administrators are true professionals who clearly thrive on excellence and work hard to provide a creative and engaging educational environment for each one of the students. The website will tell you about the fantastic programming; what really matters is that these people are great at their jobs! I am so very grateful my children are students at SAA.
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2016

There is no better school for our gifted child! After years of providing after school and weekend enrichment, we knew our child needed a school where he could have teachers who understand giftedness, and a curriculum rich with interdisciplinary and in-depth learning. Our child is so happy to be with students who have the same love of learning.
Submitted by parent on July 14, 2016

My son has been a part of the SAA family for quite a few years. I feel the most important part is EVERYONE at the school knows him and is looking out for his best interests. There is no difference in academic to participation to the arts/music or character development. He continues to be challenged and enjoys it at the same time. Tim has great vision and more importantly execution as well as soliciting frequent feedback to change for the long run.
Submitted by parent on May 26, 2016

Whether you live in the City or the Suburbs, it’s likely that your local public school faces some big challenges, including: large class sizes, uncertain funding streams, and onerous testing requirements. With a focus on teaching for the test, many public schools are cutting back on “non essentials” from art, to science, to gym, to gifted programs.In this context, the Science and Arts Academy (SAA) stands in sharp contrast. It is a school that does it all. Its greatest strength may be its Science program, which is one of the best in the state. But as the name suggests, the Arts are also strong. It has an amazing Drama program, where all students love to participate. The Art program speaks for itself. All you have to do is walk through the halls to see the caliber of work. It also has a Music program has grown over time to include Orchestra, Band, and Choir. Private lessons are provided at the school, so it is really a one-stop shop for the frazzled modern parent.Of course, the main reason parents send their kids to SAA is for the accelerated Math and English curriculum. Most of the students perform at least a year above grade level and for those that are 2-3 years advanced, the school places them appropriately. It is differentiated and challenging.Lastly, as a parent, I have to say that I appreciate the SAA community. The school is relatively small so the parents, teachers, and students all know each other. It is a supportive environment where the big kids take care of the little kids and they all share a love of learning. There is nothing “uncool” about being smart at SAA; rather, it is a place where children go to thrive and excel. All you have to do is walk down the halls to see it and feel it. For those with gifted children, it is a truly great school.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2016

My daughter attended a 'great' public elementary school from kindergarten through 3rd grade. My daughter was extremely engaged and excited about school early on, but gradually became more frustrated, bored, and actually started acting out, which she hadn't ever done. She felt like she was not understood by teachers or other kids, and felt like she 'thought differently". These are typical feelings in gifted kids who are not challenged. Our public school was clearly not meeting our needs for accelerated or advanced learners; the advanced student 'pull out' programs were minimal, and the fantastic program for gifted students was discontinued altogether. In the fall of 2014 I enrolled my daughter in the Science and Arts Academy in Des Plaines, and I can say that the move has literally transformed my kid: she is engaged, excited, challenged, happy, encouraged, supported. The school is staffed by teachers who only teach gifted students, so they understand how these kids think, process and learn. If your gut tells you that you have a really smart kid who is not thriving where he/she is, a gifted school is worth investigating. Making the move has really--no exaggeration- turned our lives around at home. These early years of education are when the kids get wired for success, and matching my talented kid's ability to the right environment, peers and teachers has been more important than any other parenting decision I have made. And, after looking at the other gifted schools in the Chicago area, SAA still outshines the other schools.
Submitted by parent on December 26, 2015

Small class sizes and they are experts at differentiation. Your child can be in grade level language arts and higher level math (or vice versa). This is done easily and, most importantly with age level peers! It's completely accepted to be smart, or artistic, or both! Both of my kids enjoy school and have an amazing learning environment.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2015

SAA has an amazing gifted program which focuses on a child's social and emotional learning - its has equally awesome (read: friendly, non judgmental) students and dedicated teachers. Ever since we moved, our child is happy and always challenged - never bored! For instance, he is in grade 3 but according to his capability he is now doing grade 5 Math, just what I love about this school, you can be as challenged as your growth will allow and the school will support that all the way! The general environment, students, and teachers make SAA an amazing place, and we couldn't recommend it enough.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2015

We did an extensive search to find the right learning environment for our children. We are so lucky to have found SAA, The children are learning in a rich, creative and diverse learning environment. Our children love school, love their teachers and found great friends that share the same interests. We have a wonderful learning community at SAA and we owe it all to the teacher and a great head of school.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2015

SAA recognizes and celebrates the uniqueness of each student and crafts a challenging yet supportive learning environment for each child.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2015

Science & Arts Academy lives up to its name. The opportunities and support for students are amazing. It has been a joy to watch my daughter blossom, both in her areas of greatest strength and also in her areas of particular challenge. She has thrived with the opportunity to work at her level and it is amazing how much she has learned and accomplished. At SAA it is cool to be smart, but you don't need to be perfect at everything either. They even encouraged her to participate in the math team. She may not be the most talented member of the team, but she is still valued and respected. The curriculum offers a rich array of opportunities to students and the teachers are passionate about their subjects and their students! From math and science to drama and art to Latin to technology, SAA not only covers it all, but it connects across disciplines to create a rich educational experience. After attending SAA since pre-K, my daughter will graduate this year and it is clear that she is well prepared both academically and socially for success at an extremely rigorous high school. At SAA, she found her passions and has been able to explore them and develop her sense of self. The education she has received has been worth every penny (and more...).
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2015

By the very first parent-teacher conference we knew that leaving our highly regarded public school system for Science & Arts Academy was the best decision we could have made. Imagine teachers that understand gifted kids so well they give you insights into your own child that help you be a better parent! Although our two children are very different in personality, learning styles, and interests, SAA's commitment to knowing and understanding each child and providing them with a stimulating and supportive educational experience has allowed both to flourish. The commitment to finely tuned differentiation in LA and, especially math, is astonishing. The needs of the child are the priority, not the ease of scheduling. In addition, we quickly came to appreciate the depth and richness offered in other subjects, including the arts. Because these subjects were taught at a level appropriate to gifted children, my kids were more engaged and ultimately became more well-rounded. Exemplary extra-curricular offerings, especially in the middle school, provide even more opportunity to explore interests in depth with other kids who share their passions. Being with accepting, like-minded peers, and in a culture where intelligence is celebrated, has been a huge boon to my children. Perhaps most important, the teachers are outstanding. They are passionate about their students, as well as the subjects they teach. The bonds my children have formed with some of their teachers are truly remarkable. The nature of the school selects for teachers who understand and truly care about this population, often because they are gifted themselves. Policies of the school support their success, the low teacher:student ratio allows teachers to really get to know each child and ongoing education about giftedness and best practices is facilitated and supported by the school. It has been 8 years since we first enrolled our kids at SAA and my older child has now seamlessly transitioned into a large, well-regarded high school. I am convinced our experience at SAA has fostered the development of my children into poised teenagers who are comfortable in their own skin and well prepared for future academic success. The school has grown and matured considerably in these years and, in my opinion, is stronger now than ever.
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2015

We have three children in SAA and the school specifically caters to each of their needs. The teachers are exceptional. They provide my children with all the academic input and emotional support that my children need. Differentiation is stressed. There is little pressure to "keep up with the class" or to "hold your questions till next semester." Teachers meet each student where that student is, not vice versa. The school can do this because student-teacher ratios are small and the teachers have fully bought into the administration's vision of individualized instruction. The exctracurriculars are outstanding, from Science Olympiad and Math Team to full-scale theatrical productions.
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2014

This is our first year at SAA, and so far it has been amazing! Our daughter went to a few other schools before this, and would be upset when I dropped her off and picked her up. But at SAA, she is very excited to go to school, and is very happy when we pick her up. Her class is very small, and she receives a lot of individualized attention from her teachers. She was extremely shy, but has opened up since attending SAA. Her teachers were able to see through her shyness and assess her appropriately (previous teachers didn't think she knew anything since she wouldn't speak up). The new Headmaster, Mr. Costello is AMAZING and a true visionary. I can see that he really cares for the students, and takes the time to know each student and parent on a personal level.
Submitted by other on August 27, 2013

This school has really changed my life. I love it so much, and it has prepared me well for high school, and the staff and administration reply do get to know each student personally. Kids learn about diversity and accepting one another, and people are caring and friendly. Send your child here if you want them to prosper in not only Sciences, and the Arts, but in all subjects. The courses are certainly far from easy, but teachers strive to assist young learners as they face challenges, or have difficulty understanding a concept. many outstanding extra-curriculars help develope team-building skills, and a healthy like for competition.SAA has definitely changed my life, and helped me build the confidence and passion for learning that I have today. Thank you SAA, for helping me earn long lasting friendships, character, and a love for school and learning. :)
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2013

Science and Arts Academy is a treasure, and has made our child's life and ours so much better. I only regret that I didn't make the move from our well-regarded suburban district much sooner. Teacher quality is very high with few exceptions, and the exceptions don't seem to last long. Their promises of individualized education are true, my child's assignments are frequently targeted and classes like math that benefit from different levels and different instruction within level really happen that way. A new headmaster is coming in for 2013-2014 and faculty and staff seem very excited. The degree of parental engagement is like nothing I've seen before; these parents care about education and their kids and put their time and money on this priority. This is a functioning school with minor glitches, but superior in both theory and practice to the many alternatives we've explored or experienced for the gifted child. It is also a surprisingly fun place for kids, not something I had expected.