Elgin Academy

350 Park St

Elgin, IL 60120

23 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on February 10, 2022

They do not take accountability for their weaknesses. EA staff tends to pacify parents for a limited time with solution's to problems but never fully fix it. They charge tuition and give false promises. If you dont donate to the school, your child will fall through the cracks. Seeing my grandchildren suffer in social, mental, academically had been a challenge. The builidings are old and run down. They dont follow 100% protocol for Covid. Their staff changes recently have not been positive. Teachers are not passionate about their students. No one really cares as long as tuition is coming in.
Submitted by parent on November 11, 2019

Our children have been attending EA for 6 years and enjoy one on one attention from their teachers, exposure to a diverse community, a wonderful music and art curriculum and the ability to participate in many extracurricular activities including different sports, drama, choir and more. We continue to educate our children at EA as we strongly believe that our kids are seen for their individuality and independence which is fostered at EA. Teachers truly are partners in working with us to support our children. Kids are encouraged to participate in their own learning plan conferences by the end of third grade which gently brings them into the conversation about their own work and teaches them accountability and how to receive both positive feedback and constructive critical feedback. There is a curricular emphasis on writing and presentation abilities from the beginning preparing even the most introverted child to be confident in our very demanding and extroverted world. Our children enjoy sharing a campus with pre-school - HS students and wave to the upper school kids across campus with huge smiles. As parents our social circle includes other parents of students from all divisions which is helpful as we try to navigate the many challenges of parenting. Often times we will reach out to the parents of the upper school kids for advice and support. Our children look up to the older kids and aspire to be leaders at the school like them. Elgin Academy offers a very unique and intimate educational experience — a safe and supportive environment for today’s developing child.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2019

My daughter has been thriving at Elgin Academy since she transferred there from a Bartlett public school six years ago. The school has a long history but also a modern take on education. For example, my daughter is really looking forward to the upcoming "January term" that will give her a whole month off from regular classes to pursue a single interest. Class sizes are generally small allowing teachers to offer a personalized approach and be super-engaged and available whenever we need. Every single time I'm at the school and see what happens there I wish I could turn back the clock and attend myself. But for me the next best thing is that I can give the gift of Elgin Academy to my daughter, a place where she can get the absolute best education and life experience available anywhere in the area.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2019

Excellent! We are happy 14 year “lifers” at Elgin Academy. Our son started in pre-school and he is currently having a very successful Junior year. My wife and I wanted our son to have an academic focused education, with small class sizes and K-12 on one campus. We chose Elgin Academy and have never looked back. Elgin Academy has a college campus feel to it – complete with a Quad flanked by two historical buildings. The school was founded in 1839 – imagine the history being 181 years old. We love that. We feel like it has helped our son understand history, the importance of tradition and the importance of being open to change just like the school has had to change and adapt over the years. When our son was young, he mingled on campus with students of all ages. Everyone knows each other, the older students would talk to our son while walking from one building to another and it made him feel good. We think this exposure to older kids at an early age made him more confident. The teachers and staff at Elgin Academy truly care about our students. They are like family to us. Our son has never been afraid to speak with his teachers, to ask questions, to ask for help. He has never been in trouble, been bullied and he rarely complains about school, like many of our non-EA friends say their kids do. We are lucky that we found Elgin Academy. The friends we and our son have made at school will last our lifetime. We volunteer at school and gather socially with other parents outside of school often. The parents stick together and watch out for each other’s kids as we all believe it takes a village to raise a child. Elgin Academy is our village, and it is the best place in the world for our son.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2019

Amazing really! We have seen our daughter blossom over our 6+ years at the school. Her confidence continues to soar as she continues to be a vital member of the Lower School community. She is encouraged to try new things and constantly challenge herself. Her presentation skills are extraordinary for a 9-year old, and she continues to excel in both writing and reading comprehension. She is not afraid to ask for help and accepts constructive criticism with the goal of constantly improving!
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2019

Excellent. We had more than one child at this school. All our kids had different talents, challenges, and interests. I can honestly say that each of them excelled and have benefitted greatly from the education they received. The college search was extremely helpful and thorough. An EA education is an investment in our children's future. It was well worth the sacrifice it took to send them there. The teachers are partners with parents at every turn.
Submitted by other on April 05, 2019

The administration at this school seems to operate without the ethical compass needed to appropriately educate the next generation of young leaders
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2018

My daughter and son both graduated from Elgin Academy. The both had a marvelous experience, loving teachers, personal attention and a well-rounded education. Both have gone on to challenging colleges and are exceeding our expectations. A priceless experience!
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2015

My son went to pre-K here, and I was disappointed at how un-academic the year was (for a really large price tag!) He was already reading and could add and multiply - and they did nothing to offer him something academically enriching. The program is fine for the average to above-average student, but if your child is truly gifted they will tell you that the child has to conform to their curriculum rather than having the curriculum meet the child's needs. If you want a good school for your above-average student, this is a reasonable choice.
Submitted by parent on November 24, 2014

We chose Elgin Academy for our son and have been glad he has been given the opportunity to experience the Elgin Academy difference. He started in Pre-School and has grown in so many ways. He is able to interact with students as well as teachers of very diverse backgrounds. He has a great choice of electives. His academics are taught in a way that makes learning fun. It is a great feeling as a parent to have your child eager to get to school and awaiting what new experience will unfold. The class sizes as well as student to teacher ratio is great. Once he gets into Upper School he'll have individual attention for college placement. Students are involved in a variety of Community Service Programs-reinforcing the importance of giving back to society is very important to us. A great fit for our son! He's been at Elgin Academy for 9 years and looks forward to graduating from Elgin Academy.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2014

We are very pleased with the progress of our four year-old daughter so far through preschool and pre-k at Elgin Academy. She is building self-confidence and maturity while maintaining curiosity and excitement about school each day. By starting with French class in preschool, she is getting a jump-start on learning a second language which we never had and she just embraces it as a normal part of school. Experiential, hands-on learning of both small and large motor skills are a favorite daily part of the curriculum. Separate music, library and art classes from dedicated, specialized teachers also rounds out the excellent half-day pre-k program.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2014

Elgin Academy, the high school: My son started there his sophomore year after bullying at the academically good high school he left. He graduated from Elgin Academy. The very small class size was outstanding, my son flourished academically and socially. He also picked up golf and tennis there, something he'll use all of his life. He found U of I at Champaign, a top college, easy after the training he had at Elgin Academy. The school works hard at getting students into the colleges they want, with a teacher advising them throughout the process. My son is now working in a college, and getting his masters as well. The teachers at our community high school were tops, 10 out of 10 in school grading. Elgin Academy teachers were good, and the personal attention and school class size that really made the difference.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2014

I am a parent of 3 students at Elgin Academy. I have one in each division (lower school, middle school and upper school). Obviously I see the value in sending my children to Elgin Academy. Academically, they are all challenged at a level above what they would be in public schools. Socially, they all get along well with their peers. I have wanted to post something on this site for awhile, I get Great School emails almost daily. Something happened this weekend that I thought would help demonstrate a small reason why we love EA. My lower school child was at a classmates birthday party and her teacher showed up. I asked her why she was there and she told me, very matter of fact, that she was invited by the student. I know that she loves and cares for each one of her students but this was way above and beyond. She left her own home and family in a horrible snow storm to be with her students on her day off. The teachers spend almost more time with my kids during the week than I do. I know they are loved, cared for and are being molded into responsible, well educated independent thinkers. At EA having a good teacher is the rule not the exception.
Submitted by parent on February 07, 2014

Elgin Academy has been a great school for both of my children to learn and grow. I currently have a child in lower school and a child in middle school. Both of my children are academically challenged in a positive nurturing environment. My daughter, who is in 5th grade, is independent, confident and caring due to the great influences she has at Elgin Academy. My son, who is in 2nd grade, is academically strong, caring and well liked by his peers. The kids at Elgin Academy are exposed to all forms or art. This exposure gives them the confidence to try drama, chorus and visual art classes at the Elgin Academy after school program. At every level, Elgin Academy encourages their students to explore the arts, excel academically, become strong public speakers and evolve into confident competitive leaders.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2014

EA was the biggest disappointment. My daughter's teacher was excellent and I would give her 5 stars! My son's teacher was awful. All year, I asked her about his reading and her continued response to me was, 'no he is fine.' We soon discovered that my son has dyslexia. It was a wasted year!! They tout small class sizes and individual attention, don't be fooled it is not true!! The administration is just money-hungry and tried to take money that our children's grandparents were paying for tuition and apply it to the 'general fund,' as if their tuition payment was a 'gift' to the school?! They live in CA!! Why in the world would they EVER gift thousands of dollars to a school they had no previous knowledge of?! After being called 'liars,' we provided all the paperwork regarding the tuition and they said, 'oh, you're right,' but never once did they admit that they were wrong/sorry for what they said to us. Be sure you research/ask about how many families have left the school in the last two years. They will never tell you, but it's astounding. They used to have two kindergarten classes, but now it's just one?? Why? I would highly recommend NOT choosing Elgin Academy for your children
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2013

We have two kid at EA middle school and we are very happy. We will be staying at EA through highschool. We've spent several years at other private schools and very much appreciate the focus on academics while developing well rounded individuals by incorporating projects that build their confidence (which make them comfortable speaking in front of groups. In our 4th year at EA, we've found that the teachers and administrators actually like to be with the kids (we didn't find that to be true at other private schools) and genuinely care about each kid succeeding in classes that seem to not have more than 16 kids or so. The families are not pretentious and school teachers/staff are friendly and inviting.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2013

My son is in K & loves his school. There s been a great improvement in his reading & writing skills. Before reading, he tells his guess what the book is about. After reading, he summarizes the story, identifies/analyzes the characters, describes the setting & tells what the author & illustrator are trying to convey. Also, he's already doing basic multiplication learning French. The school does NOT tolerate bad behavior. When a 1st grader joked & called my son names in front of a teacher, w/in mins, both parents were contacted by the school to report the incident & relay the steps they ve taken to address the issue. My son said the 1st grader was joking & the incident was nothing compared to the behavior of 2 female Pre-K classmates in his FORMER Catholic school. The 2 girls constantly picked on my son & made him really feel bad. The worst thing about that incident was that the mother of 1 of the girls refused to apologize & insisted that IT SHOULD BE IGNORED as the kids will outgrow it. We moved out of that community & can't tolerate parents w/ totally different principles & values. FORTUNATELY, ELGIN ACADEMY ADMINISTRATION, STAFF, FACULTY & PARENTS SHARE THE SAME GOOD VALUES.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2012

Middle school teachers have good intentions but are unqualified. School long ago traded principles for money. This is no longer a college prep school. No uniforms, too casual and no real discipline for bad student behavior. Same or better value at a good suburban public school. Former student, current parent.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2012

Top school excellent teachers. Very helpful, always. We have had no problems at all. Everyone really has our childrens best at heart. I am so blessed to have found this school.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2012

We have been at this school for 12 years and it keeps getting better. As a parent it is a wonderful community where you can get involved as much as you want to be. As a student my daughter has had many wonderful teachers over the year. The small classes really provide individual attention and push her to be the best that she can be. She has had so many wonderful opportunities to explore her interests whether they be educational, sports or arts. She is now a strong, independent thinker. I am excited for her high school years.